Kovalev Has to Make More of a Statement This Time

[Tony Trick-Pony]

While I scored the first fight for Kovalev, he has to make a stronger statement this time out. I think he definitely can but he'll have to show less respect for Ward and take it to him hard like it's his last fight. Gotta leave everything in the ring.

[Mammoth]

He has to win eight rounds instead of seven and score two Knock downs intseasted of one

[sunny31]

While I scored the first fight for Kovalev, he has to make a stronger statement this time out. I think he definitely can but he'll have to show less respect for Ward and take it to him hard like it's his last fight. Gotta leave everything in the ring.

Easier said then done, when the other guy has a pretty air tight defence, has a better left than you, better stamina, and better inside game. The last two points are particularly important, because it shortens Kovalev's window of opportunity. This is just my opinion - his major limitation is that he only really fights elite at distance, that means that taking it to a fighter who can constantly change the distance, and close the distance fast, is very difficult because he needs that room to do his best work.

Kovalev needs to work his advantages more, at length he proved to be the better fighter so that is where he needs to fight. I don't think just upping his workrate and 'take it to him hard' is going to work. I think a tactic like that is only going to work in the second half of the fight, but that is where Kovalev got tired last time.

[Jc8804]

Kovalev has to win by knockout. The last fight showed that even judges are biased to color.

Black is viewed as - slick, boxing, tactics,

White skin is viewed as - robotic, power, non defensive and no tactics

All this meaning , kovalev doesnt get credit for boxing , he doesnt get credit for subtlety landing rt uppercuts or rt hooks inside




The judges werent ever gonna give kovalev the well earned victory. Over 85% of viewers had kovalev winning 7-5 plus the knockdown .

5% had kovalev 6-6 winning by a knockdown

8% had ward winning 7-5

2% had a draw Somehow.

Fact is the judges wouldnt have had kovalev win even with another knockdown .
Boxing is corrupt

Imo boxing has become pro black , and the none black fighter has to do more to win unless you are canelo . I think the demographic changed with social media and mayweather being the top black fighter and having bandwagon fans. They are catering to the black population to keep them interested in boxing . Most the white demographic is into mma.

[THC]

Kovalev needs to work his advantages more, at length he proved to be the better fighter so that is where he needs to fight.

Ironically it is Kovalev who has to fight more defensively to prevent Ward from closing that distance. I don't see Krusher improving his inside game by June to make a difference but he can use uppercuts when Ward approaches him with his head down. He can also go to the body right from the start of the fight. I thought he was headhunting too much against a fighter whose defensive skills are top notch.

[al-Xander]

In general, it's automatic for judges nowadays. Kovalev was seen as just a brawler and Ward as the sweet science guy. You know, these judges have to show they know something about boxing. Funny part is Kov is not even just a brawler. He's just as skilled as any sweet science guy. But he has to win by KO or stoppage. Anything less won't be in his favor. See how silly it is these days? They won't even settle for a draw, which I think it was, a draw.

[Lester Tutor]

The judges should be blindfolded. This way when they score the UD for Ward they'll just say, "Kova didn't trust American scoring with zee eyeballs so we decided to listen to some "slickness!" Besides Rocky 4 ******" - zee judges

[sunny31]

Ironically it is Kovalev who has to fight more defensively to prevent Ward from closing that distance. I don't see Krusher improving his inside game by June to make a difference but he can use uppercuts when Ward approaches him with his head down. He can also go to the body right from the start of the fight. I thought he was headhunting too much against a fighter whose defensive skills are top notch.

Not necessarily more defensive but when Ward charges - he needs move his feet backwards a touch quicker to keep it at his distance, Wlad does this well but he also normally has a big size and athletic advantage, whereas Kovalev is bigger and taller but relatively speaking, not by much. Also Ward is a top athlete, even if he has declined a bit physically.

He won't improve on the inside, I think the uppercut is a great idea. He may not land it, but it might deter Ward, and IF he does land it, I think he takes Ward out.

Body punching is difficult unless he has Ward on the ropes. He can get countered up top.

To be honest stylistically from Ward's perspective, this is one of the hardest fights a boxer can fight, so you have to admire him greatly for fighting it twice. He is up against an opponent who has a bazooka in each hand, whilst he only has a couple of sub machine guns. Also Kovalev knows he can hurt Ward, he stiffened him up with a jab in the first round, and then floored him in the second.

The mental character to come back from that and make a competitive fight is enormous, 99% of boxers would probably swallow it in that situation. Stylistically Kovalev has so much more creative freedom to throw shots and be able to stand in front of Ward and he has a lot more room for error in terms of getting hit, whereas Ward really has to walk a tight rope in there, especially early.

Let's see if he can do it again, or if this time Kovalev can separate himself down the stretch, or land something big.

[Larry the boss]

Kovalev lost the first fight simple..Ward came on like a champ and took it

[Luilun]

He either has to KO Ward or win 10 of 12 rounds so that he is not robbed again