Is Sergey Kovalevs career effectively over?

I dont believe that narrative. I see Ward having 2 wins over Kovalev. Although the first one was very close and could have gone either way. There is a reason you dont see the major boxing media outlets crying foul over this latest fight. And there is a reason you hear most guys in the game giving Ward his due. The only people i see crying are fans online.

Im not saying Kovalevs career is literally over. But can he muster up the desire. Sure, he can fight Stevenson . But he knows he wont get another shot at Ward. And that could eat someone like Kovalev up. Someone who appeared as mentally weak as he did last Saturday and in the build up to the fight.

 

The evidence that Ward was dramatically better was in the second fight. Again, you guys that scored the fight like Lederman. I heard Lederman say things like "Ward keeps getting backed up. 5 rounds to 1 Kovalev". I dont agree that the more active fighter that is backing up the other guy is always winning the rounds. Kovalev got stopped and was gassed. He was beaten up as evidenced by closeup shot of him sitting on the ropes. I simply dont give edges in rounds to the guy that threw more punches and was walking forward. Thats not really how a fight should be scored in my opinion. You can do much more effective work being economical and being on the defense. Or at least just as effective.

Im not really trying to discuss who is better by any margin or any of that. Because I know some people will never be convinced Ward won fairly either time. And Im also not saying Kovalevs career is in crisis or literally over. But essentially we dont know how this guy is going to react to getting stopped and beaten up a bit. And we know he isnt going to get to see Andre Ward again. And that could eat at him.

You made the Canelo comparison earlier and you seemed to take it back. Canelo was young and green when he got beaten easily by Floyd. Canelo wasnt as big of a name as he was going to be. Kovalev was as big as he was going to be coming into these Ward fights and this was near the end of his career. If Canelo, now, were to get beaten up by Golovkin his career may be effectively over also. Sure Kovalev and Canelo could go chase some belts. But its possible both guys could view it as rather pointless and for nothing more than a paycheck.