Forgot to record it last weekend but I scored again and TOOK NOTES this time as the fight went on to justify my score. Feel free to dissect. IMPORTANT NOTE: I don't care who you had winning, no way there's a robbery. This fight was almost dead even. Round 1: Kovalev 10 9 Very close, Ward won early with jabs to the body. Erased by Kovalev's stiff jab that knocked Ward off balance, and another jab/right hand that shook Ward a bit. Round 2: Kovalev 10 8 Ward won early with nicely timed jabs upstairs and down, Kovalev misses with a combo but comes back more aggressive and breaks Ward defense. Ward has trouble defending and gets tagged a lot. Then the beautiful right hand by Kovalev that puts Ward down. Ward survives the round. Round 3: Ward 9 10 Ward steps in with a nice stiff jab but tries to tackle Kovalev shortly after. Kovalev lands a nice 3 punch combo, another stiff jab and left hook from Ward. Kovalev's combo misses during this exchange. Ward presses with a left hook, blocked, then follows with another stiff jab. Other punches are grazes and bare misses from both fighters. Round 4: Kovalev 10 9 A lot of in fighting and grabbing from both men. Ward leaps in with a left hook, Kovalev evades and counters. Kovalev pressing the action but punches are grazing. Ward steps in and lowers his body, Kovalev throws an upper cut to counter, doesn't land significantly but does it's job. Kovalev corners Ward and lands a nice jab, then presses Ward to the ropes. Close round but Kovalev definitely earned this one. Round 5: Ward 9 10 Both men get tied up, Ward lands a nice body shot when they split, Kovalev lands a good hook later, Ward counters with a nother stiff jab. Another jab from Ward that snaps Kovalev's head back, Kovalev's counter misses and hits Ward's shoulder. Beautiful jab from Kovalev with Ward's back to the ropes, Ward lands a good jab later in the round and steals it towards the end. Very close round. Round 6: Kovalev 10 9 Ward sneaking in his jab to the body, they tied up, Kovalev grapples Ward to negate his in-fighting, Ward lands uppercuts to the body. Kovalev misses with a few right hands as Ward ducks. Kovalev lands two good right hands where Roy comments about Ward's ear. Another stiff body jab from Ward. Kovalev comes in with a left hook and over hand right, they land good enough to count. They tie up and Ward punches Kovalev's liver. Giving the round the Kovalev due to the round being near even but Kovalev's shots more eye-catching. Toss up round imo. Round 7: Ward 9 10 More in-fighting, Ward sneaks in a nice right hook to the body. Ward lands 3 solid jabs (not in a row) and picks up the pace more. Kovalev is slowing down more and Ward continues to work the body using stiff jabs from range. Kovalev catches Ward coming in, Ward shakes his head and responds with a right hand towards the end. Kovalev's power punch towards the end does not negate all of the work Ward has done in this round. Round 8: Ward 9 10 Ward comes out aggressive but misses a over hand right and his left hook is blocked. They begin wrestling again, Kovalev leaning on Ward on the ropes while Ward lands more uppercuts to the body. Ward lands another nice jab and hook on Kovalev. Three more body shots from Ward, Kovalev sneaks in a nice right hook while they're tied up. Ward's in fighting and range control prevent Kovalev from landing any significant punch. Round 9: Ward 9 10 Again, Ward stepping in and timing his jabs to the body very nicely. Kovalev's return is blocked but very close, both men begin wrestling again. Kovalev gets Ward in a head lock but his countered by a right hook to the body. Commentators claiming punches land that look like misses to me, from both men. Ward's hook lands on Kovalev's shoulder and pushes him to the ropes, Kovalev answers with a one two later, light but landed. Round 10: Kovalev 10 9 Ward sneaks in a left uppercut, first one missed, second landed. Kovalev sneaks in a jab and a right hand later. Ward comes in a nice left hook. Ward lands two jabs seconds later, both men land jabs at the same time, then Kovalev begins to press and penetrates Ward's defense. Kovalev lands a right to the body and Ward counters with a left hook. Kovalev lands a nice right in an exchange and follows up with a jab at the end. Ward lands a right to the body and Kovalev answers a second later with a straight right. Back and forth round the Kovalev deserves. Round 11: Ward 9 10 They clinch and Kovalev forces Ward in the corner. Quick exchange where Ward sneaks in a left hook. Ward lands two more jabs, up then down. Then Ward lands another left hook and continues to evade Kovalev's combos. Kovalev feints then lands a nice jab, then a right hand later. Ward sneaks in a jab in response. Ward lands two power punches, left uppercut to the body and left hook upstairs. Kovalev chases but looks fatigued. Ward snaps Kovalev's head back with another jab. Round 12: Ward 9 10 Ward lands a left hook, both men exchange jabs after. Ward gets another left, then a right hook. Kovalev responds with a hook of his own. Kovalev misses punches and Ward can't get his timing down to respond, both men clinching and wrestling. Kovalev lands to the body well in a clinch, Ward responds with a left uppercut, then a nice body shot from Kovalev. Ward gets in a nice left hook as they break from a clinch. Ward lands 4 body shots to close the round. Ward wins 114-113 The reason I think people feel Kovalev dominated is because of the knock down and power punches early. He never had Ward hurt after the early rounds. Also, a lot of Ward's punches were jabs, which is typically his best punch. But these were stiff, scoring jabs. Kovalev did more hurting, Ward did more scoring.
Lampley and Kellerman discuss round 10 and Kellerman's re-score. Lampley points out round 10, I agree, the judges got this round wrong for sure. Kellerman's re-score is 114-113 Kovalev, SIX TO SIX draw with the knock down being the equalizer. This hardly screams robbery lol
