The HBO-presented pay-per-view clash between unbeaten pound-for-pound superstars Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward was supposed to determine the world’s best boxer.
It didn’t. Well, not conclusively, anyway.
American ring technician Ward left the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with Kovalev’s WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight titles on Sunday after narrowly winning the main event bout with scores of 114-113.
On my unofficial scorecard, I had Kovalev winning the 12-round clash, also with a score of 114-113.
Kovalev, the six-foot-tall light heavyweight puncher, flashed his power in the opening seconds, stunning Ward with a left-hand. The Russian continued the early dominance through the first six rounds, repeatedly tagging the 2004 US Olympic gold medalist with a pin-point accurate jab and straight right hand, bolstering his early lead with a knockdown in the second stanza.
A resilient Ward, who was down five rounds to one by the mid-way point of the fight according to two of the three ringside judges, rallied in the final half of the fight, finding his range, pumping his jab and lighting up the champ’s body like a Christmas tree to mount an improbable comeback.
Over 36 minutes of nail-biting action, Kovalev and Ward put on an instant classic – a frequently promised yet rarely delivered clash between boxing’s greats that exceeded all expectations.
It was a dramatic performance fitting of a Hollywood blockbuster, but HBO commentator Larry Merchant certainly didn’t compare it to Rocky or Raging Bull after the final bell.
“I think of this as Ocean’s 11 in the ring,” Merchant quipped. “A robbery.”
Merchant wasn’t alone. Social media was in an uproar, with fighters, fans, and media arguing that a crime was committed in Sin City, live on pay-per-view.
The truth is, the cries of foul play are misguided. There is a distinct difference between a robbery and a disputed decision – and this is unquestionably the latter.
The 33-year-old Kovalev, who is one of the most feared punchers in the industry, began to slow down by the fifth round. A damaged but not discouraged Ward expertly fought the final frames with a sense of urgency, later revealing “I felt like I needed every single round.”
The California born-and-bred fighter just refused to crumble under the pressure, even after Kovalev had dug a hole so large that it seemed unlikely that he would ever get out.
Judges Glenn Trowbridge and John McKaie had the fight dead even heading into the last round. It all hinged on those final three minutes, and a few clean left hooks from ‘S.O.G’ were likely the determining factor in Ward collecting three new pieces of hardware.
“This sounds good – the new light heavyweight champ,” an overjoyed Ward said after he was presented with his newly-won titles. “This was my most important and satisfying win.”
Ward’s reign as king could be short and sweet if Kovalev has anything to say about it, though. His promoter Kathy Duva told the press post-fight that her team will exercise its right to an immediate rematch.
Ward, who pocketed a career-high $5 million for his Las Vegas and pay-per-view main event debut, will undoubtedly be offered a few million more good reasons to step between the ropes for another tussle with the ‘Krusher’.
“We have 30 days to make the decision (on an immediate rematch) and we’ve already made it,” Duva promised.
It’s rare for a sequel to outdo the original, but Ward-Kovalev II could prove to be the exception to the rule.
Justin Faux
Expert
Thanks, Bundy. According to live betting odds, Ward was as high as a $12 underdog at one point. Most - myself included - didn't see him making the comeback. The biggest reason for it being such an improbable comeback was that Ward needed basically every single round that wasn't CLEARLY a Kovalev frame.
Justin Faux
Expert
Harold Lederman was excruciating to listen to during the fight. I wasn't as frustrated with Max Kellerman as you were. I felt he offered up a more balanced opinion (compared to Lederman, at least). He was pro-Ward but was rightfully acknowledging that the American was losing big chunks of the fight.
KingKongBundy
Guest
Great write up Justin as always ,I was stunned Ward finished the fight as he looked gone for all money early I've never seen anyone do that to him before.In saying that the way he fought back and changed things up was amazing to watch, around round 7 or 8 I think it was I then thought he would get the KO it was a awesome fight and the way they both went at it till the final bell is what boxing is all about Kovalev was very unlucky I thought bring on the rematch!
Russell Noble
Roar Pro
Difficult to watch the HBO coverage. Lederman was so heavily biased towards Kovalev, while Kellerman was very obvious in his Ward preference. I personally had it 114-113 Kovalev. It seems like from round 4 onwards, any knife-edge decision would go the way of Ward.
Justin Faux
Expert
Kovalev floated the idea that there was some hometown cooking in the fight and many have echoed that sentiment. I don't 100 percent agree with it, although I think it may be partly true. I don't think the fight was fixed, but that crowd was a big factor behind Ward leaving with the title, no doubt about it. The Vegas audience went wild for Ward's offense, cheering loudly at times when SOG was pressuring, but not landing all that much. Crowds have swayed judges in mixed martial arts, kickboxing, boxing, karate, and every other form of combat that requires a judge to determine a winner and this was no different.
Farqueue
Guest
All the hard work krusher put into getting those belts, to have them taken like that would be devastating. He was fighting an American,in America with an American ref and three American judges. There was only going to be one result if it went to the cards. In Russia kovalev would have gotten the decision easy. Ward was wobbled in first round, knocked down in the second. A lot of close rounds but to lose his belts like that was wrong in my opinion.
Justin Faux
Expert
After two viewings of the fight now, I could at most give Ward two of the first six rounds. There were a few frames that I considered a lot closer after a second viewing, but in the early going it was Kovalev landing more often, and with significantly more impact which was the big difference maker, in my opinion. Ward deserves props for fighting his way back into that fight because I (and most viewers) wrote him off by the mid-way point, but I just don't think he did enough to win the fight. Bring on the sequel.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Accoriding to one of my mates who is in a boxing circle up here, he believes that Ward was the clear winner and had only given to first to or three rounds to Kovalev. But no doubt there will be a rematch
Justin Faux
Expert
I think a rematch is the most likely outcome here. Neither fighter has a bigger money fight on the horizon, and there was certainly no clear winner in the first fight.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Rematch for double or nothing