Vinny’s Views: The Aftermath of Andre Ward Vs Sergey Kovalev & 15 Lingering Questions…

By Vinny “Glory Days” Lucci

Hold tight sports fans like the presidential election this will get uglier before it gets better. In that vein, it’s easy to dismiss this robbery as Kovalev won the “popular” vote while Ward won the electoral vote and move on and be done with it. Not so fast and not so easy. I haven’t witnessed so much displeasure over a decision in thirty years going back to Marvin Hagler Vs Sugar Ray Leonard. In juxtaposition both fights produced the same profound effect on the verdict. Those that wanted Hagler to win refuse to this day to ever changing their minds he was robbed and could cite multiple reasons why. Ditto the Leonard fanatics who didn’t care about his pre-fight demands, just the results. What we just witnessed this past weekend was a fatal glimpse into what is so wrong with the sport and why MAA (Mixed Martial Arts) is currently rivaling boxing in young fan support and attendance. Having already covered the fight from weigh in to verdict there is no need to return to the scene of the crime as much as to explore the aftermath’s fallout and how it effects the future, legacies, and pulse of the nation not just the sport.

If you’ve read my articles or a fan of this column you’ve heard me joke there may be a quiz later, so here it is and school is in session…

1) Is there going to be a rematch?

For those clamoring for one who weren’t satisfied with how this played out albeit the action or verdict fear not. Main Events confirmed to me three weeks ago a rematch clause was written into contract. Ward’s victory speech was honest enough but he made it appear after a long rest he would consult his promotional team and welcome the rematch down the road. Not the case my friends. He is bound not only by honor but contract as well. Kathy Duva who heads up Main Events is already vocal about enforcing the immediate rematch clause. Whether you are hoping for a reversal of fortune or a repeat hallow victory doesn’t quite matter if you are smart enough to steer clear from debate.

2) What the hell went wrong?

The answer is a threefold carnage of corrupt or inept judges named Burt Clements, John Mckaie, and Glenn Trowbridge. I wouldn’t trust them to judge a Brooklyn Pizza tasting contest let alone to mitigate the honor and integrity of legacies and history connected to what was supposed to be the fight of the year. It’s now tainted just like hundreds of other bad decisions in boxing. Make no mistake, the fight wasn’t even close. Awarding rounds simply because one fighter defended himself is not justification for giving the stanza away. Shit, why not just write score cards in advance and go celebrate at bar? With a rematch clause already in place, the loser already had his foot in door and there was no need to create extra drama and build the gate for the sequel. So far, the only good news is I can guarantee the three blind mice won’t be sitting ringside when Ward defends the three belts.

3) Whatever happened to the tough stance referee Robert Byrd claimed he was going to take?

While I can’t say, he did a bad job I say with clarity he didn’t do a great one. His before bout warning at introductions looked like a high school principal admonishing two freshmen about to do battle in the cafeteria. Start of round three he sternly warned “cut the bullshit,” when he viewed some illegal tactics manifesting. Only thing was he never quite got a handle on it and eliminated it completely. There was never a threat to either boxer in which the fear of losing a round by foul was ever issued. Therefore, with the comfortablity of knowing clinches and holding were questionably permissible a pattern set developed in every round.

While I didn’t have presence of mind to count the repetitions as the fight unfolded it surely appeared there was one a minute. Andre would get inside the pocket and after shooting a power shot, he’d clinch as it has been a career tactic to smother a power punches ability to counter in kind. Ward fans have been babbling about how many times Sergey would hold Ward about the neck with reverse headlock, but the champ was well prepared on how to negate the technique with a perfect strategy of his own.

In these unflattering moments of abbreviated warfare Kovalev would patiently wait for the ref to separate them and step back. Ward would use the tactic to get one hand free and bomb away. It’s only fair to point out that boxing rules allow a fighter with a free hand to do so unless otherwise instructed to break by the ref. For the pound for pound greatest boxer of the last two years it was winning ugly and had me second guessing if the unofficial tag was lost in translation somewhere. The tolerance permissible helped Ward regain footing in a fight in which he clearly lost the entire first half. While Byrd did call for “breaks” and did separate the combatants, he was slow to do so.

4) So, who do you think gets the referee assignment in rematch?

With no guarantee of who gets picked I can strongly suggest to Kathy Duva to request Kenny Bayless who stays on top of the action diligently in a quest for clear cut nonstop action. Virgil Hunter Ward’s trainer is a man of highest integrity and should have no out right reasons to object.

5) What on earth was Max Kellerman thinking?

I am a huge fan of Max and his ability to engage viewers with a quick thorough over view of the fight and what’s at stake. His in-depth analysis usually has co-anchor Jim Lampley asking questions rather than adding commentary. He is without a doubt the most knowledgeable boxing broadcaster today. His hedging on who actually won came across as a lame shill and acted like a corporate slug churning out safe “Q&A” rather than pick a definite winner before and after cards were read. His reasoning of it could have gone either way by one point was absurd. I seriously doubt ring card girls clouded his judgment. It will be highly interested in this Saturday’s rebroadcast to see if he hedges on who actually won.

The damage here is that the casual fan and novice alike will assume his reasoning is correct and score cards were in line. Bullshit. Max always calls them like he sees them. If this is Kellerman’s honest to God version of what transpired than he either had a bad night or is slipping. Max has always been highly critical of bad judges and volatile of the bad wake they leave in their paths.

6) Was this a great fight?

No, it wasn’t. It was a great event. From an artistic standpoint or combative one it held our imaginations captive while it lasted for the intrigue it presented by matching up two of the best fighters of today. After reviewing the rounds one more time I doubt I would be compelled to watch it again five years from now.

7) What made this fight so ugly?

While we can rue the horrible decision what came from it was a horrendous backlash across the world in the guise of racism. While now ex-champion Sergey Kovalev can blame loss on American judges and rightly so, a fire storm of bi-racial hated has reared its ugly face across Facebook debates in every single boxing forum. This crap is a direct reflection of our divided nation. The race agenda is the worst it has been since the turbulent sixties.

Some small minded posts have Ward pictured with the word “FRAUD” emblazed across the post while others have Kovalev pictured with “EXPOSED” by these narrow minded free thinkers. From there it gets inherently uglier as the threads expand. Anyone who comments as a voice of reason and sanity is publicly ridiculed by opposition while they turn deaf ears to logic. While the debate rages the fire of racism it not only isn’t necessary, but there simply is no place in boxing for racism. Case Closed!

8) Where does this leave WBC champion Adonis Stevenson?

Hopefully in the cold on outside looking in. His shameful three years of ducking Sergey in hopes that someone else beats him as come to fruition. With the rematch in place some fans are already calling for a trilogy which would tie up 2017 leaving the fractional champ to cherry pick his way through the woods until he too eventually gets beat. It’s called karma.

9) Based on what we saw who is more likely to improve in rematch?

Tough call. While Kovalev did as he planned (3 weeks ago I interviewed him where he disclosed his strategy) and he boxed behind a long stiff jab seeking to win round by round it will be interesting to see if he goes in for early kill next time and doesn’t let up? Ward’s plan was to survive the early onslaught and take the champion into proverbial deep waters. He accomplished that. He did test Sergey but he passed with flying colors even if he convincingly lost the eleventh round.

Without tune ups there is no extra time for Ward to transition into a 175 pounder. Even though he was ripped and lean he still appeared to be a super middleweight when compared to say, a Jean Pascal. From what I witnessed I feel both can improve marginally. Even if Ward can manage winning two or three more rounds on an unbiased scorecard he still can’t outbox Sergey. On the other hand, as long as Kovalev doesn’t burn himself out going for an early knockout the fight should look pretty much the same.

10) Is punch stat an effective tool to gauge fight results?

No, quite frankly, never. First of all, I have always questioned their validity. If you read my articles I never use them as an equation in describing expected punch volume when handicapping matches. The human eye using hand counters to calibrate every jab and power punch is not only subject to miscalculation of what actually landed, but can also be biased as well. i.e.; “Opps, I secretly want “so and so” to win so I just forgot to tabulate that flurry.” With every single match up the importance of punch stat varies. Large punch count numbers can reflect only a first half and not account for what actually transpired though out entire fight. In this light heavyweight scenario Ward connected on 116 of 337 for a connect percentage of 34%. Kovalev landed 126 of 474 for his connect percentage of 27%, but it doesn’t clarify the tempo and rhythm of fight.

Kovalev as the defending champion was the aggressor in all, but one round coming forward to turn back the challenge of his highly worthy adversary. Missing range finder jabs in closing the fighting gap of distance is quite different then the tally suggests. I bring this up only as a gauge in itself to be questioned as many fans are relying on these numbers to support their cause for celebration.

11) If Max Kellerman was coy about picking a definite winner were there boxing experts who believed Kovalev won as handily as described by this reporter?

Hell yes, thank God impartial Roy Jones, JR. was a voice of reason among dozens who agreed. Like myself, Roy said Andre lost the first half of fight including the two point second round as I called the action that night on Ringside Report. He went on to say for Ward to have been able to squeeze out a draw he absolutely needed to win every round of second half, but didn’t. He repeated, come on, he didn’t win all the rounds in second half. (Thereby giving him four rounds, as I did. The 7, 8, 9, and 11th only.) Here’s a quick sampling of names that had Sergey winning: Larry Merchant, Kovalev clearly won the fight and was robbed. Harold Lederman HBO 116-111, Andrew Harrison Boxing Monthly 117-110, Chris Mannix Yahoo 115-112, Bernardo Osuna ESPN 115-113, Al Bernstein Showtime 115-112, Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times 115-112, Ryan Songalia Ring Magazine 115-112 and none other than Stephen A. Smith by close decision. I don’t have enough time or Grey Goose in my glass to scour the internet to support my opinion, but you get the point. Most professional opinions that scored the fight for Kovalev had him winning rather handily.

12) Does Virgil Hunter deserve trainer of the year honors for getting this win?

Quite frankly, no, and it’s a damn shame. Great trainer and long over looked and highly deserving but not based on a victory that’s tainted with a sea of protests calling it a fix, robbery, and disgrace. I‘d love to interview Virgil in the future to get his take on fight and his illustrious career.

13) Amongst the debates was anything proven?

Well, from where I sit, Kovalev out boxed the world’s greatest boxer. He also hurt him and knocked him down. Does it prove he is a better boxer? No, just well prepared and forced his will upon his opponent making it a matchup of styles winning the duel if not the decision. Based on all the protests Ward has yet to prove in the hearts and minds of writers and fans that he can beat Kovalev regardless of scorecards.

For himself and family he showed the heart of a true champion after all he was at a disadvantage from day one. His long two year self-imposed hiatus due to promotional disputes had interrupted his career as he was hitting his prime. His was moving north from super middleweight at 168 to light heavyweight gaining 7 pounds of muscle. He didn’t allow himself much time to take tune ups and breathe inside a light heavyweight frame before challenging the beast of the division who was making his ninth defense. So, God bless one and all and get the rematch going already.

14) I missed the fight on pay per view telecast. What keys should I be looking for in HBO rebroadcast?

Well, start by keeping a keen eye on tempo. Who is controlling the ring as well as the action? As the fight unfolds, get a sense of who is actually scoring shots and who is on defense. Pay keen attention just before fight starts to Virgil’s plea before opening bell, then listen intently between every single round. Do not get up for popcorn or take a bathroom break. His instructions, pleas and reasoning will give you a better understanding of how the fight is actually unfolding by his eyes, than anything you’ll hear in commentary. Finally, look at expressions of both fighters when the winner was announced. Andre not only showed bruises and welts on both side of his face and eyes, but his look of sheer amazement said it all. Kovalev smiled in disbelief and later disgust while shortly afterwards denounced the decision as an “American judges robbery.” This was not sour grapes and a fighter whose heart and pride were wounded.

15) Any early predictions for rematch?

No. While I believe Sergey won comfortably by 116 to 112 it is far too soon to handicap with so much on the line. My gut tells me to trust what my eyes just witnessed.

Wishing everyone a glorious Thanksgiving holiday and a shout out to enjoy this weekend’s fights.

Stay tuned…

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