By TMZ Sports
Sergey Kovalev says he's "disappointed" IBF, WBA, WBO light heavyweight champion Andre Ward is retiring from boxing because "I don't have opportunity to kick his ass again."
The Krusher joked to TMZ Sports that he predicted he would end Ward's career before their second fight back in June ... and now, "It's true!"
Of course, Kovalev and Ward fought twice over the past year -- with Ward officially winning both matches. Ward won a very close, and some felt controversial, twelve round unanimous decision over Kovalev last November. And then he stopped Kovalev in the June rematch.
But Kovalev says the judges got it wrong ... he feels that he clearly won the first fight and was looking forward to fight #3 to settle what he believes is a 1-1 tie.
That said, Sergey definitely throws some shade at Ward as he sends the boxer off into the sunset -- explaining why the sport will be better off without Son of God.
"He hear yesterday about me [that I'm returning] and now he's retired. It's the reason [he retired]. It's the reason, I'm back. In a few fights it should be our third fight and now he stopped his career. I said before the [second] fight that I would stop his boxing career. I said, and yes it's true. It's true," Kovalev told TMZ Sports.
"It's very good for boxing [that Ward retired], because right now more fighters will be more motivated to get these championship fights between each other. It will interesting for the boxing fans, no more boring fans. Just interesting fights for world titles. I'm happy. Im disappointed that I don't have the opportunity to kick his ass again. I won the first fight and he won the second fight with the help of [referee] Tony Weeks. So now it's 1-1."
As for Kovalev, he's gearing up to fight Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in November.