Very Disappointed in Sergey Kovalev..

Good thread OP, but I have to disagree because Kovalev wasn't given the opportunity to gather himself. He was rocked by combos and he was gassed.

Stoppages have come a long way since the Pryor and Arguello days. Take a look at Pryor Arguello I. That is a stoppage.

Kovalev is one of the best fighters in the world and many people had/have him as the #1 or #2 fighter in boxing. For the ref to stop the fight because Kovalev was tired and taking shots is not a fair stoppage IMO.

 

Heart is somewhat of a proxy for stamina too. Not saying that aren't mutually exclusive, but having a gas tank is what gives someone that extra ability to just go on. When you are completely gassed the body shuts down.

 

Kovalev's gameplan was to outwork Ward. He was doing it until he gassed. He landed more and he threw a **** ton more.

It's not like he didn't have a gameplan it just didn't work.

 

Put Kov in with the Pimp for a bounce back fight, still can be second best in the division

 

Good read, I actually had the fight razor thin and found the jab/power punch role reversal (though both have an awesome arsenal) interesting. Ward's connect rate was shining through and his landed punches seemingly made more of an impression than Sergey's also impressive jab work. I noticed Ward's timing became more and more of in sync with Kovalev's forward attack. The last two rounds where systematic and comprehensive examples of Wards in fight evolution.

I will admit I though Kovalev should have been allowed to fight on even if folks believe he was basically submitting. I doubt the ending would have differed much and I was shocked that Ward was basically snatching his soul. Again I can't stress enough that Sergey is an impressive machine but Ward's fortitude and determination is unmatched in this sport at the moment. He said it himself he isn't the fast or the strongest maybe he's so comfortable in his own skin that he can push and will himself to always win. I truly hate the conspiracy theories and to be honest those two guys fought like warriors in there despite all the pathetic gossip being spewed by the fans.

 

the stoppage was bad but Kovalev defenitly acted 2 low blows that was good shot on the beltline i am not sad for him at all in fact it is sad for ward who got robbed from a real non controversial stoppage victory

 

Co-sign I feel the same way, I can't fight much with those that question the validity of the body shots but the shots that actually sapped Kovalev are quite legal on the belt line....what of all the other massive rangy hooks to the body Ward was landing? Some of those right hands from Kovalev missed by several inches because he was off balance and tired. Sergey should have definitely been given the benefit of the doubt and allowed to continue on, I completely agree.

 

he never hit him in the balls, all his shots were right on the beltline or borderline. the last shots looked bad because kovalev was bent over like a folding table and he was not reacting not trying to punch back or clinch he was praying that the ref would step in and warn or take a point from ward but kovalev was the boy who cried wolf, he was acting like his balls were in a vice from beltline shots and weeks saw right through him.

 

Kovalev's fans that are unwilling to give Ward credit are mentally fragile as well.

 

I figured you would be a huge Krusher fan. It was my understanding you were a huge fan of guys who can punch but can't adjust in a fight, forget to train or developed any game plan and occasionally just quit.

 

Sergey needed to ball smack right back. Cant understand why he didnt

 

Wards strength in the clinches, punching power and stamina were so impressive I was very suspicious while watching the fight, TBH. I looked it up and saw that both Kovalev and Ward we re-entered into the VADA clean boxing program in March, 2017. VADA does catch the most athletes cheating it seems so now I'm really impressed with what Ward brought. It's a shame he did throw low so much. After watching the fight a couple of times it really didn't look like he needed to pull all that crap.

 

He was blantantly punched in the balls until round 8.

That doesnt explain him being utterly gassed by the 5th rd, or the fact that he was just smothering all his punches. Kov was afraid to be at a distance, he was just in way to close and smothering all his shots.

 

Big strong Russian badass ("I will kick his ass!") Kovalev gets tapped to the beltline by feather-fisted Andre Ward ("he hits like a girl!") in round seven and falls over in a pale imitation of Zab Judah.

Do you know the one? The little pat to the belly? This caused big bad Sergey Kovalev ("I will end his career!!") to fall over in agony?

Then later turn his back ...

Then later plead with the ref ("Son of judges!") for a low-blow call on a series of punches clearly on the belt *middle of round 8)?

And then get clipped by a huge right hand and do his best imitation of the Zab Judah chicken dance? (Come to think of it, Sergey has a bit in common with Zab -- howling over low-blows, fading after four rounds, a pygmy heart, etc.)

Oh and then big bad Sergey goes all jelly-legged and falls all over the ring as Ward follows in hot pursuit, battering him to the head and body for a good 30 seconds.

And then finally, big bad bully Kovalev slumps off to the corner -- hurting, defenseless, defeated, broken -- waiting for Ward to put him out of his misery. He hunches over -- please make it stop, please make it stop, Sergey says to himself -- and Weeks mercifully ends the fight.

 

Don't blame Kovalev ,blame Ward. We thought Ward would only get better in the rematch and Kovalev had nothing else to offer for the second fight. We were right.

I personally thought this was going to happen in the first fight. Why? Because I believed Ward would be able to do yesterday in the first fight... and that is fight with all of his ability.

I thought Ward changed his style somewhat going into the super six tournament. maybe even before that. After Boone knocked him down. He went into a stance that took away his true gifts. But he pulled those gifts out yesterday. He dropped that left hand down a little and angles his body to allow more explosive backward and forward movement.

This is what Kovalev did not anticipate and it wore him down more than the first fight.