You're a good poster, but you couldn't be more wrong. I urge you to watch the fight back before commenting further. Low blows had NOTHING to do with it. Plain facts? Stop it.
I just watched the fight back. At full speed it wasn't obvious to me that the punches were low, but it looked very clear to me in slow-motion. Please watch the following, to me these was undoubtedly below the belt (unintentionally): (Final punch) This content is protected This content is protected (Earlier in Round 8 33:23) This content is protected Also, I can't help feel that the earlier low blows, which Weeks did call, did contribute to Ward's victory (although this is fully within the rules of boxing). That's where our disagreement lies. If the shots in the 8th weren't low, I'd agree with what you said.
The numerous reports of low blows across the media would suggest otherwise. ...Andre Ward stopped Sergey Kovalev with a masterful performance in the grudge light-heavyweight rematch here in Sin City, but the denouement was mired in controversy when the champion, after hurting Kovalev with a huge right hook, finished his opponent with three low blows... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2...s-sergey-kovalev-ii-watch-live-score-updates/ ...But one man’s body shots are another man’s low blows.... ...Ward lands a low blow and is warned by Weeks to keep his punches up... ...Referee Tony Weeks again warns Ward to keep his punches up, but he opts not to deduct a point... ...Kovalev again complains of a low blow, but Weeks tells him to fight on. The punch appeared clearly low...as Ward again appeared to flirt with the beltline... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-kovalev-2-time-undercard-and-whats-at-stake/ ...Kovalev was complaining that the shots were below the beltline in the post-fight interview with Max Kellerman. Replays suggested they definitely were... https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/6/...oversial-tko-sergey-kovalev-in-round-8-boxing ...An impressive performance from Ward was marred by the ending to the fight, with a succession of borderline low blows securing the stoppage after he had initially rocked the Russian with a powerful straight right to the head... https://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news/andre-ward:-i'm-the-number-one/78692 ...Ward stopped Kovalev in the eighth, hurting him with an obvious low blow, blasting him with a powerful right cross and then finishing him with shots on the ropes that were borderline. Kathy Duva of Main Events, who promotes Kovalev, said she would file a protest on Monday because referee Tony Weeks refused to look at a replay of the finish to see whether the finishing blows were legal or not... https://sports.yahoo.com/andre-ward...velev-controversy-still-reigns-062645569.html ...Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) backed him into the ropes and landed three more left hands to Kovalev's gut, including a borderline low blow that was not called by referee Tony Weeks. But the shots forced Kovalev to bend over, and he looked spent, so Weeks jumped in and waved off the fight at 2 minutes, 29 seconds... http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/...hth-round-tko-retain-light-heavyweight-titles Hell, I dont really care if he's a dirty fighter or not because I've always believed the ability to fight dirty when needed can be the sign of a great champion, and if it works for him and he's happy to use dirty tactics to win the more power to him.
Exactly my point. Kov said WAR and will KO Ward but now - more excuses for the next 12 months ! 1st excuse - Understandable 2nd excuse - Bearable 3rd excuse - Annoying 4th excuse - Embarrasing 5th excuse - Irritable 6th excuse - Unbearable 7th excuse - Pathetic 8th excuse - Psychotic 9th excuse - Toxic 10th excuse and more - Go hang yourself
Dude I don't know where your nuts hang but those shots didn't look anywhere near the testicular region to me...plain old body shots, nothing illegal to complain about. I hope you can realise this as the good poster you are.
Because I'm not really that interested in it. I might get round to watching some day but I dont care about it enough right now. Mine was a throw away comment about the outcome of the fight having read some of the write-ups in the media and how Ward's reputation will be effected by apparent further confirmation that he fights dirty. He is a dirty fighter, he always has been a dirty fighter, the controversy of this fight just further cements the reputation he already had for being a dirty fighter, but that doesn't stop me from recognizing him as a great fighter any more than it stopped me from recognizing Hopkins as a great fighter.
People are just going through the 5 stages of grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Caught in their feelings
I agree that those shots didn't hit the testicular region. I also agree that Ward was on his way to winning the fight regardless. But the two shots I mentioned were still low, similar to the ones Weeks called earlier. Ward performed very well, he was able to compete on the outside as well (unlike the first fight where he had to take it inside or the most part). Just a shame that the ending was controversial, and I can see why Kovalev fans are annoyed.
Damn, casuals are saying they were low blows...look at the comments: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/bo...tops-Sergey-Kovalev-ferocious-body-shots.html
Japanese commentators were saying that Ward won clearly this time. They were saying as early as the 4th round that Ward is in control and Kov don't have snap on his punches. 8th round was just Kov giving up due to the good right hand by Ward and exhaustion.
