I think it was a close fight that could be interpreted either way and a draw might have been the just verdict. Bottom line the outside fighter dominated the early rounds then allowed himself to get drawn into a close quarters maul where he smothered his own work and fought his opponents fight.Let's hope we won't hear much more talk about Kovalev being an ATG.
I think fights that are arguably very close and do divide opinion can be declared draws. Otherwise we'll all be arguing forever about it.
True. If the fight were in some eastern European country where Sergei had more popularity, the judges over there would likely have given him the match by ridiculous scores of like 120-106 which they generally tend to do with favorites.
I actually agree with you and posted a similar post on another thread few minutes ago. Look at it this way 3 judges from 3 different vantage points submits their scores that is 18 total round votes from the 7th round on. Those votes were 17-1 in favor of Ward with the only vote for Kovalev the 12th round on the one judges scorecard who could afford to give him that round. If you look at it logically, mathematically or take the other respected people that had ringside views opinion into account it paints a clear picture that the judges were going to give every opportunity they could to give Ward the win.
Robert Byrd the referee just tweeted he felt Kovalev won and that the "judges screwed up" Wow pretty damning when the referee says that. Also Dan Rafael tweeted he re-watched the fight and sticks by his assessment that Kovalev won 7-5 or even 8-4 and Ward only wins if it's a wrestling match. Becoming more clear that it was a dubious decision. Kovalev clearly deserved the win. Whether 8-4, 7-5, or 6-6 with the KD. To give Ward 7 rounds is blatant bias
There are dozens of all time greats who lost fights to people below Ward's level. Neither fighter really lost stock. The decision, and how it came about is very dubious. I suspect a fix based on how all three judges scored it.
I think some people are perhaps credited Andre Ward too much for being tricky, gritty and clever or cagey. Because he changed up for the better, he retreated, wrestled and scored a bit, and survived the KD and kept it competitive. Having said that, most people think Kovalev won.
I complete agreeing. Live at the event, the feel for who is land harder, who's throwing more, and landing more ( all Kovalev ) and who's making the fight matter more, and you can't see shots landed on the opposite side of your vantage point clearly. Fights are scored live. On TV they give you the vantage point at all times, but you get less of fell for the impact of the blows. The best seat in the house is the ref, who no longer scores, and he says the judges screwed up. Yes-- and the 10th round is the screwing. The fight itself was fascinating. I mean how many times does the boxer come back with body shots vs the more powerful puncher to win rounds? Almost never.
They are. Going into the fight I kept hearing how Ward was the better boxer. Well the better boxer got out landed. Sorry but grabbing all night to survive is not my definition of the better boxer. It worked better for him than being on the outside where he basically got swept in the first six rounds so credit for him to adapting and doing better. But when the "better boxer" gets out landed they usually lose. Not only that but he was dropped and hurt overall 4x. Oh well. Another black eye for boxing. The last two boxing parties I threw I got the Mayweather Pacqauio Dud and now this where all 6 people thought Kovalev won. I'm done. Nothing burns me more than rip offs in big fights. I haven't been this annoyed since Lewis Holyfield 1.
WOW 60 TOTAL SCORES POLLED FROM MEDIA 44 Scores for KOVALEV = 73% 15 Scores for WARD = 25% 1 Score for a DRAW + 2% 10th round, Kovalev out lands ward by 5 punches. http://talkingboxing.co.uk/we-go-to-the-scorecards-kovalev-v-ward