This is from the end of the 7th round, Ward barely taps him on the belt and kovlev folds over in exaggeration, He was already spent, he did not feel that shot at all it was a small tap and he used it as an excuse for his exhaustion and did the same when he was stopped in the following round. http://imgur.com/a/fbSAA
Nobody is going to tell me kovalev was effected by that minor tap, yet he folded over and cried wolf, Which makes the other time in round 8 before ward landed the big right hand that rocked him just as suspect. I do believe the stoppage was pre mature, but kov was already done it would not have changed a thing he was about to get knocked out.
I and many others said it from the start Kov was shook..he was rattled..Ward was the puppet master pulling the strings well before the fight started. As soon as he tired, as soon as the momentum shifted he was looking for an out. I actually wanted him to win because I think he got dudded last fight and I reckon he would have chased more appealing fights in the future. But the fact is...Andre Ward is the superior fighter and he most defintely would have defeated Calzaghe.
I don't know how much Kovalev exaggerated and nor do you. Sometimes what looks like a "minor tap", if it is low and lands awkwardly on the cup, can cause real pain. The protective cup might prevent severe damage but won't always prevent pain. People who actually box will know this. Low blows are fouls. Ward landed several low blows. Putting the blame on Kovalev just won't wash.
The punch was low. It doesn't have to land in the balls area. It can nudge the cup awkardly and that can hurt. We don't know if it hurt or not. Since when does the guy getting hit low need excuses ?