Kovalev outboxed two of the top 3..

[1g5a22]

I had it 6-6 with Kov winning because of the KD. He also had to hold Ward because Ward was working to get inside where he clearly had an advanatge over Kov.

You calling it corruption discounts the fact that Kov had a very strong start but appeared to tire the last half of the fight. I recall even Roy mentioning how he was so tired he could no longer cut off the ring as he had done earlier in the fight.

I did think Kov boxed effectively early on and showed a higher level of skill than most thought he had.

Which is smart boxing. Ward does it regularly.. So does Klitschko.

[The Big Dunn]

To be fair though Duva should know that putting a Russian against Americas big star in Vegas won't go well. It should have been neutral territory & non Vegas judging. Vegas judges all live in Vegas! The odds capital of the world! Naive managment.. So in that respect its a bit on Duva & Sergeys team but you can't really prepare for bad officiating i suppose! There should be some over seeing body to hold it to account though.

To be fair, Kathy raised no concerns about the judges before and Lederman said they were all very credible before the scores were announced.

[The Big Dunn]

Kovalev stock grew for me

Lost a narrow fight by ONE round to Andre Ward, a master boxer in his prime

Kov wins the rematch. The mistakes he madr are fixable. There is nothinbg else Ward can do but hope for a replay of the later rounds that assumes Kovalev cant adjust.

Good post. I think both guys elevated themselves. Kov showed tremendous skill and Ward showed alot of guts and heart.

[1g5a22]

To be fair, Kathy raised no concerns about the judges before and Lederman said they were all very credible before the scores were announced.

Who's Lederman?

[-PBP-]

Great fighter and I enjoy watching him. Unlike Pacquiao I haven't let his racist, anti-American fans change my opinion of him and drag me into troll wars.

He's one of my 10 favorite fighters in boxing right now.

[Simurgh]

He certainly didn't outbox Ward, but he was at worse the equal to him in terms of boxing. What made the difference is Kovalev's power.

[1g5a22]

He certainly didn't outbox Ward, but he was at worse the equal to him in terms of boxing. What made the difference is Kovalev's power.

HAHAHAHA That gif..

Man i love that good boy! No ****

[The Big Dunn]

Agree. And if anything I thought that Ward ultimately outboxed him. The most dramatic moments of the fight belonged to Kovalev -- namely the jab that jolted and shook Ward in the first, and then the KD -- but outside of that I thought Ward for the most part outboxed him the rest of the way. Not by a big margin, but enough for it to be visible.

I know people aren't too fond of punch stats, but if the punch stats were anywhere accurate, Kovalev landed just 10 more shots than Ward -- and it took him an additional 130 some attempts to do it. Ward was more effective and efficient than Kovalev was over the duration of the fight, and landed nearly the same amount of shots.

I thought in the second half of the fight especially that Ward had a close but clear advantage in the clean, effective shots landed category.

I think Kov needs only to work on his stamina for the rematch and he will be able to prevent another comeback win in the rematch. he boxed at a very high level, above what I think many thought he could.

[The Big Dunn]

Who's Lederman?

The HBO official scorer. In the last couple years he's been giving fans a synopsis of the judge and their history right before scores are announced.

[1g5a22]

I think Kov needs only to work on his stamina

Was just going to mention that. Can you imagine a Kovalev with Cazlaghe workrate/stamina??