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Andre Ward Comes Off the Canvas to Defeat Sergey Kovalev

1479665457397By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña (At Ringside)
Photos By Cynthia “Cindy Lou” Saldaña (At Ringside)

Last night in front of a packed house at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada the world’s best pound for pound boxer was crowned at as Andre “SOG” Ward, 31-0, 15 KO’s dethroned the former undefeated WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 30-1-1, 26 KO’s in a long awaited 12 round showdown labeled “Pound For Pound.” This “Super Fight” was only the third time in the history of The Ring Magazine that two pound for pound listed undefeated Top 5 ranked fighters have squared off against each other. The first was when Julio Cesar Chavez defeated Meldrick Taylor at the old Las Vegas Hilton in 1990. The second was Felix Trinidad’s victory over De La Hoya at Mandalay Bay in 1999.

In a absolute classic Kovalev came out firing on all cylinders landing his jab at will, hurting Ward early and often. In the 2nd Kovalev caught Ward coming in with a powerful right hook, flooring Ward. Andre beat the count and smiled at Kovalev as the round ended. Kovalev continued to dominate throughout the next two rounds as Ward never could figure out the stiff jab and awkward hard hitting Kovalev. Then in round five everything turned in favor of Ward as he began smothering everything Kovalev threw and landed potshot on the head and body of the Krusher. Ward continued to gain momentum through the middle rounds as the electric crowd chanted “SOG” “SOG.” In the championship rounds both fighters went back and forth in rounds that were very hard to judge but after 12 fantastic rounds all three judges were in agreement with scores of 114-113, Two Glenn Trowbridge and John McKaie scored Ward the winner of the final six rounds. The other judge, Burt Clements, differed in his judgment of the 6th round 50-50 round, to be fair giving Ward rounds 5 through 11. After the fight ward stated “This is a beautiful thing. We did it, baby. It’s a lot of hardware this is surreal. This is what we set out to do. I’m a five belt world champion in two different weight classes. Man, it’s amazing.”

When Ward was asked if he was surprised by the decision he stated “I was not surprised when I heard the decision, I don’t know where you got that from. I know it was a close fight. The crowd, you can hear they thought I won. He did everything I expected him to do. He started to show up as I expected. He started to fight like I expected and my coach did a great job.” a seemingly upset Kovalev stated “He got maybe a few rounds. I agree with that. I kept control. I lost maybe three rounds the whole fight. It is the USA and all the judges were from the USA. It’s a sport. Don’t make it politics. It’s a sport and I won the fight.” Main Events promoter Kathy Duva also upset by the decision stated “My impression was that was the wrong decision, we thought he was clearly ahead on points. I think Ward could have a great career in the UFC. I haven’t seen so much wrestling since Conor McGregor in the UFC card last week.” Duva also talked about the rematch and during the post press conference stated “there is a rematch clause the only way it’s not is if we both agree, since I’m not it will be immediate.”

In the Co-main event rising Dallas, Texas boxing star and NABO Junior Welterweight Champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker, 21-0-3, 16 KO’s looked to defend his NABA junior welterweight title against Darleys Perez, 33-2-2, 21 KO’s in a ten-round bout. From the start Colombian veteran Perez took control of the fight as his ring generalship and experience inside the ring shined as he outclassed Hooker. Perez who beat down, bullied and controlled every aspect of the fight was robbed by the judges after 10 rounds. Hooker got a 97-93 score from Robert Hoyle, while Adelaide Byrd scored it 97-93 in favor of Perez and Glenn Feldman had it 95-95 making the fight a draw. Perez who was supposed to be a stepping stone, should now be an eye opener for the Hooker’s team as Hooker clearly isn’t ready for an elite fighter at 140lbs especially with the likes of Crawford and Antonio Orozco roaming the division.

Also on the card Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba, 24-4-2, 10 KO’s returned to the United States to face dangerous light heavyweight prospect and NABF Light Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk, 11-0, 9 KO’s in a ten round bout. From the start Gvozdyk showed great ring generalship landing hard combinations and stiff jabs at will on Chilemba. The middle rounds was the much of the same as Chilemba never could quite find his comfort zone as much of his night was backing up on the defensive. In the 8thround Gvozdyk landed several hard shots to the busted up face of Chilemba and as Chilemba made his way back to the corner after the round, his trainer had seen enough and waived off the fight. With the victory Gvozdyk did something many that before him including Sergey Kovalev couldn’t do, he stopped Chilemba. With the victory Gvozdyk moves to an impressive 12-0, 10 KO’s. After the fight it was revealed that Chilemba had broken his hand in the third, which caused his trainer Roy Jones, JR. to stop the fight.

And to open up the television portion of the night is Curtis “Cerebral Assassin” Stevens, 28-5, 21 KO’s battled James “The King” De La Rosa, 23-4, 13 KO’s in a ten-round middleweight showdown for the WBC Continental Championship. In a hard hitting back and forth battle Curtis Stevens made the most of a big opportunity by dropping De La Rosa in the first with a left hand in 1st, Stevens however suffered a hand injury leaving him unable to use his left hand for the rest of the fight. In the 8th round Stevens had De La Rosa pinned on the ropes landing a barrage of body punches, but was warned by referee Russell Mora for low blows. A minute later Stevens landed another shot south of the border causing him to have a point deducted. Throughout the fight although Stevens only had one good hand he landed the cleaner and after 10 competitive rounds the judges had it 98-90, and 96-92 twice all in favor of Curtis Stevens who moves to 29-5, 21 KO’s. After the fight Stevens gave an honest review of his performance when he said, “I give myself a C minus. Could have thrown my jab a little more. I am glad I got the W but I am a little disappointed in myself. The jab was good but I could have popped that shit a little more. Hurt my left hand in the fourth round. He’s got a hard-ass head. But I am glad I got the win.”

Other Bouts include:

Brice Ritani Coe, 4-4-1, 3 KO’s Vs Darmani Rock, 5-0, 4 KO’s (Heavyweight) 4 Rounds, Results. Rock wins a unanimous decision, by the scores of 40-36 on all three judges scorecards, Rock moves to 6-0, 4 KO’s.

Claressa Shields (Debut) Vs Franchon Chews (Debut) (Middleweight), 4 Rounds, Results.Shields wins her professional debut by unanimous decision by the scores of 40-36 on all three judges scorecards, Shields moves to 1-0.

Sonny Fredrickson, 14-0, 9 KO’s Vs Gabriel Duluc, 11-1, 2 KO’s (Super Lightweight) 8 Rounds, Results. Fredrickson wins by unanimous decision, 78-74 twice ans 77-5, Fredrickson moves to 15-0, 9 KO’s.

Botirsher Obidov, 6-0-1, 2 KO’s Vs Bakhram Murtazaliev, 6-0, 4 KO’s (Middleweight) 8 Rounds, Results. Murtazaliev wins by 2nd round TKO, Murtazaliev moves to, 7-0, 5 KO’s.

Henry Beckford, 4-5, 1 KO Vs Meirim Nursultanov (Debut) (Middleweight) 6 Rounds, Results. Nursultanov wins by unanimous decision 60-54 on all three judges scorecards. Nursultanov moves to, 1-0.

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