Kovalev / Ward 2. From a neutral perspective

Does Fightnews belong to this community "with ulterior motives" of yours?

"Kovalev had been hurt by a powerful straight right hand by Ward moments earlier, but replays showed the final punch was clearly below the belt, with the other two in the final sequence likely below the belt as well but partially obscured by the referee’s body. The controversial nature of the ending was further exacerbated by the fact that at the time of the stoppage, Kovalev was winning 68-65 on one scorecard and only one point behind on the other two, 66-67."
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/ward-stops-kovalev-eight-407050

 

A fair assessment of the fight does require an admission that Kov was landing illegal rabbit punches and should have been warned or had a point deducted. I had not noticed this because I had watched the fight on the small YouTube screen.

 

Based on the above and some of your other references, I will assume that your post is directed at me...

Have I used any of the words “bitter, twisted lunatics” to describe those, who are complaining about a result that didn’t go the way they'd have wished?

It is the extent of the 'controversy' that I find as having been taken beyond reasonable proportions. Some of which, as I have pointed out, is based on a very flaky interpretation of the evidence.

I am neither a big fan nor a detractor of either guy and I'm sorry, if you indeed put money down, that you lost betting on Kovalev but - and I mean this with no disrespect, at all - backing heavy on the result of a rematch, when the first bout had been so closely contested, was not a value-for-money bet. Banking on Ward not bringing anything new seems to have been a significant oversight.

The OP of this thread completely stripped Ward of any "acclaim", which I feel is excessive and certainly not a neutral viewpoint. Again, the extent to which one feels the win was controversially achieved is the difference here. I don’t think Ward handled himself in the extremely negative way his detractors are attempting to portray.

Punches that were not landed low have been claimed as having been so; Kovalev himself was caught feigning receipt of low blows - and 'crying wolf' is asking for trouble; especially, if you want to make a genuine complaint, later on.

Punches that cannot be seen clearly, in terms of where they landed, are being assumed as having landed low, to enable the over-the-top narrative 'against' Ward and 'for' Kovalev.

It seems to me that certain observers have chosen to completely dismiss any idea of a balanced take on the bout; dismiss Ward's work, leading up to the stoppage, and focus solely on the ending with a marked amount of assumption. This, when we know for sure that Kovalev had effectively stopped fighting with over half-a-minute left in the round.

Such approaches to making a case are not objective, unrealistic and deserve little or no respect, in return.

I wouldn't bet on it.

People should perhaps be spending less time dumping on Ward and, instead, begin to acknowledge, without prejudice, the skills he used to start turning the tables on Kovalev. It seems not many can and would rather just blame Kovalev’s loss on an overblown case of skullduggery.

For those, who are truly neutral, the controversy isn't the nub of what happened in the ring.

 

@Man_Machine, My post wasn't aimed solely at you, just my thoughts on the situation. You give Ward max credit for getting the job done and I don't because I think he had too much help. It could be I am biased but that is just the way I see it. Nice guys finish last and Andre Ward can never be accused of that.

But don't worry I would't bet on a 3rd fight after my experiences in the last 2. (also my bet at 11/8 on SK against an opponent the majority of viewers had beating the fight before isn't a bad bet, results aside)

 

Good post. I think anyone neutral scored both fights for Kovalev, and realized the stoppage in the second bout was a SHAM.

 

Lmfao...!!!

 

Kov wasn't winning the fight and his jab didn't trouble award at all. Nothing Kov did troubled Ward in the least. And those blows weren't below the belt line. So much for being neutral lmao.

 

The camera is neutral and it shows SOB landing a low blow to the testicles...................that's just a fact. Roc Nation owned the referee, judges and the boxing commission..............