For the rematch, what do Ward & Kovalev need to do?

Kovalev needs to go out and win again is the best answer I csn come up with

 

Kovalev needs to body punch more. almost non existent

 

Kovalev is well conditioned I think, but he pretty much throws only power shots and I don't think he's gifted with the best stamina.

 

Kovalev doesn't need to care about outboxing or outpointing Ward, for him it's useless, GGG can do this but not Kovalev.

But what Kovalev needs to do is to destroy Ward, not to outbox, not to outpoint but he needs to suppress and knockout Ward, for this he needs to improve his physical condition and work mentally as he lost his aggression and that was notable already in the fight with Chilemba.

 

Kovalev admitted he let Andre survive b/c it was a big show.
All he needs to do is murder the man in the ring, make orphans of his children, then ask Mr Putin to put in a word to his boy Donny over in DC to erase the 4 men who were responsible for robbing him the first time.

 

Kov needs to work out a way to fight going forward but avoid the cliches. Easier said than done.

 

I think Kovalevs stamina is fine. Considering the power the guy loads up, he is in great fighting shape.
What slowed him down was the A+ body work that Ward put in. It is one of the elements that saved Ward in my eyes.

Ward needs to be careful for the first 4 rounds and control the tempo. Kovalev doesn't like fighting someone elses fight. He enjoys being the bully. If Ward can do that again, as it was seen in some of the middle/later rounds, then he can beat Kovalev in a much more definitive way.

Kovalev needs to leave no room for controversy. It's as simple as that. He was a little like the current Pacquiao in those mid/closing rounds. Going into cruise control because he was ahead. That is not what a champion does. Use your brain and make the fight unwinnable. When he is pressing the action, he needs to create room and make Ward off balance as he comes forward to tie up and clinch.

Kovalev lost a fight which many though he should have won. How does he resolve it? KO ward like Marquez KO'd Pacquiao.
No questions are left after that (easier said than done).

Personally, I think Ward has a great chance to beat Kovalev. I don't think we saw the best of Kovalev in that fight, but I don't believe you will in the 2nd either, unless he does something different. Ward will figure Kovalev out by round 4.

 

NO American judges.

 

Kovalev needs to win clearer. He's not going to win a decision in a close fight against Ward.

 

This. He also can't give Ward all those free body shots. It took all the steam out his punches in the second half of the fight. If Kovalev doesn't fix that Ward will exploit that weakness even more in the rematch.

 

You can't admit to something that happened and didn't happen etc.. if anything the barx type will step it up for the rematch..

 

Due to the Bias of American judges rooting for an American fighter.

 

Kovalev needs to invest more in the body. I'll have to watch again but I don't remember any significant body attempt until the 12th from him. He also needs to be more aggressive. He was complacent for most of the last 1/2 of that fight.

Ward needs to circle more, but I'm sure that will bring the ward-is-a-runner boo birds out. He stood in front of Kovalev too much.