Adonis Stevenson: Ward-Kovalev Rematch Will Have Same Result!

By Ryan Burton

WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (28-1) was a very interested observer of Andre Ward's narrow November points victory over Sergey Kovalev. The fight took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and Ward was the victor on all three scorecards by the tally of 114-113.

Most ringside observers had Kovalev winning the fight but nearly all observers felt that the fight was very close and could have went either way. Stevenson fully agrees with the verdict.

Kovalev got off to fast start, dropping Ward in the second round but the United States Olympic gold medal winner had more success in the second half of the fight.

Stevenson felt Kovalev's gas tank had emptied out in the second half of the contest.

"After 12 rounds Kovalev was tired and Ward was more physical than him. Kovalev got tired," said Stevenson.

According to Stevenson, Ward was able to find more success when he got around Kovalev's jab and fought him on the inside.

He said that the fight revealed the biggest chink in Kovalev's armor.

"He can't fight on the inside," Stevenson explained. "You saw me with (Thomas) Williams Jr. and I fought him on the inside. Kovalev doesn't have an inside game."

Ward is contractually obligated to face Kovalev again in a rematch and Stevenson doesn't believe Ward has anything to worry about.  He sees Ward also winning the second fight because of his ability to beat Kovalev in the trenches. Stevenson has serious doubts that Kovalev can improve.

"If he gets a rematch with Andre Ward he will lose again. It will be the same thing. You can't teach a guy to fight inside when he always fights on the outside. He always fights the same way. It is tough for him to make the change," Stevenson told BoxingScene.com.