Who wins the Rematch: Ward-Kovalev 2

Ward's higher ring IQ would suggest he will adjust to what he now knows about Kovalev, better than Krusher will adjust to Ward. The better boxer usually wins a rematch more comfortably, history suggests this anyway. So I pick the rematch to end in a (slightly) more conclusive UD for Ward.

 

Co-sign doublejab except SK will always have that equalizer, Ward is savvy enough to nullify most of the in coming Russian warheads but its the ones you don't see coming that do the most damage. I had the first fight 45/55 SK for this bout I'd have to lean the same percentage in favor of Ward.

 

Kovalev I believe won the first and I think he'll adjust more than Ward and win the second.

 

The first fight Kov won clearly I don't think Ward did enough to win he didn't accumulate enough punches landed and Kov's punches landed just as clean. This wasn't Marquez-Pacquiao 1 where Marquez fell behind abysmally and landed combination after combination to catch up, Ward was potshotting, 1 punch at a time. The body punching was a superb idea, especially against a fighter like Kov, but Ward made the fight competitive, he didn't win it. Kov was outboxing Ward the first half EASILY, which was shocking, it wasn't just the power that was a factor.

 

This is how I see it. Ward will have sussed Kovalev's style out, and win far more conclusively the second time around -- maybe 8-4 to Ward in rounds.

 

Hope it happens, and there's a third fight if Kov levels the score. I know the first fight divides opinion but at least both boxers signed for it. It's a rare thing today that two elite (and undefeated) fighters take the risk.

 

Ward will punch and grab more, and Kovalev will not adjust to his tactics.
Only chance for K is to go all out for the KO.

 

Kova wins, Ward gets the verdict...

Seriously though, even if it's in Wardclay Center, Oakland California, judges won't be a problem.
Kovalev will do anything in his power to prevent it to go to the the scorecards in the US against Ward, even if it means he gasses himself out or it gets him disqualified.

 

Thinking about it, Kovalev vs Ward I was basically our era's Hagler vs Leonard in terms of how disputed the end verdict was.

And it's really refreshing and goes against the grain, to see two prime elite fighters taking risks. This is what Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran fought each other, and is how fighters can become stars -- something Adonis "The Forgotten Man" Stevenson could probably learn from.

 

Indeed.
And in both cases I had the eventual winner losing the fight.

 

Kovalev. Not only did he show he was the better fighter, I think he'd learn more out the two from the last fight. He needs to work on brutalizing angles more and be less predictable then he was the first time. I expect to see a less green Kovalev in the rematch.

 

Ward to win again and by a wider margin this time

 

You could apply the same logic for Ward since I think it universally known that the crescendo was leaning more towards Wards wheel house and the 2nd fight could be a continuation of the story he was writing during the second half of the fight.

 

I like your comparison. I just hope we get Ward vs Kov II. We never got Hagler vs Leonard II...