This is one of those fights where one fighter (Ward) has only 1 possible winning score if you give him every possible benefit of the doubt in the fight...114-113. Kovalev had multiple possible winning scores 116-111, 115-112, 114-113. Were the stars perfectly aligned or did the judges got influenced to ensured a Ward victory? The Hooker / Perez draw was shocking and you saw the power play made by Roc Nation to ensure that draw. Ward is their biggest fighter and they're sure as hell isn't going to let him lose. Two judges not even giving Kovalev a round after round 6, even though Kovalev clearly winning the 10th round, along with the Hooker/Perez draw tells me something fishy happened.
Kovalev clearly. He out landed Ward 7-5 in the round and rocked him twice. If you gave round one to Ward you're living in a fantasy.
Now see if you actually watch the round, Kovalev didn't land 7 punches, he landed those 2 jabs, Kellerman even made mention of it. But nah I gave that round to Kov, could have gone either way though.
Just like May/Pac If both were standing at the final bell May & Ward's cards were already filled out Only good thing was they didn't score this one 118-110 lol
Nobody was saying this for other close fights if you read most of the RBR threads. Only now are people saying "close but clear". People are so full of ****, I love the tears though.
last 3 round going into the 10th he said, you need to win all these rounds going into the 12th he said you need the ko he didnt think ward won either
I'll re-watch it - but Kellerman is a notorious homer. I know him since he hosted Max on boxing around 1992. I thought the first round was mostly uneventful but the best two punches of the round came from Kovalev. Larry Merchant made two very good points last night he said from Weltereright to heavyweight Ward is the only Amercian boxer that resonates (sells) so of course he would get nod in anything remotely close. 2. He said if the fight had been in Russia with Russian judges Kovalev wins 9-3. I believe he right on both counts. Not that Kovalev won 9-3 but that bias judging is real. Even if it comes from our (American) side. I like Ward and Kovalev. I was more impressed with what Ward did surviving that second round and not just lasting but actually making it competitive. I still feel Kovalev won. And I don't think my mind can be changed after watching the fight now twice.
Lederman was close, 116 -111 Kovalev................even Roid Jones had Kovalev winning the fight and he wanted Ward to win.................
MAY DID BEAT pac, that is the difference. May outboxed his ears off, Ward on the other hand looked like an amateur against Kova.