How would you advise Kovalev on how to deal with Ward's lunging/bull-rushing tactics?

Yeah he was and it was messy but watch after the knockdown what Ward does he literally charged headlong into him with no intention of throwing punches or indeed hurting Kovalev,he's an awful guy to have fans paying up PPV costs as he totally just robs em blind with that college wresting,thing is he can really box when he wants but he's found a method in how to win the big fights without using his boxing ability,inside fighting it ain't it's more akin to a limpet.

 

I really don't know Ward figured him out in the 2nd half of the fight. He would nedd a complete change of strategy. As others have said try and keep the distance between them and avoid inside fighting. Or try and counter Ward when he comes in wrestle and twist his arm while in clinches.

 

I feel like most people don't even understand what happened in that fight despite several people explaining it and providing video evidence. It is so weird.

 

Exactly straight after he realised he couldn't share a ring with Kovalev using boxing skills......i.e. Using his boxing gloves,right after Virgil said you gotta be a dog he went into classic SOB stink mode

 

I just think he needs to find the Krusher in him again,his comments after the fight were telling as he didn't expect to be getting a iffy decision,he said I came here to show everyone I can box and when asked about the rematch he said I'll kick his ass lol.
I thought his boxing was real good and made Ward look jaded and out of his depth in those first rounds.

 

Lmao!! "A welll" yeah what a ****ing brainiac you are there grammar police!! Dumb ****

Lol

 

either uppercut him, or punch him right on top of the back of his head.

 

Dispatch him before Son Of a Judge can start wrestling?

 

Kovalev did just fine.

He outboxed Ward on the outside, controlled his head up close to prevent the butting and actually did a good amount of work inside too.

Kova's problem was his stamina, where he gassed out mid rounds. If he kept up the good work of rounds 1-4, he probably would have finished Ward.

In the rematch Ward will come looking to stink out the joint from the get-go. Kovalev just needs to keep it at range whenever he can and tie him up close, as he did. As far as I'm concerned it's the stamina that was the problem.

 

Kovalev has to put a premium in training on his stamina and overall conditioning.

Had he not gassed out in the back half of his fight, he could've cruised to a UD.

His punch output decreased greatly and he just looked like a fatigue fighter from rounds 6-12 (sans the 10th round.) He probably should've jumped in and tried to go for the kill in round 2 instead of attempting to reset in the manner he did.

It's a double-edged sword when you have freakish power like Kovalev because most of his opposition doesn't see past the 3rd or 4th round. He needed to train for a 12 round fight against Ward, and it doesn't seem like he did that. Even JDJ has mentioned that Sergey is a bit difficult to train with and that he essentially does what he wants.

 

I agree with this in the sense that he has to hurt Ward and make the inside and unfavorable place to be. Unfortunately,sometimes you have to stoop to the other persons level in order to get results.

 

Work on straight counterpunches and also lateral movement in training. Taking a half step to either side/ pivoting while throwing a shot back at Ward could keep Andre honest and a bit reluctant at jumping in on him.

Unfortunately, I don't think Kovalev has the discipline or skills to implement that style. He's just not a slick fighter or a counterpuncher at his core.

 

He actually did very good,unless you have slowmo and watch the fight slowmo then we can talk

 

He said DDT LMAOOOOOOO