Comments Thread For: Ward vs. Kovalev II: No Rematch Clause For Third Fight

[Edward90]

Lol shows how much Ward wants to fight Kovalev. If Kovalev beats him again, he doesn't even wanna fight him again to try and avenge his two losses.

He just don't want that work from the superior man.

He knows he caught lightening in a bottle the first time with some of the worst judging seen int he past decade along with Lara/Williams and Bradley/Pac I..

What? That doesn't make any sense. Because there isn't a rematch clause, then Ward doesn't want to fight Kov, despite the fact that he is fighting him for the 2nd time? How does that indicate that Kov wants to fight Ward, then? No matter how you feel about it, Ward won the first fight. Kov better come with it the 2nd time.

[BigStomps]

Ward is going to get KOEd this time. And I think he knows it. The only thing stopping that is 3 more paid off judges.

People like you make some of the ******est comments I swear!
Ward thinks he's gonna get knocked out,......
Why the **** would an Olympic gold medalist think he's gonna get knocked out?? He's undefeated in over 20 years and he's gonna be thinking he'll be getting knocked out? That's gotta be the ******est comment I've ever read. And that's saying alot cause not a day goes by that Jason Shaw isn't on here posting something ******.....

[Redd Foxx]

I like this because it puts pressure on Ward to perform. I think he's walking into this with a strike against him because of the controversy. No rematch means he better wake up from the opening bell and not wait until he gets KD's again.

[Nightfall]

Ward beats him easier this time. kovalev just isn't good enough. he's one dimensional with power and nothing else

[VatoMulatto]

Ward has that winning mentality. He always finds a way to win and I think he'll win more convincingly this time.

[Brickyardigan]

Other then outboxing him

Kovalev was outboxed and outfought after the second round. Kovalev was tired and bleeding from the nose like a child at the end of the fight. He was happy the fight was over.

[Nomadic]

Kov is going to make a fatal mistake if he comes out swinging for the fences and gas out.

[knotty150]

For those who genuinely thought Ward won the 1st, here's some compiled, quantitative data to prove otherwise:

Bryan Armen Graham (The Guardian) - 115-112 to Kovalev

Chris Mannix (Yahoo! Sports) - 115-112 Kovalev

Kevin Iole (Yahoo! Sports) - 114-113 Ward

Lance Pugmire (LA Times) - 115-112 Kovalev

Dylan Hernandez (LA Times) - 114-113 Ward

Dan Rafael (ESPN) - 115-112 Kovalev

Stephen A. Smith (ESPN) - "...Kovalev winning by two rounds..."

Marcellus Wiley (ESPN) - Draw

Arash Markazi (ESPN) - Kovalev won

Dougie Fischer (Ring Magazine) - 117-110 Kovalev

Michael Rosenthal (Ring Magazine) - 114-113 Ward

Ryan ******** (Ring Magazine) - 115-112 Kovalev

Al Bernstein (Showtime Sports) - Had Kovalev winning

Bob Velin (USA Today Sports) - 114-113 Kovalev

Tom Craze (Bad Left Hook) - 114-113 Ward

Scott Christ (Bad Left Hook) - 115-112 Kovalev

George Willis (NY Post) - 114-113 Ward

Mike Sloan (Sherdog) - 115-112 Kovalev

Steve Kim (Max Boxing) - 115-112 Kovalev

BoxingScene - 114-113 Ward

Lyle Fitzsimmons (CBS Sports) - 114-113 Ward

Forbes - 114-113 Kovalev

The Associated Press - 116-111 Kovalev

Kevin McRae (Bleacher Report) - 116-111 for Kovalev

Fraser Coffeen (Bloody Elbow) - 115-112 Kovalev

Dieter Kurtenbach (Fox Sports) - 116-111 for Kovalev

Gareth A. Davies (The Telegraph) - 115-112 Kovalev

Jesse Granger (Las Vegas Sun) - 115-112 Kovalev

Jack Jorgensen (FanSided) - Kovalev won

Zachary Alapi (FanSided) - "Thought Kovalev edged it..."

Johnny Nelson (Sky Sports) - Draw

Harold Lederman (HBO Sports) - 116-111 Kovalev

Phil D. Jay (WBN - World Boxing News) - 114-113 Ward

Robert Portis (The Fight City) - 115-112 Kovalev

Rafael G (The Fight City) - 114-113 Ward

Andreas Hale (Champions Fight) - Draw

Boxing Monthly Magazine - 114-113 Kovalev

Bill Simmons (The Ringer) - Kovalev won

26 for Kovalev, 9 for Ward, 3 draw

That's 68% Kovalev, 24% Ward, 8% Draw.

Nuff said....

[Superbee]

Good... On to Beterbiev now...

[ruedboy]

Kovalev knows what Ward brings to the table. Ward fights the same way every fight. He gets inside, smothers the other fighter's offense and is at his best when things get ugly. Add to that superior conditioning and total self confidence and Ward is a formidable opponent.
Kovalev is the superior fighter on the outside. His jab in the early rounds of the first fight had Ward dazed and hurt and that's the blue print for beating Ward.
Fight from the outside, keep Ward on his back foot, punish him with the jab, avoid a wrestling match and the stoppage will come.