Can both sides be honest with themselves here?

[joga]

I agree on the whole, except I'd say:

About 6 contentious punches were thrown in that last round, I thought 2 were legal, 1 was borderline and 3 were clearly low (1, before the big right hand up top, which started Sergei's moaning, and then 2 in the final finishing sequence).

Sergei should have thrown a few low blows back and forced a ref intervention, but like you said though, he was fading, and in my opinion, looking for a way out. Ward obliged him with a few cheap shots. It was a BS decision by Weekes not to even give him a standing 8 count. A big shame for boxing.

[nubianpiye]

Kovalev faded again and ward took over all these eastern European tears are delicious

[vman075]

those saying Kovalev was "done" and wouldnt' have won, are being a bit ironic and hipocritical given the fact that he wasn't even knocked DOWN and yet Ward in the first fight was knocked down brutally yet still managed to fight his way back so clearly people who would have discounted him would have been wrong. So similarly there's good chance Kovalev could have fought his way back into the fight seeing as how he wasn't even knocked down as Ward was in the first fight

Different circumstances. Ward was hurt and survived in the second round on a head shot and still with a full gas tank. He just needed the minute between rounds to collect himself.

In this fight they has been through a rough fight through 8, Kov already looked like he was slowing down and then was hurt to the head and body. Getting hurt to the body doesn't go away the same as the head. Is it possible he would have recovered? Sure, but I just couldn't see it.

[j0zef]

That's a very naive way of looking at it. Kov started fading after the 7th in which he got hit by an indisputable low blow that weeks did not call.

He got hit by another one in the 8th, 10 seconds before he ate the monster right hand.

There's a reason why those shots are illegal and can require 5 minute rest period.

You can't ignore the low blows and jump straight to the stoppage, which had its own severe problems.

[ironmt]

1. The stoppage was dreadful and those shots were definitely low.
2. Ward had taken over that round and Kov was going to lose.

If it wasn't by stoppage, he was going to win on points. The fight was about even in rounds at that point and Kov was not only hurt but clearly fading again. Ward had looked much better in the preceding two rounds

BUT

That stoppage was brutal even if those punches were legal. Which they weren't they were all low, some of them very low.

Great post, I was pulling for Kovalev by KO but the truth of the matter Is, he has poor stamina. I picked Ward to win by decision and would have never foreseen Ward catching him with a monster shot that began the downfall of Kovalev. Although those final few punches were certainly Illegal low blows, Ward took over the fight and was on his way to getting the win. So, congratulations to Ward, he Is the better fighter and In no way shape or form Is Kovalev getting the 3rd fight he requested. If It was to happen again, Kovalev will suffer his 3rd loss In a row.

[Mukuro]

Yeah I agree with those statements. I thought it could go either way until the last round.

[vman075]

That's a very naive way of looking at it. Kov started fading after the 7th in which he got hit by an indisputable low blow that weeks did not call.
He got hit by another one in the 8th, 10 seconds before he ate the monster right hand.

There's a reason why those shots are illegal and can require 5 minute rest period.

You can't ignore the low blows and jump straight to the stoppage, which had its own severe problems.

I don't think it's a naive way to look at it. The writing was on the wall even before the 8th. He was slowing down round by round, if he did go 12 he was going to end with an empty tank like last time.

I'm a fan of Kov but for whatever reason he just doesn't seem built for 12. He looked sluggish toward the end of the Chilemba fight, he looked terrible at the end of the Ward 1 and he was fading again here.

[Mammoth]

Strange ending but Kovalev was done. I like Kovalev and was hoping he would win this one. Great, great job by Ward. Gotta give him props because no matter what you thought of those shots... Kovalev was well on his way out.

[dibzvincent143]

1. The stoppage was dreadful and those shots were definitely low.
2. Ward had taken over that round and Kov was going to lose.

If it wasn't by stoppage, he was going to win on points. The fight was about even in rounds at that point and Kov was not only hurt but clearly fading again. Ward had looked much better in the preceding two rounds

BUT

That stoppage was brutal even if those punches were legal. Which they weren't they were all low, some of them very low.

Legal or not weeks should have not stopped fight yet. Ward deserves an unquestionable win he trained his butt for it, and kova needs to be given a chance for a comeback since he wasn't that hurt.
Khan was given three tries. Even bradley was given benefit of the doubt against provo
Those guys are more hurt imo.
Dont give me that "oh hes gonna get stop anyway" we cant say that to all the greatest comebacks in boxing

[madsweeney]

3. doesn't matter if you're ahead on scorecards/about to win, you start flagrantly fouling and throwing MULTIPLE low blows, you should be penalized and/or DQ'ed