Can both sides be honest with themselves here?

[Cutthroat]

The final blows that caused the stoppage had no effect on the stoppage? I mean come on man.

Kovalev's body went limp, watch the replay, the 1st body shot zapped his energy then the right hand did the rest. The man was not defending himself, he was a sitting duck on the ropes.

[sicko]

He didn't even hurt me doeeee

LMFAO yeah seen some comments that "Kovalev Was Going To Recover And Stop Ward" strange people on this forum

[vman075]

I don't think you read what you're quoting. His significant slow down came after he took punishment after the obvious, non called low blow. Just like the right hand he caught after another low blow in 8th.

Nope, I read it. I just didn't want to be patronizing and say that what is actually naive is thinking that he only began to slow down after the 7th round low blow.

[SilverMiles]

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.

How can you come to the conclusion a fighter is going to lose after being buzzed for a brief moment against a guy who isn't the great of a puncher nor a good finisher?

I have seen fighters hurt much worse than that. Hell Joshua against the harder punching Wlad was dropped, hit a somersault and was dead tired in the 6th and still came back to win.

I think guys saying Kovalev was on his way to being stopped need to be honest with themselves, they don't know that.

[vman075]

Kovalev's body went limp, watch the replay, the 1st body shot zapped his energy then the right hand did the rest. The man was not defending himself, he was a sitting duck on the ropes.

I don't think anyone (logical) is denying he was hurt. I said I didn't think the stoppage was warranted at that time, and it especially wasn't since those last few, which were the reason he stopped it, were low.

[B Phontain]

All seems fair

I can understand the complaints about the stoppage and the low blow(s). But Ward was coming on and Kov was fading, a clear victory was going to come for Ward one way or the other.

The best decision at that point was a point off for Ward imo.

Weeks may not have seen that the shot(s) was low and instead chose to stop the fight because Kov did not appear to be defending himself anymore. So I understand what he did. But knowing that atleast one of those was low, and considering that Kov had been competitive prior to that moment, the stoppage can certainly be called premature or perhaps even outright inappropriate.

Great thread

I disagree with the bold. That was the second time kovalev bent over and backed off. Weeks didn't stop it the first time. But when that right hand landed kovalev turned into noodles all the way up until the second time he bent down. I think weeks gave him the benefit of the doubt the first time

[vman075]

How can you come to the conclusion a fighter is going to lose after being buzzed for a brief moment against a guy who isn't the great of a puncher nor a good finisher?

I have seen fighters hurt much worse than that. Hell Joshua against the harder punching Wlad was dropped, hit a somersault and was dead tired in the 6th and still came back to win.

I think guys saying Kovalev was on his way to being stopped need to be honest with themselves, they don't know that.

I didn't say he was on his way to being stopped. I said whether it was stopped there or they went to decision I thought he was going to lose. I thought from the 6th on, he was beginning to look drained. After taking a pounding in the 8th on top of that, if they let the fight continue, I don't think he had it in the tank to turn the tide around.

[Bigg Rigg]

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.

You can't write Kovalev off just because he was hurt or tried imo. I think of anything Joshua, he was hurt and looking like he had little to nothing left in his fight vs Wlad. And he came back. Kovalev atleast deserved that same opportunity. Besides, he was hit low! The knock down shouldnt have been scored but even if u do score it a kd, let the man continue. Don't just stop it. Brutal stoppage like u said.

[Bigg Rigg]

Sergey was in trouble but it shouldn't have ended like that.

[SilverMiles]

I didn't say he was on his way to being stopped. I said whether it was stopped there or they went to decision I thought he was going to lose. I thought from the 6th on, he was beginning to look drained. After taking a pounding in the 8th on top of that, if they let the fight continue, I don't think he had it in the tank to turn the tide around.

Oh ok fair. But no one else has to resign to that opinion because of there no set outcome to the fight. Joshua was much more hurt and tired against Wlad and found a 2nd wind in the championship rounds.

It's a very good chance Ward would have punched himself out in the 8th round and had nothing left in the tank.

This conclusion would easier to come to for me if Ward himself had a deep gas tank but he tends to gas right before the championship rounds as well.

But one thing we do know is that the ref allowed Ward to win the fight after multiple fouls. Seems very fishy to me how dismissive of the low blows Tony Weeks was.