Andre Ward: record, next fight and profile →
By Keith Idec - The apologetic Tweets from Tony Weeks quickly began circulating Saturday night. One noted that he would not have stopped the Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev rematch had he known Ward had landed multiple low blows before he stepped in. Another included the words “I was wrong” and “I miss...
Abel Sanchez, who once worked with former champion Sergey Kovalev (30-2, 26 KOs), isn't all that surprised that he has seemingly tuned out trainer John David Jackson in his last few fights and many believe that a parting of ways between the two is inevitable after consecutive losses to Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs). Last Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Ward stopped Kovalev in the eight round of their rematch.
Former world champion and Sky Sports analyst Johnny Nelson believes Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) would be making a very big mistake if he moves up to the heavyweight division to challenge IBF, IBO, WBA world champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs).
Sergey Kovalev gave Andre Ward deserved credit for his improved performance, yet faulted referee Tony Weeks for the unusual conclusion to their fight Saturday night. Kovalev posted the same message to his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts late Monday night in which the former light heavyweight champion acknowledged Ward was a better fighter in their rematch than he was when they fought the first time seven months ago.
The final punch Andre Ward landed was a low blow. To dismiss it entirely is intellectually dishonest; to pretend it didn’t happen a lie. To say emphatically it ended on three straight low blows would be both of those things as well. The shot that ultimately drew the stoppage, bending Kovalev forward with a grimace and sitting into the ropes, was clearly below the belt. Take into account a high belt line indicated before the fight by referee Tony Weeks.
Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) is more than willing to provide Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) with the opportunity to test his skills at a higher weight. Ward returned to the ring last Saturday night and stopped Sergey Kovalev in the eight round of their rematch at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. With the victory Ward retained the WBA, WBO, IBF light heavyweight titles.
Kathy Duva isn’t optimistic that the protest her promotional company has filed on behalf of Sergey Kovalev will change anything. She still feels that what occurred during the Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev rematch Saturday night in Las Vegas needs to be addressed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
NEW YORK – Adrien Broner saw quit in Sergey Kovalev on Saturday night. As the former four-division champion watched his friend, Andre Ward, and Kovalev go at it in their light heavyweight championship rematch, Broner noticed a fast-tiring Kovalev looking for a way out of a tough fight. That was especially true, according to Broner, once Ward drilled Kovalev with a flush right hand to his jaw that hurt the former champion badly with 1:14 to go in the eighth round.
LAS VEGAS - Anyone who predicted there would be a knockout in the rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev were correct. Few were correct in predicting it would be Ward, even if you count Ward's immediate family and managerial team. With the way the first fight played out on Nov. 19, which Andre Ward won despite an overwhelming amount of media and fight fans who scored the fight for Kovalev, the thought was Kovalev had to score a knockout Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.