Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward RBR

Round 8

Kovalev is now backing off a bit from Ward's body shots, attempting to reset on the outside and lay a jab on Ward, aiming it between his eyes. Solid work from both men - Kovalev at medium-long range finding the mobile, slippery head of Ward and scoring or at least grazing with jabs; Ward smothering Kovalev when he wanders into his wheelhouse and pounding him about the midriff.

10-9 Ward, close

77-74 Kovalev

 

Round 9

Kovalev is rolling his left out, trying to provoke a reaction or 'tell' from Ward. Good poker face on Ward, giving him nothing. Kovalev shrugs and says the hell with it, coming forward and stabbing repeatedly at the face with a persistent hard jab. A few get through, but Ward is waving his arm in the way like a windshield-wiper and using quick timely bows and neck-cricks to avoid getting hit too cleanly. Ward active in the clinches, scrubbing Kovalev's torso with leather. They come together jabbing and Ward gets there first & more sharply. Had clubbing right by Kovalev as Ward clowns a bit, spinning a fist behind his back. Kovalev puts Ward in a headlock and Ward thumps him on the ribs and then shoves him through the ropes. Nice left hook behind the ear by Ward. Kovalev reaches and misses with a spearing right downstairs. Right by Ward at the bell.

10-9 Ward

86-84 Kovalev

 

Round 10

Kovalev is landing hard jabs on the nose, albeit with Ward riding them on the back-step. Kovalev spins his right forearm in the air, mimicking Ward's showboating from the ninth. Kovalev lands in an exchange and Ward misses a right hand, retreating empty-handed. Kovalev is baiting Ward into a jabbing battle, neither connecting as their arms brush like two ships passing in the night (with nary a lighthouse in sight), and Kovalev sneaks in a solid, low-incline uppercut on the navel. Hard chopping right by Kovalev, eating a counter left hook as Ward tries leaping around him. Double jab by Kovalev lands stiffly. Ward is backed into the ropes, ducking against them to buoy his charge across the ring to reset. MIGHTY 1-2 by Kovalev. Ward rides it well, as Kellerman points out, but clearly scored by Kovalev, even compensating for Ward pulling back by giving an extra kick off his rear heel to drive it further through the target.

10-9 Kovalev

96-93 Kovalev

 

Lederman now has it a point wider than me, 97-92 Kovalev. (had a couple rounds distributed differently than I did)

 

Round 11

Kovalev is rowing out the left glove in a pantomime of a jab on the outside, barely even a true feint. Once at mid-range Kovalev tries actually jabbing but Ward is sprightlier on his legs, able to quickly scoot away, then boomerang in with jabs or counter 1-2s before dancing back outside gracefully in one rhythmic to-and-fro motion. Fantastic boxing by Ward. Nice jabs on the bridge of the nose while circling by Ward, having now wrested control of the mid-range away from the tiring Kovalev.

10-9 Ward

105-103 Kovalev

 

Round 12

Kovalev is swatted with a hook as he marches to meet Ward, who starts circling as soon as he touches him. Kovalev tries a 1-2 and Ward croupier-sticks it away before landing another quick hook. Lengthy clinch. Ward shimmies loose and resumes work on the outside. Kovalev breathing heavily after they break. Wild uppercut missed by Kovalev. 1-2 misses for Kovalev, falling in. Ward playing catch-and-release. Kovalev holding on and trying some underhanded scoops on the body, very little on them. Nice left hoook dragged across the belly by Ward. Solid body shot by Kovalev. Wavy, telegraphed slow hook missed by Kovalev, looking arm-weary. Ward is backing into the ropes and Kovalev fires a 1-2-1, punctuating with a stiff connected jab to bounce Ward's back off the ropes. Kovalev marches in clumsily and Ward throws his shoulder into Kovalev's belly to buck him away, head bowed under the wild shots Kovalev is hammering down at him, slipping them.

10-9 Ward

114-113 Kovalev
Kovalev