Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward RBR

Stats in R2:

Kovalev 11 of 26, 42%
Ward 0 of 4, 0%

 

Round 3

Tackle by Ward. Kovalev is jabbing at the guard and looking for an opening to plant the right cross or chop. Wad steps in and lands a jab, recedes with the outgoing tide. Nice seequence by Ward, pump-faking a 1-2, swiveling and repositioning his front foot, and scoring a quick sharp jab. Kovalev dusts some jabs along Ward's hairline in pursuit. A few rights on the body.

10-9 Kovalev, closer

30-26 Kovalev

 

Round 4

Kovalev is crossing his arms over his chest as he comes in, screening out a few Ward jabs and rights lobbed tentatively without shifting his full weight into them. Kovalev misses some hooks over Ward's head as they close in. Ward ducks, folded into an upside-down L shape with Kovalev missing a cross over his back. Ward flicks his left arm up behind his back to send Kovalev's fist caroming away so he can't hammer down with a follow-up. Heads-up, subtle defensive moves on display from Ward, intelligent stalking pressure from Kovalev. Ward is holding out the left arm, fully extended, circling wide and keeping off the ropes. Long wrestling clinch, Ward shoved into the ropes by Kovalev. Direction changes by Ward. Double jab on the orbital bone from Kovalev. Ward poses and stays in a defensive posture, feinting but not jabbing.

10-9 Kovalev

40-35 Kovalev

 

Round 5

Kovalev is gathering his elbows up to his pecs and setting his left arm tight against them like a turntable needle. Kovalev walks in, bends down and to his right and shoots a high no0-look jab. He falls in behind the miss and they clinch. Both missing jabs and falling into clinches. Body shots by Ward. Kovalev takes a leaping lead left hook on the ear and clips Ward with a glancing counter hook of his own. Jab and long axing right hand by Ward, leaving his left arm out in Kovalev's line of sight to disrupt his chances to counter.

10-9 Ward

49-45 Kovalev

 

Round 6

Kovalev is snatching Ward's arm, yanking him into a bear-hug. Ward is shaking himself loose but unable to fully wrench Kovalev off. Ward changes tacks and just stiffens his arms, stretching them out to show the ref he isn't the one initiating. Ward is hit with a flush jab. Kovalev starts to brush the stomach with light jabs while walking Ward down, taking advantage of Ward focusing his defense on the anticipated headhunting. Kovalev uses a right hand feint, then whips Ward across the upper lip with a sweeping left hook and follows up with a short right. Nice sneaky power combo, got Ward's attention.

10-9 Kovalev

59-54 Kovalev

 

IMO would have to be far more dominant for that.

 

...and Lederman, apparently.

(thumbsup is the new good btw)

 

Round 7

Kovalev is swiping at the body, following Ward around the ring. The very tips of Kovalev's foreknuckle padding is brushing Ward above the belt line, but no serious contact as Ward keeps his distance. Ward suddenly drops anchor to punish Kovalev's tank-like momentum with a stiff jab on the face. Kovalev swings a fly-fishing arc to crash a power blow against Ward's shoulder, grazing his chin as it falls. Ward steps into him and begins to light up the body. Kovalev tries clinching him and rag-dolling him but can't deter Ward from his John Bonham solo on his sides.

10-9 Ward

68-64 Kovalev

 

Mathematically untrue as of yet. (could still reach 114-113 Ward if he sweeps five straight)