What does Kovalev need to do in a rematch to win?

Work on that body. And he needs to up his stamina.
Maybe tighten up his defence. He opened up a little too much when looking for that right hand counter.

 

Stop backing off all the time. Stop holding. Learn how to shorten your punches.

 

Don't try to box with the boxer. Cut the ring off and take the fight to him.

 

pay off the judges like Ward's people did

 

For me he squared up horribly when he moved forward, throwing that lead right then an almost clumsy looking left hand ! Correct that and jab more and unleash the right hand way more

 

Beat the crap out of him! Either KO him or like others said up his stamina and stay more active!

 

If the opponent is faster and more crafty, especially when it comes to head movement, bodywork becomes pretty much the primary target. And yet it was Ward doing all the work to the body.
What is even more maddening is that Kovalev is the one knocking guys down with jabs to the body.
Work on that stamina and tighten the defence when throwing the right hand counter. It´s his best weapon but he under utilized it.
Just by feinting more he could open up a bath for his jab and right hand.
The common phrase is that you "do not hook with a hooker", but if you can´t touch your opponent with a jab, then there is no point in even trying.
Ward loves to counter, so Kovalev needs to be ready to counter his counters. Draw Ward into his own punches. Otherwise Kovalev wont land what he truly intends to.

 

For a puncher his distance control is his best asset. It stopped the boxer from dictating. Problem was he allowed the fight to become too much of a chess match. In order to better pin Ward down he needs to shoot more straight punches to the body and focus on twos and threes when his back brushes against the ropes. They're the kind of calculated bursts we needed to see - that would have edged him the rounds.

 

Deffinately cut off the ring better. Dont be too agrresive this time around, just because he didnt get the decision last time that fight was so close it could have gone either way. Stop ward from landing the body shots everytime they break away from the clinch.

 

Simple. When Kovalev went to the body, he hurt Ward. His trouble is he did it too late.

So more straight shots ( Which landed and marked Ward up ) and dare him to come inside to trade body shots.

That and cut off the ring, do not chase him.

Oh, and fair judges would help a tad

 

He needs to make sure the fight is NOT in the US and the judges are NOT American.

 

Kovalev needs to finish Ward off... Put real pressure & make Ward break. Sadly Kovalev gave his best effort & it still wasn't enough. SOG figured dude out around the 5th Rd & already has the proper adjustments (Tools) to beat Sergei in a rematch.

 

I'll give him the same criticism I gave Dirrell vs Froch: Don't fight like the home fighter when you're not. It's poor situational awareness to do so.

Yeah, he should've won, but your team has to know that with three U.S. judges, you're going to need to do more than edge close rounds to win on points vs the guy who is the face of U.S. boxing today.