In Hindsight, Should Kovalev have avoided Andre Ward?

[The Big Dunn]

No, he shouldn't have avoided him, but he's responsible for screwing up both his career and his fights. There are so many things he should have done differently.

If you go back to the Chilemba fight, what was his problem? He gassed hard. That should have been his #1 issue to address, instead what does he do? Gasses harder next 2 fights.
In the first fight, his strategy was all wrong. He knew Ward is gonna fight inside and get a little dirty. What does Kovalev do? He welcomes it and tries to show him he can beat Ward at his own game. That strategy ends up quickly draining his stamina and he loses a close, controversial decision. In that first fight, Ward was not at the top of his game. He was very vulnerable. Kovalev's jab was destroying Ward's offense. If he fought intelligently and not try to show off, he could have cruised to an easy decision victory, or forced Ward to take more risks and catch him coming in and possibly knock him out.
Kovalev had 5 different ways he could have won the 1st fight, and there were 5 dominating adjustments he could have made for the 2nd fight.

Then comes the promotional part before fight 2, which Kovalev f'd up badly. He showed his cards early, let Ward's team get in his head, and apparently even took $0 guaranteed to fight Ward. All he got was a split of a semi-failed PPV. Horrible, horrible promotional decisions.

Then comes the 2nd fight. Ward shows up in excellent shape, WAY better than the first fight, he's way fitter and looks MUCH more sharper. Kovalev comes in looking worse than before, his technique is shabbier and he learned absolutely nothing from the first fight. His jab, aggression and even his fitness is not there, despite all the trash he talks about "now I'm in best shape, I was not in good shape 1st fight". What a bunch of BS. He gassed after round 3.

Yeah, in the 2nd fight Ward fought mad dirty and hit him with quite a few low blows. But the reason for them is because Kovalev showed bad body language after getting hit to the body. Ward was dominating that fight, and maybe in a clean fight he doesn't stop Kovalev, but he would have easily won that.


In short, Kovalev himself is the only one who's to blame for both the fights and the promotional mishaps.

best post I've ever seen from you.

[Buratina]

It's too early to decide now.
He may now return and own the division thanks to Ward fights (gained experience, understood his own flaws in training and has resolved it).
Or he may now gradually decline.

[DuckAdonis]

Maybe the rematch wasn't that good of an idea since he was training very poor as far as i understand

He could have lived off the first fight where he 'arguably' beat ward... that wouldn't of crushed his persona, but the 2nd fight did.

[GGG Gloveking]

I would have pushed more for a neutral venue, preferably UK. I believe Kov may have gotten the nod and that could have changed the whole narrative

[Lopez_Boxing]

Are you asking if he should have cherry picked and avoid the toughest competition? Isn’t that what ever one complains/accuses other fighters of doing?

[TheBigLug]

Considering Kovalev won the first right and got robbed, then no. He proved in that fight he could match Ward and beat him too.

Ward made good adjustments in the second fight and also introduced some low blows into the equation but anyway, he did well in that fight.

It was what it was. Both are good fighters and made the fight that was the most natural fight to make. It's just a shame both ended with some controversy. Not because Kovalev lost, i didn't mind who won, it's just that these days the best fights don't always get made. It's a shame that when they do, they end up being surrounded by controversial decisions like this fight and GGG v Canelo. The fans lose.

[champion4ever]

I say yes because the first fight was lost before it even started. It was lost during the negotiations. Even though, the "Krusher" was the A side fighter and held all the cards but thanks to Main Events' Kathy Duva; She conceded every conceivable advantage to Andre Ward going into that first fight with Kovalev. Not only did she chose the venue but the judges and referee as well. The cards were just simply stacked against Sergei. Outside of a KO he didn't stand a chance of winning that fight.

[BostonGuy]

Are you asking if he should have cherry picked and avoid the toughest competition? Isn’t that what ever one complains/accuses other fighters of doing?

Floyd Mayweather built a legacy and fortune off of carefully selecting his opponents. I have so much respect and admiration for Floyd because of his business savy and pragmatic approach to managing his career. He's 50-0 and people will remember him as one of the GOAT fighters. Had Mayweather been less scrupulous, he may have lost a fight or two and his legacy would not be what it is today.

[Lopez_Boxing]

Floyd Mayweather built a legacy and fortune off of carefully selecting his opponents. I have so much respect and admiration for Floyd because of his business savy and pragmatic approach to managing his career. He's 50-0 and people will remember him as one of the GOAT fighters. Had Mayweather been less scrupulous, he may have lost a fight or two and his legacy would not be what it is today.

Fair enough. Much respect for your unbiased question.

[Legendary Hater]

I watched and enjoyed Sergey Kovalev's tremendous accent to the top of the LHW division. Kovalev was an absolute destroyer as he KO'd most of his opponents and developed an 'air of invisibility' like that of a young Mike Tyson. Kovalev was also a real 'bad a.ss' as he seemed to enjoy dishing out punishment to his opponents.

Then came Andre Ward. Before they fought, my gut told me that Ward would win via decision and that's exactly what he did.

In hindsight, was facing a prime Andre Ward the smartest career move for Sergey Kovalev? Perhaps, he could've faced Stevenson, Beterbeiv or some of the other top guys at LHW.

Right now, that 'air of invisibility' is long gone and Kovalev is not the draw that he once was, pre Ward.

In hindsight, if you were Kovalev's promoter, would you have still made the Ward fight? What could have been done differently?

As Kovalev's promoter?....yes, most definitely...they should have protected him and stayed away from Ward.

They should have gone after those you mentioned...anyone BUT Ward really...

Assuming they could evaluate fighters and matchups at the highest level and being completely honest with themselves and Kovalev...they should have known they MAYBE had a 10% of beating Ward...meaning he might win 1 out of a 10 fights against a fighter of that caliber...

Funny thing is...like a poster up there mentioned...that ONE chance they had materialized in that 1st fight!...Ward was not at his best and vulnerable...but as we know, Kovalev just didn't have enough to secure that win...

And Ward, being the true Champion he was, found a way to adapt and overcome and earn the victory.

So yes...it all comes down Kovalev and his management...they should be kicking themselves and only have themselves to blame...bad decisions all the way around...