How did Ward “Ruin” Sergey Kovalev? Robbery1 + Nut Stoppage 2

[Marchegiano]

Then why did everyone praise a masterclass performance in the Alvarez 2 fight? He also jabbed Yarde with a KO in the late rounds...

Oh, I see, you want Krusher's fans to speak on this?

[KillaMane26]

People forget about the mind games that went into play. Team Ward start causing Kov to mentally unravel immediately after the 1st fight and all the way up to the fight.

Ward took away his Aura, he was still a good fighter after. But "The Krusher" was gone.

The mind games, dirty tactics, and him getting hurt bad.

Think about it, Bullies never the same once you out-bully them, make them feel weak or like a victim.

[champion4ever]

The motivation behind this thread is that the TS doesn't want to detract from Canelo Alvarez' victory over him. However, the facts remain the same. Therefore, he won't be able to slick a can of oil on me, unlike you other gullible boxing fans.

Sergey was not the same Pre-Ward Kovalev that Dre fought the first time. He was the shot, diminished and washed up version of his former self.

Hell, even the guys over at Golden Boy were gloating and boasting about how shot and washed up the Krusher was once they agreed to sign that fight. They knew he was a mere shell of his former self and an easy cherrypick for Canelo Alvarez.

Therefore, they didn't expect anything less of a KO of him which was why they chose the fight in the first place.

[Boxing_1013]

The 1st fight was not a robbery. It was a generous decision. Robbery is overused significantly. Kovalev should've got the decision because of the KD. I had it 7-5 Sergio or 6-6 if being generous. Having it 7-5 for Ward (what every judge had) is not impossible although definitely generous.

Ward beat Kovalev clearly in the 2nd fight. People blame Ward for the poor referee Tony Weekes, but it was master class by Ward.

1st fight it is basically impossible to find 7 rounds for Ward unless you are desperately trying to.

2nd fight was more competitive up until the stoppage, but Kov was still outlanding Ward in almost every round (6-1), and I think Kov was similarly up 5-2 before the 8th round...it was a good fight up until that point, but certainly no masterclass by Ward.

The stoppage is what it is...Kov should have handled it better, but it/the low blows were fairly controversial...especially considering the fight literally ended on low blow(s).

[_Maxi]

Kovalev should've got the decision because of the KD. I had it 7-5 Sergio or 6-6 if being generous.

Then it was a robbery... there's no such thing as being generous to a fighter on the cards... that's the definition of a robbery.

Duh...

[_Maxi]

1st fight it is basically impossible to find 7 rounds for Ward unless you are desperately trying to.

2nd fight was more competitive up until the stoppage, but Kov was still outlanding Ward in almost every round (6-1), and I think Kov was similarly up 5-2 before the 8th round...it was a good fight up until that point, but certainly no masterclass by Ward.

The stoppage is what it is...Kov should have handled it better, but it/the low blows were fairly controversial...especially considering the fight literally ended on low blow(s).

First fight was a robbery. Second fight I can understand that Ward would have won any way because he had Kovalev hurt.

[Legends456]

Why is Ward feeling awkward with Canelo? Lol

How much damage did Ward do to Kovalev in the first fight? Rumor was that he was robbed?

Second fight, Kovalev gets clipped, wobbled, doesn’t get dropped. Supposedly gets clipped in the nuts.

He then destroys Shabramsky. Seems like Eleider Alvarez ruined Kovalev?

Then Kova’s rematch with Eleider and Kovalev handles it.

Then Kovalev goes to war with body testing with Yarde. Yarde takes punishment lasting 4 more fights.

Ward Kovalev 1 was awful close and I could see it being a draw or going either way. I think Ward edges it tho by coming back from the early KD and taking control with good ring generalship, although he never hurt Kovalev bad. It’s almost like I say about Hagler v Leonard and some other fights where the feared puncher doesn’t destroy you, that counts for a lot in the judges eyes.

[Boxing_1013]

People forget about the mind games that went into play. Team Ward start causing Kov to mentally unravel immediately after the 1st fight and all the way up to the fight.

Ward took away his Aura, he was still a good fighter after. But "The Krusher" was gone.

The mind games, dirty tactics, and him getting hurt bad.

Think about it, Bullies never the same once you out-bully them, make them feel weak or like a victim.

I think it was more the robbery that affected Kov mentally...he worked his whole career for that moment, and didn't know if he could beat Ward...he was clearly the better man on that night, and then all 3 judges shaded it to Ward...I mean the fix was in...was just clear to him he got robbed, and he seemed to do a lot of soul searching after that fight.

He pretty clearly didn't handle it that well, and came in with the wrong gameplan/mentality in fight 2...had he fought a bit more patient and less emotional he probably would have gone 12 rounds regardless, though to be fair to him, he proabably felt that just going 12 wasn't going to be enough in fight 2 after how the cards went in fight 1.

To be fair to Ward, he fought better in fight 2 and perhaps would have had Kov's number in a rematch anyway, as Kov's stamina issues and taking of body shots are starting to become apparent now.

The 'bully' comment though is an odd one...you can't really be a bully in fight sports...you get humbled almost every day as a pro fighter...maybe guys like a young Mike Tyson and Khabib have very few memories of being dominated/humbled in any capacity in the ring...but Kov was not some big superstar coming up...he was getting dropped by Darnell Boone and apparently worked over by GGG in sparring just a few years back.

He had many tough fights before the Ward fights...all of these guys are used to getting their ass kicked at times, that's what happens in fight sports, even if you are great...sometimes you have a bad day and you are constantly reminded that you aren't as bad as you want to be.

I was watching Tyson-Douglas the other day and Buster sure as hell had to do a lot of work to finally drop Tyson for good lol...and Tyson was a lot badder/more of a bully than Kov ever was.

If Kov was just the typical bully, Pascal would have put him out twice, as would have Yarde when they fought.

[Boxing_1013]

Ward Kovalev 1 was awful close and I could see it being a draw or going either way. I think Ward edges it tho by coming back from the early KD and taking control with good ring generalship, although he never hurt Kovalev bad. It’s almost like I say about Hagler v Leonard and some other fights where the feared puncher doesn’t destroy you, that counts for a lot in the judges eyes.

No offense to anyone...but anyone who says Hagler won the fight vs Leonard...or that Ward won the first fight vs Kov, I just can't take seriously at all really.

There just are not 7 rounds for Hagler/Ward in those fights...you would have to give them like all 5 or 6 of the close rounds, and 1 or 2 of the clear rounds for the other guy...both Leonard and Kov were up 5-1 I think, pretty clearly...and when Hagler/Ward started to get into the fight, it was more of a 3-3 final 6 rounds than any 6-0 performance.

People saying Ward or Hagler won those final 6 rounds 6-0 or so, you are basically saying they should have won 12-0 or 11-1 if the whole fight went that way...that's just crazy...should have been a draw type fight if the whole fight went the way of the final 6 rounds in those fights.

Anyone saying those are debatable, I just have no idea what they are really doing/watching.

[Boxing_1013]

First fight was a robbery. Second fight I can understand that Ward would have won any way because he had Kovalev hurt.

Yeah the right hand upstairs was a great shot...the only reasons I give Kov a bit of cover for that ending are 1) Ward was warned early about going low, and did seem to go low quite a few times even before the final couple shots...if you are constantly borderline or low, then usually you get warned, and then deducted, and can't continue to go low...the shot that opened up upstairs was there in part because of the body work Ward had done, which again unfortunately was controversial.

And then for the fight to end with the low shots, idk I mean it just shouldn't be that way lol...can't really end on a foul like that...I think it kind of robbed all of us of a proper ending in that fight...give him time to recover, and then see if Ward can end it the right way...and alternatively maybe Ward punches himself out and Kov finds a 2nd wind...just would have been a good ending I think.

But again Kov should have handled those tactics better anyway so I don't give him a complete pass there either...he knew what he was up against in the 2nd fight and I don't think he prepared the right way/came in with the right gameplan...but hindsight is always 20/20 isn't it.