Kovalev has only 3 rounds to KO Ward due to his poor stamina

Kovalev said in an interview that he gassed out in the 5th round that Ward held his ground that went unto 12th.

If his stamina will be an issue in the rematch, he'd better finish Ward inside 3 rounds because Ward can adjust and win the rest of the rounds. So I think that Kovalev's
chances of winning in the cards is very slim, even he dominated, Ward will still win.

Kovalev must work on his stamina to stand a chance.

 

I think it had just as much to do with Ward's body work

 

You talk like the first fight was a shut-out for Ward. The judges had it by a point, and most people think Krusher won. Whatever you think of the first fight - I wouldn't have had an issue with a close win for either - Kovalev only has to make small adjustments.

That said, I think he has a dangerous mindset for the rematch. He seems hell bent on destruction. All well and good if he gets Ward out of there early (and he can) but trying to end it in three may well empty the tank should he fail to get the stoppage - that's not a stamina issue, it's a game plan issue. He'd be better served trusting his boxing skills and waiting for the opportunity to present itself. He can win the fight by boxing. Ward wants him fighting angry.

 

Kovalev won the first fight. But I had the impression that the second fight will be much the same if Kovalev did not make adjustments.

 

Kovalev has gone 12 before. He clearly had a cardio problem. A proper camp should cure that. I have a strong feeling that Ward is going to get stopped in the rematch. If Kovalev had carried on the good work he'd done in the first 4 through the fight, he may well have stopped him the first time round.

 

what is this nonsense about kovalev "overtraining"? did he actually say that or is that just at theory? either way its an excuse

a prime, early 30s, top 5 p4p fighter doesn't overtrain...if he hasn't figured out where he needs to be by now than he and his people are dumb....I could see a young, green, fighter having that excuse...a guy moving from 4 to 6 to 10 to 12 rounds.....but a guy with as many fights as hes had should know exactly where and when he needs to be...you could also make a case for an aging, declining, fighter .....but not for kovalev

kovalev aint ko'ing ward..ill put anything on that with anyone here.....ward can spoil and hes a prime, a level, fighter.....kova couldn't put a 50 year old former p4p A level guy away......it would have to be the perfect, lucky, shot

kovas prob was he couldn't find a target in the 2nd half with a good power punch.....he doesn't need to land homeruns...he needs to do what he did in the first half and remain calm and find a couple of openings and land some solid power punches in the 2nd half....that's all really

 

I really want to believe that Kovalev doesn't have stamina problems because he's one of my favorite fighters. Probably my favorite fighter right now of anyone in, or pretty close to their prime. But from what my eyes tell me he just doesn't have very good gas tank. And that doesn't even mean it's because he's a lazy trainer. It just is what it is, as some fighters are just low stamina guys.

 

He doesn't have very good stamina though and that's the problem. Some guys can go for broke in the first 3 rounds and not get there man out of there, but recover by taking a round off. Kovalev doesn't have that luxury. Though some of that may have to do with his weight class. He will enter the ring around 185 pounds. Cardio is a little man's game.

 

LMAO!!! Or... he can fight the EXACT same fight only this time get a deserved nod with fair judges!

 

I thought he won too, but if Kovalev didn't tire he would have won really wide or gotten the KO. Ward had answer for Kovalev's offense when Kovalev was fresh.

 

I hear ya. But I really think he focuses on his endurance this training camp and stops Ward late. If not... he gets the nod this time.

 

Im convinced alot of you have been boxing fans havent watched the fight.

Kovalev has never shown stamina issues. He has looked slightly tired beating on opponents round after round, yes it takes alot to beat the shite out of someone for 6-7rounds with not many breaks, pascal, agnew etc etc, he was fresh as a daisy against bhop and battered him in the 12th, its unlike ward who takes 9 rounds to get rid of paul smith who come straight from the kings arms. He had no stamina issues in the ward fight, ward produced a decent effort, he slowed kovalev down with good body work, and decent defensive moves. But kovalev still was winning the battle of the jabs all the way to the last bell.

Ill advise Ward to start earlier, and try and find a way to nullify kovalevs superior jab.