The worst type of body shots land below the belt. A good body shot always hurts even when it’s legal and it hurts worse and longer than the usual head bang. Head punch KOs that cause unconsciousness are not perceived as very painful, if at all, while body shots keep the recipient awake and provide clean unobscured pain.
The highly anticipated rematch between undefeated unified WBA/IBF/WBO light heavyweight world champion Andre Ward and former champion Sergey Kovalev did not fail to live up to expectations. The two pound for pound elites battled a second time for pound for pound supremacy in a back and forth fight which again brought out the best of both fighters. In their first bout, Ward was awarded a controversial unanimous decision where most observers believed Kovalev had done enough to win. This time, Andre Ward left no doubt as to who the better fighter was, and he won via eighth round stoppage in another terrific fight.
Last night’s big card in Las Vegas seems destined to go down as one of the most controversial boxing events in many a year. We all know what happened in the main event rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev – with the low blows thrown and landed by Ward infuriating Team-Kovalev.
But if that wasn’t enough (and it sure was), the chief supporting bout was also covered in controversy – even if far less people are talking about what happened in the Guillermo Rigondeaux-Moises Flores super-bantamweight title fight.
It seems that controversy, of one kind or another, is always going to rear its head when light-heavyweights Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev fight. Twice now the two top 175-pounders have met, with Ward winning on both occasions, yet fans everywhere are still debating over who is the better fighter of the two.
Chapter two of Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev vs. Andre “S.O.G.” Ward drama ended in another controversial loss for Kovalev. The referee waived off Kovalev after he struggled to recover from several consecutive low blows from Ward that the official failed to call. Sergey remained on his feet throughout the exchange but nevertheless the referee called a halt to the action at 2:29 of the eighth round.
Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” took place on Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, was produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.
Below you can find all of the fight results and fighter quotes:
In another fight that can be called a total robbery, IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Andre “SOG” Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) was given credit for an 8th round knockout after he hit Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 KOs) with 3 successive low blows while he was trapped against the ropes at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
RESULT: Guillermo Rigondeaux by TKO at 2:59 of the First Round
Rigondeaux: “The Mexican was a brave kid. I commend him for getting in the ring with me. He has more guts than a lot of these other guys. We both threw combinations at the same time at the end of the first round. But mine was quicker and more accurate. It was only a matter of time. I fight to give the best performance to the public and all the fans. I am making everyone disappear at 122. I am always available. Tell me who is next. I want all of them, and will take them out one by one. I hope the whole world sees what it is like to get in the ring with me. I am tired of the press and everyone saying I am boring. You see what happens when someone brings the fight to me.”
WBA World super middleweight champion Tyson Zeuge (21-0-1, 11 KOs) won a 12 round unanimous decision tonight over #5 WBA Paul Smith (38-7, 22 KOs) at the Rittal Arena in Wetzlar, Hessen, Germany. Smith gave it his best shot, but he lacked the technical skills overcome the 25-year-old Zeuge, who controlled the fight throughout with his jab. Smith didn’t start attacking until the last 3 rounds when things were looking bleak for him. By that point, Smith needed a knockout, but it wasn’t going to happen.
The rematch has been set and as we count the final moments before the opening bell, we stand at the cusp of seeing the rightful king exalted. Although we may reflect upon their first encounter in the hopes of extrapolating tonight’s result such analysis alone may not yield the answer. The fighters in Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward may not be the same fighters who faced each other in November late last year. Although we stand with the hopes of continuing the fight as if igniting the 13th round; evolution may offer us greater refined results.