By Keith Idec
LAS VEGAS – Andre Ward talked Saturday night as if he isn’t contractually obligated to fight Sergey Kovalev again.
His handlers preferred to discuss Ward’s win, not a rematch, in the aftermath of the most significant victory of Ward’s career. Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s promoter, made it perfectly clear, though, that Kovalev will exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch, assuming Kovalev’s sore right hand doesn’t require surgery or a long layoff to rest it.
Whenever Ward (31-0, 15 KOs), of Hayward, California, and Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) share a ring again, Ward envisions having an easier time than he experienced Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
The newly crowned IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion had to get off the canvas in the second round, clinched and wrestled all night with Kovalev and narrowly won a unanimous decision by the same score, 114-113, on all three scorecards.
Now that Ward has a better feel for Kovalev’s power and other skills, the former undisputed super middleweight champion is certain he’d win a rematch easier.
“I’ve never ducked and dodged anybody,” Ward said during the post-fight press conference. “And honestly, I think the second fight would be a lot worse because I’ve been in there with him and I know what he has. And honestly, and this is no disrespect to him – I don’t know how many adjustments he can make. His style is kind of set. But, you know, we’re gonna entertain all offers and we’ll see what the best decision to make is.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
