"Virgil said, 'Keep him mad!'"

**Kel1981** · 11-22-2016, 03:55 AM

Kovalev won the fight so I doubt all that you wrote.

**LoadedWraps** · 11-22-2016, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by Redd Foxx

I believe this may have been posted, but I want to discuss the emotional factor.
No right or wrong answers.

Do you think Kovalev got frustrated after he dropped Ward, only to see him come back stronger and faster as the rounds went by?
Or, was Sergey not affected in that way, and maybe neglected to press the fight because he didn't feel (or recognize) that Ward was in it and turning it around?

Personally, I feel it's a combination. Kovalev seemed to be confident after dropping him and got a little too lax. I don't think Kovalev was ever 'mad' or emotional, but I think he was discouraged that he couldn't slow Ward down or break him mentally.

I don't think he was discouraged or affected by it at all, he thought he did enough to win and so do I. You aren't discouraged if you think you are ahead in the fight.

He also said he wanted to prove he could outbox him (which I think he did) and if he turns it up a notch I don't think Ward survives the fight.

**Redd Foxx** · 11-22-2016, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by Kel1981

Kovalev won the fight so I doubt all that you wrote.

If you had any semblance of intellect you'd have understood that it wasn't about who won or lost.

**Redd Foxx** · 11-22-2016, 04:20 AM

Originally posted by LoadedWraps

I don't think he was discouraged or affected by it at all, he thought he did enough to win and so do I. You aren't discouraged if you think you are ahead in the fight.

He also said he wanted to prove he could outbox him (which I think he did) and if he turns it up a notch I don't think Ward survives the fight.

You think he pressed the fight in the second half? I see a lot of people (especially those who thought Kovalev won) saying he held back too much in the second.

**Canelo and GGG** · 11-22-2016, 04:26 AM

It can be like Wraps said ,or Kovalev just was fine with tempo of the fight ,Ward inside tricks was anoying but wasnt bothering so bad, i think he was ok with a tempo and thought he got in .

**Citizen Koba** · 11-22-2016, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by Redd Foxx

I believe this may have been posted, but I want to discuss the emotional factor.
No right or wrong answers.

Do you think Kovalev got frustrated after he dropped Ward, only to see him come back stronger and faster as the rounds went by?
Or, was Sergey not affected in that way, and maybe neglected to press the fight because he didn't feel (or recognize) that Ward was in it and turning it around?

Personally, I feel it's a combination. Kovalev seemed to be confident after dropping him and got a little too lax. I don't think Kovalev was ever 'mad' or emotional, but I think he was discouraged that he couldn't slow Ward down or break him mentally.

I don't think Kovalev was discouraged, I believe he genuinely thought he was comfortably ahead - he probably felt that because he was the aggressor for the majority of the fight and had the early rounds he was still in control and didn't really realise Ward was steadily doing just enough to eat away at his lead. Undeniably he was also tiring in the latter rounds - I don't think Ward was speeding up or getting sharper, more that Kovalev was slowing down - the wrestling was Kovalevs best answer to Wards inside game, but man, that hadda have been tiring as hell, though to his credit Ward seemed to cope better, and he must have been exhausted too.

EDIT: Ward's bodywork, of course, played a significant part in slowing Sergei down too. Angry? No I didn't see that at all, I think Sergei remained composed throughout, though probably could have used more urgency in the closing rounds... if he had it left to give.

**LoadedWraps** · 11-22-2016, 04:29 AM

Originally posted by Redd Foxx

You think he pressed the fight in the second half? I see a lot of people (especially those who thought Kovalev won) saying he held back too much in the second.

No I think he held back as well, in part because that was the plan, and in part because he felt he had a comfortable lead. I don't think that happens in the rematch.

**Kungfu Panda** · 11-22-2016, 04:35 AM

I doubt he was discouraged, probably more tired due to the constant wrestling. He definitely should have tried to apply more pressure, even if he thought he was ahead.

If Kovalev goes into the next fight with a few adjustments like cutting off the ring better and using his jab more, the task could be even harder for Ward. But then again, Ward has shown that he can get his resolve together and adjust in the fight and claw himself back into it.

**HAY-B** · 11-22-2016, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Redd Foxx

I believe this may have been posted, but I want to discuss the emotional factor.
No right or wrong answers.

Do you think Kovalev got frustrated after he dropped Ward, only to see him come back stronger and faster as the rounds went by?
Or, was Sergey not affected in that way, and maybe neglected to press the fight because he didn't feel (or recognize) that Ward was in it and turning it around?

Personally, I feel it's a combination. Kovalev seemed to be confident after dropping him and got a little too lax. I don't think Kovalev was ever 'mad' or emotional, but I think he was discouraged that he couldn't slow Ward down or break him mentally.

Kovalev was frustrated. Why do I say this. It's simple. You have folks on this forum all day long bragging about how well Kovalev cuts off the ring. Which he does. But in the 2nd half of the fight with Ward all he did was follow Ward around the ring ala Alexander vs. Khan. If Kovalev was not frustrated and thinking straight he would have been able to use the tools that we've seen him use against lesser opponents to negate Ward's movement and press his attack. But being frustrated makes you angry and your thought process leaves and reckless aggression takes over. That IMO was how Ward got back into the fight and won the 2nd half of the fight. Kovalev was obsessed with landing the clean shot and Ward didn't give him the look/opportunity to do so.

"Virgil said, 'Keep him mad!'"