Comments Thread For: Ward: Kovalev Not Same Fighter, But He'll Be Hard To Deal With

[Ake-Dawg]

That win against Alvarez was about as good as Kov has ever looked. He pretty clearly to me went back to doing what he did against Chilemba Hopkins and Ward (1), which is boxing his way in and not solely relying on looking for big shots.

You can argue he was the 'Krusher' against those 3 guys, but if you watch the fights he fought the same way against Alvarez in fight 2 as he did against those guys. Against top tier competition you aren't going to KO everyone. Not KOing or dropping Alvarez doesn't mean he wasn't just as dominant or didn't inflict as much damage. He looked better and did better against Alvarez than he did against Chilemba - yet you say he was the Krusher then? So he is better than the Krusher now? Wow that is pretty high praise.

If Ward had legitimately outboxed Kov at all in their 2 fights I would give him full credit - it just didn't happen. Unlike most people on this site, when two guys step in the ring, I don't care if the white guy or black guy wins, I score it for the guy who deserves it. I do generally favor the work done by the more aggressive fighter vs the defensive fighter, but that means favoring Wilder over Fury as well, which I did moreso compared to most.

It also doesn't mean I neglect the work of a skilled defensive fighter, as I give Floyd a lot of credit for winning cleanly a lot of his fights. But Andre Ward has never impressed me in the ring and it has everything to do with his talent, or lack thereof, rather than anything particular to his color. Outside of the ring he seems like an OK family man, but he also is a halfway crook who talks out of both sides of his mouth. But personally I don't view Kov much better outside the ring as he seems to be at best a serial philanderer on his wife.

Say less. It's really clear now.

[Boxing-1013]

Say less. It's really clear now.

? Have you watched his fights with Bika and Barrera? What were your thoughts on those Mr Ake Dawg?

[Boxing-1013]

Say less. It's really clear now.

Besides Froch - name one impressive, non-controversial win, Mr Ake Dawg?

[Boxing-1013]

The fact that Kovalev can no longer krush and has had to take a much safer approach proves he's not the same fighter. That said, I'm really glad to see him adapting. If he continues to stay with Buddy and his mind holds up, I think he might be able to make it back to the top again.

Oh no no no...this isn't going well Red...Kov can no longer Krush, he's not the same fighter, and he was adapting...but he put on too much damage and you are glad he is back and consistent again? Oh no no no....Red no

'I think Alvarez planned to put on the pressure late but Kovalev already put on too much damage and now it's too late. Good to see consistency from Kovalev again. Glad he's finally listening to a trainer and being disciplined.' -RedFox

[Boxing-1013]

You're one of these guys who is able to fool yourself into believing nonsense and you act shocked when others aren't as gullible.

Kovalev was absolutely fearless before. Now, he's VERY mindful of both his cardio and of getting hit. Both of which are good things. But, after losing to Ward twice he had to accept that his cardio is not on that level. That his body is soft. That his inside game isn't on that level.
After getting ko'd by Alvarez, he accepted that his chin isn't impervious.

It's so obvious that he and his trainer are compensating for these things. You can HEAR it in the way Buddy instructed him during the fight. Get educated in the science and this stuff will become petty obvious.

'I think Alvarez planned to put on the pressure late but Kovalev already put on too much damage and now it's too late. Good to see consistency from Kovalev again. Glad he's finally listening to a trainer and being disciplined.' -RedFox

'Kov is the same as before' - RedFox

'Kov is fighting different now' - RedFox

Lololololol

[SugarRaRobinson]

Another guy who doesn't really know much about boxing - watch those two Ward fights again, specifically for the inside fighting done by each guy. Kov gave as good as he got on the inside.

Kov boxed more or less the same against Chilemba, Ward and Hopkins as he did against Alvarez in the second fight. He, as he and his trainer said, went back to the basics and started boxing instead of looking for a KO. All the Ward robbery did was piss him off and he went headhunting for his next 4 fights. It took the Alvarez KO to really let him know he needs to change. Pretty obvious stuff here as far as analysis goes.

But anyone who co-signs the robbery in the first Ward/Kov fight is not anyone to take seriously as far as boxing analysis goes, and is clearly someone who backs fighters and results purely on skin color. Root for whoever you want, but as far as analysis goes your opinion is obviously biased and irrelevant.

'The fact that Kovalev can no longer krush and has had to take a much safer approach proves he's not the same fighter. That said, I'm really glad to see him adapting.' - RedFox

Giving that worn out line tries to give credence to the belief that the Ward fights took anything out of Kov, when, as he showed against Alvarez, he is actually better than ever.

It is fair to say the 2nd Ward fight and the Alvarez fight changed Kov's approach somewhat, and forced him to change his mindset and consider his weaknesses and adapt his game. But to say that 'Kovalev can no longer krush and has had to take a much safer approach proves he's not the same fighter. That said, I'm really glad to see him adapting.' shows that you are not a serious person analytically as Kov did as much damage against Alvarez in fight 2 as he did against Ward (1), Chilemba, and Hopkins.

He went back to doing what he always did and clearly the Ward fights had a mental impact on him but just as clearly they had no physical impact on him. The Ward stans seem to be having a hard time with that.

If ur gonna pretend that the Kovalev who fought Alvarez a few nights ago is “Better than ever” then u should donate your eyes to Stevie Wonder, cause clearly u have no use for them.

Continually attempting to marginalize Ward is making u look buffoonish. So my question to u is, is it worth losing what little credibility u may have left just to try to drive home what’s obviously a false narrative ?

[SugarRaRobinson]

I’m sure there are multiple factors y Kov isn’t the fighter he once was, and Ward is DEFINITELY one of those factors, but not the only factor. Age, partying/drinking, stubbornness and self doubt r some other factors.

Actually, I’m going to redact self-doubt from being its own independent factor, because that’s the same as the Ward-factor who obviously initiated it.

[OCPancho]

Kova with stamina and patience is tough to beat .
He did not KO Alvarez but he decorated that face pretty good.

[Redd Foxx]

Another guy who doesn't really know much about boxing - watch those two Ward fights again, specifically for the inside fighting done by each guy. Kov gave as good as he got on the inside.

Kov boxed more or less the same against Chilemba, Ward and Hopkins as he did against Alvarez in the second fight. He, as he and his trainer said, went back to the basics and started boxing instead of looking for a KO. All the Ward robbery did was piss him off and he went headhunting for his next 4 fights. It took the Alvarez KO to really let him know he needs to change. Pretty obvious stuff here as far as analysis goes.

But anyone who co-signs the robbery in the first Ward/Kov fight is not anyone to take seriously as far as boxing analysis goes, and is clearly someone who backs fighters and results purely on skin color. Root for whoever you want, but as far as analysis goes your opinion is obviously biased and irrelevant.

'The fact that Kovalev can no longer krush and has had to take a much safer approach proves he's not the same fighter. That said, I'm really glad to see him adapting.' - RedFox

Giving that worn out line tries to give credence to the belief that the Ward fights took anything out of Kov, when, as he showed against Alvarez, he is actually better than ever.

It is fair to say the 2nd Ward fight and the Alvarez fight changed Kov's approach somewhat, and forced him to change his mindset and consider his weaknesses and adapt his game. But to say that 'Kovalev can no longer krush and has had to take a much safer approach proves he's not the same fighter. That said, I'm really glad to see him adapting.' shows that you are not a serious person analytically as Kov did as much damage against Alvarez in fight 2 as he did against Ward (1), Chilemba, and Hopkins.

He went back to doing what he always did and clearly the Ward fights had a mental impact on him but just as clearly they had no physical impact on him. The Ward stans seem to be having a hard time with that.

Stopped reading when you showed your ignorance in the first paragraph. Everyone, even the noobiest of noobs, saw Kovalev reacting to the body work. That's what caused him to fade in later rounds and lose the fight. Whatever you think Kovalev was doing, it's wishful thinking because Ward only grew stronger in the first fight.

You really don't know shyt about boxing and you're making one desperate reach after another. You're getting emotional because everyone can see you're full of shyt. Get help kid.

[TonyGe]

Lol...cheap shots. You sound like a wuss. This is a fkn gladiator sport. The hurt business. FYI, the same fans not calling Alvarez dirty are crying that the judges robbed GGG. Its lame excuse after lame excuse for why GGG isn't the ATG they made him out to be before he proved it.

Again more nonsense. It's the hurt business but that business has rules. If they aren't abided by we would eventually end up with a version of the MMA without the ground game. The guy is a dirty fighter and his fouling is overlooked by the boxing establishment. Even the MMA bans strikes to the groin and it's strictly enforced.