I knew Ward would win a close decision this week when...

[Motorcity Cobra]

...Duva announced there was a rematch clause for this fight if Ward won but not if Kovalev won. The fight sold well at the arena. Judging by the non boxing ppl I follow on twitter a lot of them were talking about the fight so the PPV should do good numbers. To much money left on the floor with a Kovalev win. And if he wins Stevenson isn't fighting him so he's stuck fighting IBF mando's. Once Vegas saw the revenue being made from this fight they wanted another one. Kovalev vs. Ward cinco de mayo weekend 2017. Canelo is wasting that date anyway.

For the record it was a close fight but I'm a firm believer in taking it from the champ. Ward adjusted in the second half and did great but I just don't think he did enough to take it from the champ. If this was a non-title fight I can see him getting the decision but you gotta take it from the champ in my book.

[Motorcity Cobra]

Here's the #KovalevWard scorecard: pic.twitter.com/0L5sXd5pi5

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) November 20, 2016

[Lester Tutor]

...Duva announced there was a rematch clause for this fight if Ward won but not if Kovalev won. The fight sold well at the arena. Judging by the non boxing ppl I follow on twitter a lot of them were talking about the fight so the PPV should do good numbers. To much money left on the floor with a Kovalev win. And if he wins Stevenson isn't fighting him so he's stuck fighting IBF mando's. Once Vegas saw the revenue being made from this fight they wanted another one. Kovalev vs. Ward cinco de mayo weekend 2017. Canelo is wasting that date anyway.

For the record it was a close fight but I'm a firm believer in taking it from the champ. Ward adjusted in the second half and did great but I just don't think he did enough to take it from the champ. If this was a non-title fight I can see him getting the decision but you gotta take it from the champ in my book.

More importantly, what's Fat Dan gonna write?! Probably literally rolling a football size pizza atm andwriting an article on Golovkin with slurping on that super gulp like a pimp

[kiaba360]

Here's the #KovalevWard scorecard: pic.twitter.com/0L5sXd5pi5

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) November 20, 2016

First 6 rounds: 2 judges had it 5-1 for Kov, other judge had 4-2 Kov.

Last 6 rounds: 2 had it 6-0 Ward, and the other had it 5-1 Ward.

Burt Clements was the "other" in both halves of the fight, and the only judge to give Kov the 12th.

The fight = Tale of Two Halves

[-PBP-]

First 6 rounds: 2 judges had it 5-1 for Kov, other judge had 4-2 Kov.

Last 6 rounds: 2 had it 6-0 Ward, and the other had it 5-1 Ward.

Burt Clements was the "other" in both halves of the fight, and the only judge to give Kov the 12th.

The fight = Tale of Two Halves

Ward may not have won rounds 3-6 but you could definitely sense the tide turning at that point.

[kiaba360]

Ward may not have won rounds 3-6 but you could definitely sense the tide turning at that point.

I could tell that Ward was gonna win as early as the 7th. Kov fell into a loop of clinching/holding and his jab was no longer effective. Ward messed up his timing even more with his own jab and feints. The wrestling was zapping Kov of his power.

[Motorcity Cobra]

I could tell that Ward was gonna win as early as the 7th. Kov fell into a loop of clinching/holding and his jab was no longer effective. Ward messed up his timing even more with his own jab and feints. The wrestling was zapping Kov of his power.

And that jab to the body. Kovalev landed some nice right hands late in the fight but not with the same pop on them.

[Motorcity Cobra]

Gennady Golovkin scored the fight 114-113 for Kovalev, per @TomLoeffler1

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) November 20, 2016

[kiaba360]

And that jab to the body. Kovalev landed some nice right hands late in the fight but not with the same pop on them.

Ward was constantly making Kovalev work, even-though "work" didn't always mean punching/exchanging. Kov was following rather than cutting off the ring, resetting when Ward's body jab would get him off-balance, and clinching/wrestling when he could've been working on the inside. Ward beat Kov by making him spend more energy than was actually necessary. Although the fight wasn't all that entertaining, it was interesting to see Ward's strategy unfold.

[Rip Chudd]

Ward did enough to "take it from the champ", he won more rounds. That's all you have to do.