Without the questionable stoppage

I had it really close as well, some rounds were very hard to call. i thought Kov was ahead though giving him 4-5 rounds going into the 8th.

The way he was turning his back was not a good sign. But for me i thought it was as much as him expecting the ref to be giving Ward warnings or deductions after the exchanges. Not as much of him being hurt. He looked lost as to what to do when the ref wasn't giving him any calls. He called one early , then turned an eye the rest of the night.

 

I think Kovalev was clearly broken down (systematically) in the second fight. I didn't like the stoppage at all, but it was clear that Ward had deconstructed the Krusher by that point. Controversy aside, the myriad of legal body shots that landed over the course of the fight did a number on Sergey, the upper body movement & footwork frustrated him, and whenever he did connect on Ward with anything (even stiff jabs), he was met with an authoritative "answer back" each time. It was a capitulation.

Ward landed a LOT of legal body shots in the fight, especially from the 3rd Round onward. Prior to the fight, I thought for sure that it would be 'Kovalev' bringing a committed body attack this time for the rematch... but he didn't, and therefore he had no way to curtail Ward's stamina edge or overall movement as a result.

An Andre Ward win appeared inevitable, even if Weeks had just separated the fighters (instead of stopping the fight) when Kovalev was on the ropes.

 

I agree with every point

 

Very little chance of Kovalev getting back in it. Kovalev for me did exactly the same as in the 1st fight - started the fight well (first 3-4 rounds) and then dropped off badly.

 

When you get hit low like that you look as if you are tired.

 

Ward in trouble, bending at the waist, and even sitting on the ropes briefly. Certainly he can't come back. Look at his demeanor. Maybe Kovalev should have hit him in the balls when he ducked to force the ref's hand...

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Physically kov was not TOOOO SHOOK.

But mentally he was DONE.

WARD WOULDA STOPPED HIM WELL BEFORE THE 12TH

 

Both men looked tired but Kovalev looked like he was running on empty.

I think he could've been stopped in a brutal manner had the fight continued. It was a borderline mercy stoppage from Weeks. Sergey wasn't throwing any punches and was backpedaling for a while in the 8th. It was so unusual to see him in that situation.

 

He actually was throwing punches, literally moments before the stoppage. He squeezes off two to Ward's four. I don't believe either man really landed anything good in the exchange..

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Interesting how we are only a few days from the fight and the 8th round is already getting exaggerated and distorted to the point people's observations simply do not match their descriptions.

 

Compare those 40 second windows, honestly. In round 2 Ward was defensively responsible, agile, and avoiding the onslaught. Almost nothing landed from Kovalev. This was a fresh fighter who got caught but had his wits about him and had regained his footing.

Contrast that to what happened in the 40 seconds of the 8th round of the second fight. Ward was landing flush shots culminating in Kovalev falling backwards into the ring post just before the final unfortunate ending.

Not comparable.

 

look at the way Kovalev falls into the ring post, he was in bad shape. His hands are at his waist and haymakers are flying his way.

 

Enigmadanks stated he was not throwing punches, the clip shows him throwing punches. He was wrong, end of that discussion.

 

Kovalev's two punches in that clip : One was a wild right hook that Ward easily ducked and missed wildly. Look at how Kovalev then reacted to that glancing left hook from Ward. He's appeared to be hit by it but it wasn’t particularly hard, but he’s so gassed that he's sent crashing back into the ropes from that. Kovalev is off balance, looking punch drunk, and he's just crashing into the ropes. The 2nd punch he threw in this clip was a jab while leaning on the ropes with no power on it that Ward didn't even try to block. Just look at Kovalev's body language in this clip. He's all loosey goosey man, he can barely stand up. He misses wildly with a right hook then throws a lazy jab with Ward coming in. I mean, sure, he's still conscious and trying to throw punches but he's clearly gassed and out of it. Weeks saved him from a truly brutal KO. There was still some time left in the round. The way Ward was throwing, did you really want to see Kovalev get sparked out of there?

 

Two punches in the clip. Enigmadanks was wrong. End of that discussion.

What the hell is wrong with you people. Enigmadanks said Kovalev did not throw any punches..he didn't say he threw punches but but but but...

He said he did not throw punches and was wrong. This is not philosophy class.