Why didn't Kovalev go for the kill?

[darius45]

Ward was hurt early and seemed completely out of his element, so why didn't Kovalev capitalize on this?

Was it because he wanted to give the fans a long fight full of action?

Maybe he thought Ward wouldn't be able to adjust the way he did, and he could coast to a decision like they way he did with Hopkins?

Maybe he simply couldn't get the KO even though he tried? But if this is true, then why didn't he push the action more in the latter rounds when the fight became much closer? Why was there no urgency in Kovalev's corner?

Can we say that Kovalev was incapable of getting the KO if he didn't put it all on the line?

A rematch will be interesting, because now Kovalev knows even if he feels he's up on the cards, this won't be enough to secure him a victory. So he'll either get Ward out early, or he'll go balls to the wall in the latter rounds.

Ward has felt Kovalev's power but he hasn't felt Kovalev really pressing him.

[LoadedWraps]

Ward was hurt early and seemed completely out of his element, so why didn't Kovalev capitalize on this?

Was it because he wanted to give the fans a long fight full of action?

Maybe he thought Ward wouldn't be able to adjust the way he did, and he could coast to a decision like they way he did with Hopkins?

Maybe he simply couldn't get the KO even though he tried? But if this is true, then why didn't he push the action more in the latter rounds when the fight became much closer? Why was there no urgency in Kovalev's corner?

Can we say that Kovalev was incapable of getting the KO if he didn't put it all on the line?

A rematch will be interesting, because now Kovalev knows even if he feels he's up on the cards, this won't be enough to secure him a victory. So he'll either get Ward out early, or he'll go balls to the wall in the latter rounds.

Ward has felt Kovalev's power but he hasn't felt Kovalev really pressing him.

The same reason the Predator didn't take out Arnold's team at once - sport.

[Thraxox]

"I will prove to everyone elses that I'm a better boxer than Ward, that I'm not only a Krusher but smart also." - Sergey Kovalev. He did and he did it surprisingly.

[mlac]

The same reason the Predator didn't take out Arnold's team at once - sport.

[fighter1234]

He tried man. There's a difference between hurting a fighter like Ward compared to someone like Pascal. Following up and trying to finish is much harder. You could see Ward slipping and blocking a lot of his punches and if Kovalev kept going he would gas out very fast. He was trying to conserve his energy while looking for more big shots that could put Ward away. They never came.

[MaD RoBoT]

because Ward tried every brazilian jiu-jitsu moves he could've managed to avoid those Krusher bombs

[Bjl12]

Was wondering the same thing. Ward actually came back and won Round 3 after that KD - which was damn near a 10-7 round...Ward was very shook up. He can say all he wants after the fight, but he got full-rocked and was wobbly till the round ended. He def. rebounded well in Round 3, but lost Rounds 4 + 5 on my card.

Kovalev got ****** into Ward's mental game imho

[Kagami Taiga]

Because Ward is an elite world class boxer. Nd he recovered quite well in the proceeding rounds.

[darius45]

He tried man. There's a difference between hurting a fighter like Ward compared to someone like Pascal. Following up and trying to finish is much harder. You could see Ward slipping and blocking a lot of his punches and if Kovalev kept going he would gas out very fast. He was trying to conserve his energy while looking for more big shots that could put Ward away. They never came.

They never came because he never pressed the action. He felt at ease just boxing and looking for a big shot (should it ever present itself). I feel in a rematch Kovalev will be less comfortable just boxing knowing the judges can screw him over.

The question is: Will Wards style of wrapping up Kovalev prevent Kovalev from pressing the action? I don't necessarily think so, because Ward, unlike someone like Floyd doesn't have the legs and to avoid Kovalev all night long jabbing and moving. And yes, Ward has tasted Kovalev's power, but Kovalev will adapt to Wards wrapping up strategy.

[darius45]

.

Kovalev got ****** into Ward's mental game imho

I think it's half that/ half Kovalev thinking he was comfortably up on points. I don't know what was up in Kovalev's corner... Wish HBO provided us with a translator.