Andre Ward – Sergey Kovalev: The Fallout, The Talk & So Much More!

By BJ “Warhammer” Proctor

A few days have passed since the epic clash between two of the best fighters in the world. The dust has not fully cleared, fans from both sides are at each other’s throat demanding their fighter be recognized as the rightful winner. The world is split, boxing pundits, current and former fighters, and promoters alike have all weighed in, and the consensus is that there is no consensus pick. What the boxing world and its raucous fans were privy to Saturday night, was something that will be talked about in the annals of history for years to come.

We do know this… Andre “SOG” Ward challenged Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev on HBO PPV, in one of the greatest fights in years.

This fight read like a saga, twist and turns the reader never saw coming and an ending that will be debated forever. A technical seesaw battle with momentum swings so large, the nearly sold out crowd at the T-Mobile Arena could be heard throughout the duration of the contest. Oohs and Ah’s rained down on the fighters as each snapping jab or ripping body punch landed, especially for Ward. The crowd was noticeably pulling for Ward and could be heard screaming for any momentum going his way. The atmosphere must have been electric, and with a fight so close, many boxing fans failed to realize just how great and important this was for the sport.

I can only assume and make educated guesses as to what the crowd and those covering the fight live felt and went through as this fight progressed. But what I can do is give you, the reader, the account of a fan who went through so many emotions, highs and lows, and left watching the fight so high, that said fan couldn’t find sleep for they were so exultant over the outcome. Let me take you to that momentous battle, through that my eyes.

The national anthems from each fighter’s respective countries played, and both fighters began to make their way to the ring. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. My heart began to quicken its pace and my mouth began to become dry in anticipation for what promised to be a tough fight for my favorite fighter.

Michael Buffer has given the fighter introductions, the ref, Robert Byrd has given the fighters their final instructions, and the bell is about to ring to start the contest. My heart is now pulverizing my chest, hammering as fast as an Olympic sprinter who just ran the 100m dash.
The bell rings, and both fighters take center stage. Andre Ward is establishing his distance, looking very good and I begin to calm slightly. Then it lands, a piston like left jab from Kovalev. Ward’s head snaps back and he looks visibly shaken from the blow. Ward is trying yet failing at getting on the inside. Ward boxed much better than Kovalev in this round, yet Kovalev has landed the more telling shots and I’m once again anxious.

Here comes round 2 and Kovalev goes right back to work. Ward will not be bullied and shows he’s willing to take it to Kovalev. Ward thinks he sees an opening for a counter shot, but he’s woefully out of position. Kovalev threw a jab, Ward tries to counter, and Kovalev had Ward right where he needed him for his crushing right hand. Down goes Ward, both hands on the canvas, on his knees and it could be over before it truly began! My nerves are overwrought, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I knew it was possible, but hoped upon endless hope that the power would not be a factor. Ward gets up, the fight continues and he immediately goes for a clinch to stop the momentum. This is almost always a sign of the fighter still being dazed if not worse, and my fear is the end is near. Ward survives round 2, yet my confidence is waning by the second.

Round 3 begins, Ward is once again trying to establish his inside game, where he is fantastic at in-fighting. Kovalev and his trainer John David Jackson appear to have prepared for this, for Kovalev clinches Ward’s head or both arms repeatedly forcing the ref to break and separate the fighters. Ward seems to have fully recovered and this is a much better round. I’m still troubled by what I see, yet it’s early in the fight, and I know that if anyone is able to turn things around, it’s Andre Ward. Not helping his confidence, is the fact that long time trainer and Godfather to Ward, Virgil Hunter, seems to be very worried himself.

Rounds 4 thru 6 Kovalev still has the lead and that knockdown in the second round is looming over the fight like a dark cloud, threatening to boom thunder and lightning strikes and ruin any work that Ward may produce for the remainder of the fight. Despite this ominous feeling, Ward has visibly started to find his footing and is slowly making his way back into the fight. I begin to regain hope, yet my heart has not stopped pounding my chest since the national anthems. I’ve never felt emotion like this in my 20 plus years of following boxing.

Kovalev is the clear winner of the first half of the fight, winning no less than 4 of the 6 rounds, you may even be able to give him round 5. The second half of the fight begins. Ward is finding his rhythm and has begun to set the pace with his jab and in-fighting. Kovalev is no longer able to stop Ward from getting inside his reach and Ward has begun to find purchase on Kovalev’s body. Ward begins to snap Kovalev’s head back, and rock his body, both with a stiff left jab. He begins to rip left hooks to both the head and body.

To me, that insurmountable lead is beginning to crumble and there is light at the end of the tunnel. That dark cloud has not fully dissipated, yet the sun is now visible and it slowly inches its way to shine its bright light on this dark hour. Ward has completely turned this fight around, his boxing IQ has reared its beautiful head and has begun to tame the beast Kovalev and his lethal power. Kovalev has visibly slowed, his punches have lost all steam and Ward is becoming so confident that he is posturing and showboating. The body work that Ward has done for the last 5 to 6 rounds has done major damage and major points piling.

Despite the fact that Ward has made an amazing comeback, Kovalev has boxed beautifully the entire fight, never fully fading, always finding a new gear to remain in this fight. Rounds so close that even me, who is rooting for Ward, knows that these judges could easily see something that I don’t and give close rounds to Kovalev. Going into round 12, the final championship round, my belief is Ward is winning by 1 round, yet that knockdown in round 2 would have this fight a draw at this point. Ward needs the 12th round, both fighters never quit, and once again this round is razor close, neither given ground to the other. The fight has ended with it being one of the closest and greatest championship fights I’ve ever seen.

Michael Buffer has the official scores from the judges and all three judges are unanimous. I believe that Ward has done just enough to win this fight, but I also believe that Kovalev could very well, and rightfully so, be declared the victor. I hear the number 114, and immediately think all three judges have called it a draw. But the next number was 113, all three judges have the score of 114-113 to the winner…..and the NEW Light heavyweight Champion of the World! I jump out of my skin. I wanted to scream to the top of my lungs, but it was after 1 in the morning and my family and most likely the majority of the neighborhood were asleep. I also thought of running outside, and once again thought better of this as well, for running outside in your boxers might not sit so well with the neighbors either. I was ecstatic, elated, and exuberant, there aren’t enough words to describe the feeling coursing through my body. I was on an emotional high that if I want to be honest, has yet to fully subside more than 48 hours after the bout.

Ward Vs Kovalev will go down in boxing lore, and the arguments threaten to never cease, despite the fact that this fight was the best this year and maybe one of the best ever. Many just can’t come to grips with the result. There is a rematch clause and both fighters have agreed to or demanded this fight be fought again and soon. The thought of another epic clash between these great fighters, already has boxing fans clamoring for the next installment.

Now I have a confession to make as I give my final thoughts. If you’ve followed me and my take on boxing thus far, I admitted my fandom and the fact that I’ve been following Andre Ward since 2004. I felt every one of those emotions and much more. I gave my take and prediction before the fight and had Ward winning the fight. I truly believe that, although a bitter struggle to the end, Beauty tamed the Beast! Now as I stated, I believe he edged it just slightly, but I absolutely must give Kovalev all the credit and accolades he deserves. Kovalev fought a brilliant fight, matching Ward in every aspect, in a chess match for the ages. Kovalev deserves all the praise he’s gotten before this match, and even in defeat I believe his standing in boxing should be rising. Both Kovalev and Andre Ward could rightfully be considered the best fighter in the sport of boxing, and there truly was no real loser. Boxing fans, the sport of boxing itself won, and won big, and I for one believe we can once again, claim boxing as the greatest sport there is.

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