I scored it wide for Ward on the night, scored it for Kovalev after rewatching.

[Mike D]

I actually had it the other way

Initially I thought Kovalev had won. Thought the knockdown was the difference in what was a close fight.

Upon rewatch though, I can see how a judge would come to a 114-113 card for Ward. It's not that blasphemous at all.

That said, many of the rounds weren't easy to score and could've went either way, and one would have to give virtually all of the close rounds to Ward for him to take it, and it still really kind of blows my mind that all three judges came to the same exact conclusion with that many nip & tuck rounds to score.

And I was rooting for Ward, for the record.

[Citizen Koba]

I actually had it the other way

Initially I thought Kovalev had won. Thought the knockdown was the difference in what was a close fight.

Upon rewatch though, I can see how a judge would come to a 114-113 card for Ward. It's not that blasphemous at all.

That said, many of the rounds weren't easy to score and could've went either way, and one would have to give virtually all of the close rounds to Ward for him to take it, and it still really kind of blows my mind that all three judges came to the same exact conclusion with that many nip & tuck rounds to score.

And I was rooting for Ward, for the record.

Sorry Mike, with due respect no-one's interested in your opinion, the World's waiting with baited breath to hear what B-Suth has to say though.

[Dr Rumack]

both of them did a ****ty job. roy did say kovalev won.

In the 11th he was talking like Kovalev was about to get knocked out.

Lampley's lack of blow by blow commentary is a big part of the problem with HBO. There are too many long silences where they have a conversation about the action rather than actually calling it. They start seeing what they expect to see instead of describing what's happening in front of them.

I've always thought Max was **** at the job, but Roy is generally a good judge of what's happening. He just gets carried away sometimes.

[KingHippo]

116-111 for Ward on the night.
115-112 for Kovalev last night.

I'd like to hear which rounds you gave for Kovalev, or else this isn't a valid discussion.

[Mike D]

Sorry Mike, with due respect no-one's interested in your opinion, the World's waiting with baited breath to hear what B-Suth has to say though.

Brian always roots for the white guy, so obviously he was quite disappointed with the outcome.

[KingHippo]

Also, how could you have scored it 116-111 for Ward on the night of the fight? I call bull****.

[Chrismart]

I haven't seen the HBO version, but i agree about Paulie and his commentary. His views and insights are good, but when he's on SKY working a fight featuring an American, he is very biased.
Him and Macklin were ignoring a lot of Kovalev's good work and just talking over it, while (i think it was Adam Smith?) would try interrupt in and comment on it.

The 2nd time i watched the fight, i put it on mute so i could just concentrate more.

[Thraxox]

I'd like to hear which rounds you gave for Kovalev, or else this isn't a valid discussion.

Youw, Can you debunk or at least dispute my round by round detailed coverage of the fight man? Because I need to bask in the glory of your boxing knowledge.

Round 1 - Kovalev and Ward was watching each other at the first minute of the round, Ward jabbing but not overreaching but landing some good jabs while Kov counters his own. Kov landed a stunning Jab and wobbles Ward, and proceeds to dominate the rest of the Round (10-9 KOV)
Round 2 - Kovalev out boxing Ward, Landing Jabs at will, and Ward overreached and got clipped with a right hand that stuns him and knocks him down, Kov tries to KO him but didn't (10-8 KOV)
Round 3 - Kovalev having a bad time early with Ward jabbing him and hitting him constantly. He then regains compusure and gets back to his jab and lands a right on his own. Left hook lands for Ward but Kovalev catches him with a Jab and clips him with a right hand that sends him to the ropes. Close Round but It was clear Kovalev (10-9 KOV)
Round 4 - Kovalev not overreaching, not allowing Ward to try and wait for counter, feinting constantly, then lands a Jab that snaps Ward's head back. Ward lands a jab but was ineffective. (10-9 KOV)
Round 5 - Ward being patient and counters Kovalev with a big left hook when he tried to Jab, and pushes Kovalev back. Kovalev tries to answer but Ward kept him at bay of the Jab and gets to clinch him and do the inside work and that was the story of the round. (10-9 WARD)
Round 6 - Kovalev regains his composure and stops ward from trying to get on the inside, using the jab to keep off him. He clips Ward with the jab only to stop him inside , and Ward clinches, but Kovalev landed a short right hand behind the ear and jabs Ward back. (10-9 Kovalev)
Round 7 - Kovalev seemingly gassing gets clipped with a left hook and gets pushed back, and ward proceeds to use the jab to keep him off his agression and does so effectively. Kovalev just following Ward and Ward capitilizes by Jabbing his head back and clipping him with a left hook. (10-9 WARD)
Round 8 - Kovalev seemingly dazed, Ward proceeds to use the left hook and the jab effectively, trying to avoid the big right hand. Kovalev kept on following him and Ward capitilizes by landing a big left hook, though Kovalev seemingly not affected was not able to answer as ward uses the jab to keep him off. (10-9 WARD)
Round 9 - Kovalev Still was not able to regain his composure and uses his jab to keep ward off, Ward did not use much jabs but was rushing in to the inside, and was able to use left hooks to the body and upstairs when they broke the clinch. Ward captilizes on the inside and wins the round. (10-9 WARD)
Round 10 - Kovalev now used the jab constantly and was catching ward every time he tries to get in the inside, and in his answer Ward tried to jab back but tt was kovalev who gets in the more effecient Jabs and a short right hand that landed behind his ear. (10-9 KOV)
Round 11 - Ward doing much better in the round, using his inside work in the clinch and landing left hooks to the body and upstairs on kovalev, Kovalev was not able to answer, as he missed most his punches. (10-9 WARD)
Round 12 - Kovalev being much more aggressive with the Jab and sometimes rushes in to ward and lands a left straight that snapped Wards head. Ward tries to jab back but eats a jab as he did, tohugh landing some. Right hand on the cheek ends the round. (10-9 KOV)

Consensus - 115-112 Kovalev win.

Come on, man, just debunk it. Just round by round accurate details.

[W1LL]

My cards:

On the night (watching live UK tv)
1. 10-9 Kov
2. 10-8 Kov
3. 10-9 Ward
4. 10-9 Ward
5. 10-9 Ward *
6. 10-9 Ward
7. 10-9 Ward
8. 10-9 Ward
9. 10-9 Ward
10. 10-9 Kov
11. 10-9 Ward *
12. 10-9 Ward
Total. 116-111 Ward

Stars denote close rounds. I gave both of those to Ward and if I'd given them to Kovalev the card would have read same as the judges.

Last night (watching HBO)
1. 10-9 Kov
2. 10-8 Kov
3. 10-9 Ward *
4. 10-9 Kov *
5. 10-9 Ward *
6. 10-9 Kov *
7. 10-9 Ward
8. 10-9 Ward
9. 10-9 Ward
10. 10-9 Kov
11. 10-9 Kov
12. 10-9 Kov *
Total. 115-112 Kovalev

[Willy Wanker]

Max and Roy were all over Ward's ****.

That's what I did like about HBO was that Lampley and Lederman were on Kovalev's **** and Max was all over Ward's ****, so at least it gave the audience more of a balanced view overall.

Roy was somewhat neutral, even though he did seem to lean towards Ward during the fight, but he thought Kovalev won after the fight.

I'm gonna rescore the fight watching the Sky Sports version later. I don't like Paulie at all, but I do think he's an excellent commentator, usually.