In Hindsight, Should Kovalev have avoided Andre Ward?

Age catches us all.

Absolutely fight Ward. Ward is one guy that regardless of how you feel about his style you have to recognize as a top level fighter and a pound for pound type of fighter. Kovalev could have just as easily won the first fight with three different judges. It was a good, competitive fight. The 2nd fight showed us what we have seen over and over again in boxing which is that the technician usually makes the adjustments and does better the 2nd time around. I gave Kovalev the first fight but fully expected Ward to win the rematch. The fact that Kovalev was stopped and looked mentally beaten is what ****ed him over. Ward is not a puncher and he bullied and stopped the bully. Kovalev's opponents have more hope now and Kovalev has less confidence. Plus he's older now. But that first Ward fight proved more than rattling off a bunch of nothing wins ever would have. He belonged with Andre Ward.

yes he should have known he would be cheated. he took the money though

I watched and enjoyed Sergey Kovalev's tremendous accent to the top of the LHW division. Kovalev was an absolute destroyer as he KO'd most of his opponents and developed an 'air of invisibility' like that of a young Mike Tyson. Kovalev was also a real 'bad a.ss' as he seemed to enjoy dishing out punishment to his opponents. Then came Andre Ward. Before they fought, my gut told me that Ward would win via decision and that's exactly what he did. In hindsight, was facing a prime Andre Ward the smartest career move for Sergey Kovalev? Perhaps, he could've faced Stevenson, Beterbeiv or some of the other top guys at LHW. Right now, that 'air of invisibility' is long gone and Kovalev is not the draw that he once was, pre Ward. In hindsight, if you were Kovalev's promoter, would you have still made the Ward fight? What could have been done differently? Well for starts he shouldn't have treated his trainer like crap. I don't like how Jackson responded but Kovalev was practically begging for it. He also should have been prepared to fight dirty. When you fight Ward the possibility of Ward resorting to dirty tactis is always present. Yeah he should have taken the fight. He also shouldn't have been an arrogant ass and a part time alcoholic. I never got what the fuss was all about with this guy.

I watched and enjoyed Sergey Kovalev's tremendous accent to the top of the LHW division. Kovalev was an absolute destroyer as he KO'd most of his opponents and developed an 'air of invisibility' like that of a young Mike Tyson. Kovalev was also a real 'bad a.ss' as he seemed to enjoy dishing out punishment to his opponents. Then came Andre Ward. Before they fought, my gut told me that Ward would win via decision and that's exactly what he did. In hindsight, was facing a prime Andre Ward the smartest career move for Sergey Kovalev? Perhaps, he could've faced Stevenson, Beterbeiv or some of the other top guys at LHW. Right now, that 'air of invisibility' is long gone and Kovalev is not the draw that he once was, pre Ward. In hindsight, if you were Kovalev's promoter, would you have still made the Ward fight? What could have been done differently? Why avoid it? I think he clearly won the first fight. No reason to have avoided the fight. He almost KO'd Ward as well.

ok, but he didnt "underestimate" any of the others before that who were inferior - he just undestimated the best guy ALONE. If he was the underestimating type, ingrained in his character, he'd have done it before the age of 33. I think the evidence goes against that argument - the evidence is he was up against a true elite like himself that rare time in his career, although Pascal might have qualified as an elite previously (perhaps not at LHW).

why would you underestimate the best guy you've ever fought? the one who beat you, if thats not too much of a coincidence. Ego, bro. He didn't believe he lost the first fight and he was not alone. Kovalev was saying he would end Ward's career before the rematch. Funny thing is, he kind of did, even in losing.

I disagree. Kovalev even said himself that he didn't train like he should have for Ward, even though he did try to blame that on JDJ. I think his big mistake was taking himself for granted and not properly training, while underestimating Ward. Also, his pride is too much for his own good. He should have taken a knee when Ward landed those questionable blows. Likewise, he should have tied Alvarez up, since he doesn't know how to back up after being hurt. I think being known as "Krusher" may have given him a false sense of invincibility. why would you underestimate the best guy you've ever fought? the one who beat you, if thats not too much of a coincidence.

In lieu of his most recent KO loss, I think Kovalev should have avoided Andre Ward. I disagree. Kovalev even said himself that he didn't train like he should have for Ward, even though he did try to blame that on JDJ. I think his big mistake was taking himself for granted and not properly training, while underestimating Ward. Also, his pride is too much for his own good. He should have taken a knee when Ward landed those questionable blows. Likewise, he should have tied Alvarez up, since he doesn't know how to back up after being hurt. I think being known as "Krusher" may have given him a false sense of invincibility.

kov isnt the kind of man to avoid people

Nah, in hindsight he should've appreciated the people that helped him reach the level he did in his career.

Absolutely not. The best should always fight the best, you win some, you lose some but fighters fight, everybody else just speculates. Kovalev won the first fight and was a victim of ref bias. Andre Ward though son of god, is a also a student of dirty tactics. Known for being a unicorn with his head, a lot of those body shots were low and the red let it go. Kovalev would’ve lost the rematch regardless but could’ve faired better with a better red. Ultimately both Andre Ward in the rematch and Eleider Alvarez were better Men when they faced off, no excuses.

i never thought kovalev was that invincible or that powerful. he's a LHW, as you have seen recently, they can pretty much all punch hard enough to hurt you. he threw hard, straight shots and he knew when and where to throw them. tyson would knock guys half way across the ring and hit you three times off of a pivot. and he was a HW. completely unique, once in a lifetime fighter. student of the game, technical, his limitations were his size and his sanity. kovalev was just a sound puncher and HBO needed a villain to fight andre ward. they made him out to be a lot more than he was. a solid fighter, a top 10 p4p guy for a while, but certainly nobody to be remembered in 25 years. he also very easily could have gotten a nod over past prime ward in the first fight. iw as there and bascally everybodyin my section and in the casino after the fight thought he kovalev won.

ive always liked kovalev....still have respect for him but i wonder if we shouldnt have sort of seen this coming he couldnt put old b hop away....and when that happened his fanboys screamed that he wanted to put in rounds and "felt bad" for the old man....he struggled with chilemba....now i know chilemba is a tough out and tricky...but he was also not in his kovs "class"....then the 2nd half of the 1st ward fight......i dunno.....def should have seen teh alvarez loss coming at least......them colombians can always bang

ive always liked kovalev....still have respect for him but i wonder if we shouldnt have sort of seen this coming he couldnt put old b hop away....and when that happened his fanboys screamed that he wanted to put in rounds and "felt bad" for the old man....he struggled with chilemba....now i know chilemba is a tough out and tricky...but he was also not in his kovs "class"....then the 2nd half of the 1st ward fight......i dunno.....def should have seen teh alvarez loss coming at least......them colombians can always bang

I think the entire issue is Kovalev,he started believing his own hype and stopped listening to the person who helped get him there He beat Ward in the first fight... the rematch was a joke as well. I’ve always liked Ward. I’m just very critical of his career. Barely any fights in 14 years and held/hugged so much.

No, we don't. First fight was close and could have gone either way.. only a tiny group of ward fangirls repeat the same thing over and over as if to convince themselves 'close fight could of gone either way' 2nd fight: ' ward would of won anyway' ' kovalev quit' ' ward ruins lives' truely pathetic bunch :lol1:

What he should have not done was gotten rid of his S&C coach.

In lieu of his most recent KO loss, I think Kovalev should have avoided Andre Ward.

I think the entire issue is Kovalev,he started believing his own hype and stopped listening to the person who helped get him there I agree. The biggest blunder he made was thinking he was infallible. I don't know if he had some kind of contract with Jackson or he actually liked Jackson but wouldn't listen to him. Whatever the reason he should have parted company with him. He once said something like he just went to the gym to use the facilities and he pretty much trains himself. Jackson screwed up yes but Kovalev was his own worst enemy.