Did Ward Ruin Kovalev's Career?

I don't think Ward broke down Kovalev psychologically at all. For one thing, Kovalev probably didn't understand half the things Ward said. And secondly, in my opinion, Kovalev "storming out" of the press conference was a planned stunt to recover the attention that was taken away from the fight when Mayweather-McGregor was announced.

 

I don't see anything pointing to Kovalev's career being over from his back to back losses to one of the top 2-3 fighters in the world.

More people than not thought he won the first fight and he was ahead or even, according to most, when he got stopped in the second one. Outside of a really bad round in the rematch he fought even up with Ward through almost 20 rounds and looked good doing it.

He should probably replace his trainer since that just seems like its run its course. He has an HBO date lined up for later this year and I see no reason he shouldn't be back to his former self.

There's a number of nice matches at 175 for him and he could always think about cruiserweight, not sure how he handles that move though.

I think the bigger issue that could effect Kovalev going forward is age, he's already 34 and possibly out of his prime years or atleast ready to be. He's going to be on the decline when guys like Gvozdyk and Bivol are hitting their peak.

 

You people are too emotionally invested in these athletes. It's like they are superheroes to you. Literally writing essays about how a man ended another's career.

Kov lost two close fights controversially. Fighters lose, big deal.

 

True, but he's also just a fighter with limitations that were exposed by another fighter thus he lost.

 

It's your right to have an opinion about Kovalev's mental preparation for the rematch. But if you look at the fight IMO Kova was focuses, determined and ready to win the fight. He came out the more aggressive, hungrier and active fighter in terms of what happened in the boxing ring. But he wasn't landing big right hand and then he gassed out.

Kovalev's gassing issues are more a genetic limitation rather than a focus issue.

 

Dunno, but I personally thought Kovalev won the 1st by a point or 2

 

Kovalev simply had to say a few generic lines and then walk off the stage instead of sitting down. He wasn't doing MacBeth Act 2 Scene 1... LOL!

 

Kovalev will come back strong. It won't be a Dawson case

 

Kovalev wasn't ruined but he lost even if Ward used his illegal staff. He won the first one. He can still beat ward and the rest if he focus more.

 

Um, Kovalev outboxed Ward. 5-2 before Round 8.

 

Ward didnt ruin Kovs career but those low blows may well have ruined his chance of another child. you could have saved yourself a lot of typing by just posting
Ward is a dirty cheating scumbag you said basically the same thing

 

Ray, if Kov had returned the favor Wilkes would have DQ'd him. He was there to make sure Ward won