I feel sorry for Kovalev

[g27region]

Well, Kov looks fully motivated for a rematch (judging from the video he did with reporters). I am optimistic it will happen - how many people thought Ward wouldn't take the first fight? People under-estimate Ward a little bit, he isn't soft like the PBC fighters.

lol You don't have to have any respect towards some Russian/ex-USSR fighter. They're not from your country anyway. Kovalev proved nothing in this fight

I'm against the idea of rematch, and Kovalev career is done, nobody needs his ass without belts

[Porter's Dad]

Three American Judges, an American Referee and RocNation...

I agree how could Kovalev's team let this happen? Wouldn't they be su****ious of something...

I knew a robbery was going to come

Whilst it feels like an error, how much leverage did they really have? Kov doesn't have the huge leverage that someone like, say, GGG could have.

Kov is basically a throwback fighter. Goes on the road, doesn't over-price himself and takes less than he probably should to make the fight. Put it this way - he got paid last night something Danny Jacobs wouldn't accept to fight Golovkin.

Now, whilst that sounds naive and ******, it means the fights WE the fans want get made.

There will be a better spread of judges next time but only because it would look bad if there wasn't.

[b00g13man]

Good thread.

[Chrismart]

He's a very good fighter for sure. There was predictions of how he would be made to look foolish and be thoroughly out boxed.
Of how he would have no answer or nullifying effect inside.

He's always been more rounded than some think, and the claims of some (although the numbers have dwindled over time) that he was a brawler, who just carried power, were way off the mark.

[g27region]

He's a very good fighter for sure. There was predictions of how he would be made to look foolish and be thoroughly out boxed.
Of how he would have no answer or nullifying effect inside.

He's always been more rounded than some think, and the claims of some (although the numbers have dwindled over time) that he was a brawler, who just carried power, were way off the mark.

So what he did to prove that he's more than just a brawler?

[bojangles1987]

Kovalev was incredible. Any doubts about his boxing ability are gone forever. The man straight up outboxed Andre Ward at distance for the majority of the fight. He had a perfect gameplan that he executed solidly. Kovalev's potential advantage at range was one of the big question marks going in, and he proved it once and for all. His timing, accuracy, and control of range was top notch. He is an amazing fighter.

I don't think Ward lost all the early rounds and needed to sweep the second half. I gave him one of the first five, and another round somewhere in the middle of the fight could have been his. He has a good case for winning all of the last 4. I definitely thought Kovalev deserved it more, and I'm trying to restrain myself from saying there's no way Ward won 7 rounds. Going to need to watch the fight again before I can say that.

And I can't wait to. What a great fight. Too much of NSB had a personal stake in this fight because of fanboyism, and it's going to ruin their enjoyment of exactly what happened last night. Two of the very best fighters in the world, maybe THE two best fighters in the world, fought one of the best fights of the year featuring incredible momentum shifts, a KD, and drama down to the final bell. It was everything I hoped it would be, even if I'm a little heartbroken for Kovalev after he fought so well.

[Thraxox]

So what he did to prove that he's more than just a brawler?

By Out landing Ward in the stats and putting him on the ass and out muscling him? Or are you just being plain ******?

[BrometheusBob.]

Kovalev was incredible. Any doubts about his boxing ability are gone forever. The man straight up outboxed Andre Ward at distance for the majority of the fight. He had a perfect gameplan that he executed solidly. Kovalev's potential advantage at range was one of the big question marks going in, and he proved it once and for all. His timing, accuracy, and control of range was top notch. He is an amazing fighter.

I don't think Ward lost all the early rounds and needed to sweep the second half. I gave him one of the first five, and another round somewhere in the middle of the fight could have been his. He has a good case for winning all of the last 4. I definitely thought Kovalev deserved it more, and I'm trying to restrain myself from saying there's no way Ward won 7 rounds. Going to need to watch the fight again before I can say that.

And I can't wait to. What a great fight. Too much of NSB had a personal stake in this fight because of fanboyism, and it's going to ruin their enjoyment of exactly what happened last night. Two of the very best fighters in the world, maybe THE two best fighters in the world, fought one of the best fights of the year featuring incredible momentum shifts, a KD, and drama down to the final bell. It was everything I hoped it would be, even if I'm a little heartbroken for Kovalev after he fought so well.

Excellent post. You are entitled to disagree with the decision if that is how you feel.

[classicbuzzbox]

lol You don't have to have any respect towards some Russian/ex-USSR fighter. They're not from your country anyway. Kovalev proved nothing in this fight

I'm against the idea of rematch, and Kovalev career is done, nobody needs his ass without belts

[IronDanHamza]

Kovalev was incredible. Any doubts about his boxing ability are gone forever. The man straight up outboxed Andre Ward at distance for the majority of the fight. He had a perfect gameplan that he executed solidly. Kovalev's potential advantage at range was one of the big question marks going in, and he proved it once and for all. His timing, accuracy, and control of range was top notch. He is an amazing fighter.

I don't think Ward lost all the early rounds and needed to sweep the second half. I gave him one of the first five, and another round somewhere in the middle of the fight could have been his. He has a good case for winning all of the last 4. I definitely thought Kovalev deserved it more, and I'm trying to restrain myself from saying there's no way Ward won 7 rounds. Going to need to watch the fight again before I can say that.

And I can't wait to. What a great fight. Too much of NSB had a personal stake in this fight because of fanboyism, and it's going to ruin their enjoyment of exactly what happened last night. Two of the very best fighters in the world, maybe THE two best fighters in the world, fought one of the best fights of the year featuring incredible momentum shifts, a KD, and drama down to the final bell. It was everything I hoped it would be, even if I'm a little heartbroken for Kovalev after he fought so well.

I'm unsure why anyone questioned Kovlalev's skills anyway.

Yeah he does make mistakes sometimes and could improve in some areas but at the same time he's shown to be very skilled and crafty with an exceptional jab and timing and good countering too.

But yeah I agree if anyone was in doubt he showed it tonight despite losing officially. Because Ward has never been hit this much in any other of his fights and he was definitely outboxed at times. But then Ward did a great job of adjusting. Really good fight and I'm glad the scorecards reflected it.

Rematch due.