In modern boxing where everything is about keeping your 0, yes he lost everything, not in my eyes but in the eyes of most boxing fans who keep saying Loma is average bevause he lost to Salido.
It was a close fight, I’m not gunna lie Kovalev is an excellent fighter from a physical and technical stand point. The difference between himself and Ward is definitely mental.
At absolute worst it's 1-1. Kov won the first fight without much question. And the second fight really should have been thrown out considering the fight was stopped based on low blows. But sure, give Ward that fight, but anyone who watched those fights with an unbiased eye knows Kov got completely F'd in both.
Sorry I don't see it that way though. To each their own. That goes to any sports, there are always 2 sides.
I haven't seen the first fight in a while but I remember Ward fought valiantly but just didn't do enough damage. I remember Kov slowing down a bit but was still landing the more damaging blows (remember him stunning Ward just with his Jab later in the fight, if memory serves but not sure lol).
You made a blanked statement based on your view of what some fans think. Kovalevs legacy is set in stone. Nobody can take his accomplishments away from him. And there is no shame in loosing to Ward.
Both were extremely close fights I thought Ward was behind by a round in the second bout when the stoppage happened. I never really put much stock into what would have happened to Kovalev if the fight was allowed to linger on. I recognize it was almost inevitable that Ward would eventually stop Kovalev but to what extent? SK was getting completely mauled and even when the less controversial body shots landed he moved away, turned his back and had no answer whatsoever. Looking at it in retrospect maybe weeks played the role of a sympathetic savoir for a brave but out hustled and out strategized warrior in Kovalev.
I thought Kovalev won the first. I thought Kovalev was winning the second even better until a combination of his poor conditioning and Ward's improved gameplan induced a collapse. Yes, there were low blows. Would Ward have won anyway? Probably. A third fight? I don't see Ward going for it. I'd watch, though.
Finally somebody reasonable who can respect both sides. Kovalev has a great argument for winning the first fight but Ward was well on his way to beating him in the rematch. He was visibly folding before weeks stopped it. Sergey deciding to actually train less for the rematch was incredibly arrogant and a big mistake. He gassed badly and looked slow in the rematch. In terms of pure skill and natural ability sergey has real ATG potential. But his mentality is questionable to me
Good post, and I agree...I think JDJ should've been gone years before he was. Kov never respected him and I can see why. What I find very strange is why JDJ stuck around and why Kov kept him
I think sergey needs to take responsibility and pick himself back up. Tbh its nobody elses fault. JDJ might have been a snake or not, who really knows, but it was sergey who decided to show up out of shape for the rematch. There was no problem with his boxing technique, his technique and talent are top TOP notch. The problem was with his physical conditioning and willpower. He gassed and mentally wilted at the same time in the rematch