The fight itself was awesome. Really enjoyed it. I predicted Ward would win, but I felt Kovalev won that fight convincingly. Now... after the fight has been a disgrace. Kovalev is acting unprofessional and sounds like a huge whiner. He SHOULD be upset, but he and Duva could have been FAR nore professional about it. It is not good for the sport. They both look like poor sports. Ward is really getting on my nerves. He acts like he dominated Kovalev and put on some bullcrap masterclass. Kov wasnt his toughest fight? you phony a** lying idiot. You actually lost... stop playing. And what happened to Virgils "emotional" touching speach about Kov? That went out the window pretty effing fast didn't it? I hope there is a rematch, but this aftermath is massively disappointing.
Boxing is a business where two people punch each other in the face and are someone numb to the fact that they can be responsible for the other person's death, where you have promoters/managers/gamblers who see fighters as nothing but roosters to make money for them and fans that are cold as ice and thirst to see a person killed or having a seizure on the floor. Don't expect any civility from these people.
Forget the rematch. Ward is not known for sticking to contracts. Dan Goosen knew this before he died.
Yeah... but people also said he would never get in the ring with Kov in the first place and he did. He has been active lately so there is no reason why he shouldn't
Over the last few years boxers have been more businessman than boxer. They absolutely can be civil and several fighters are.
Keep this in mind, if the fight does poor numbers and makes a loss, and they want Ward to take less than $5m....will he take the fight?
In that case, you'd probably be right. Not saying Ward isn't a diva, because he clearly is. I just think this will end up making financial sense.
Not too sure the 1st fight made financial sense to pay Ward as much as they did. Then again, everything Roc Nation seem to do seems to be throwing away money
I don't really have an issue with Kovalev whining over the decision. It was a very close fight, I had it a draw myself, anyone who was in a fight that close and lost would likely believe they won and feel hard done by. Kovalev may also just be looking to build a rematch by trying to stoke controversy over the decision. Ward has acted as like a poor winner, he's fooling nobody saying it wasn't his toughest fight. And once again shows what a poor sales man he is. By demeaning his opponent and the competitiveness of the fight, he is actually underselling the rematch while in reality he should be hyping up how competitive it was and how hard it was because this will interest fans who want to see competitive fights. Anyone who didn't see the first fight going off Ward's words won't bother tuning in for the rematch as it was another routine win for Ward instead of the close fought battle we know it was.
Theres a rematch on the cards here, hopefully soon, so we may aswell continue the hype train and what better way to do it than cry robbery while your opponant, the one gifted a home town decision talks aboout how easy it was and was in full control of the fight. bad words between the 2 all the way to the next fight now.
I agree about a bit of a sour taste. Kovalev acting like a whining child, not accepting he made some major mistakes especially infighting wise. Ward acting a bit arrogant, not giving any credit and downplaying the danger he was in. Really lame.
I agree. Ward immediate reaction I thought was fair and humble. But his comments the next two days I've read have been arrogant and overboard. When he didn't credit Kovalev for his power or ability and said Miranda was still his toughest fight. I still think he deserved the win and adjusted masterfully, but crediting Kovalev more would only make Ward's overcoming of him look better. And Kovalev has also dismissed Ward too much. Kovalev didn't have enough of a back-up plan in the mid rounds, and he's talking like he has a rematch in the bag fighting the same way. I think Kovalev has the tools to win a rematch, but I get the feeling he's too arrogant to make the adjustments he'll need to make to use them more effectively. And, yes it doesn't look good that three American judges had the exact same score for the American fighter, but I don't have much sympathy for Kovalev because his team should've and could've ensured in the contract that wouldn't happen. It was a close, compelling fight between two great fighters. Get back in the gym boys, prepare for the strengths of the other guy to improve and correct the mistakes you both made, and let's see a rematch in March.
