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SPORTS Monday 19 June 2017

Andre Ward stops Sergey Kovalev to win light heavy rematch

Ward was up by a point on plain it,” Kovalev said. “I ficult to score. The crowd
two scorecards and down thought I was doing very at Mandalay Bay thought
three points on the third good. otherwise, roaring at every
going into the eighth. But I was better and he was punch landed by Ward
Kovalev was fading, just as better this fight. I didn’t feel and chanting his nick-
he had in the first fight, and like I was getting knocked name.
he picked up the pace. down by the power of his There was genuine dislike
Kovalev was credited with punches.” between the two fighters,
throwing 407 punches to Ward, who won an Olym- born largely out of their first
238 for Ward, and out land- pic gold in 2004 and hasn’t fight. Neither made any ef-
ing him 95-80. lost a fight since he was fort to touch gloves when
The AP had Kovalev ahead 12, took a few rounds to given their final instructions,
by a point going into the fi- find his mark but once he and once the bell rang,
nal round. did the two engaged in they both went after each
“I don’t know, I can’t ex- close rounds that were dif- other.q
Andre Ward, left, hits Sergey Kovalev during a light heavyweight
championship boxing match Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Las Ve-
gas.
(AP Photo/John Locher)

By TIM DAHLBERG Kovalev began tiring. Both
AP Boxing Writer fighters complained of dirty
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Andre tactics and Weeks spent a
Ward vowed he would lot of his time breaking up
leave no doubt this time clinches.
around. He didn’t, turning Ward won the first fight in
the tables on a big puncher November, coming back
and stopping Sergey Kova- from a second round
lev in the eighth round Sat- knockdown to get a con-
urday night to win their light troversial decision. The
heavyweight title rematch. rematch seemed just as
The undefeated Ward close until Ward landed
turned the fight around the right hand that caused
with a big right hand that Kovalev’s legs to wobble.
wobbled Kovalev, then “He’s a great fighter,”
swarmed all over him. Ward said. “You’ve got to
Kovalev was in the neu- raise your game to the next
tral corner and Ward was level and thankfully that’s
landing shots to the body what we did tonight.”
when the Russian sat on Kovalev complained that
the ring rope and referee Ward hit him with two
Tony Weeks signaled an low blows in the final ex-
end to the bout at 2:29 of change, forcing him to sit
the eighth. on the first rope.
“I knew this time it was go- “Why stop the fight?” he
ing to be different,” Ward said. “I could have contin-
said. ued to fight.”
In a lot of ways it was the The fight was rough and
same, until Ward — who tumble from the begin-
was knocked down in the ning, much like when the
first fight — showed he was two met the first time when
a big puncher, too, with both were unbeaten. But
a right hand that made while Kovalev was sup-
Kovalev’s right leg wobble posed to be the puncher
and signaled the begin- it was a big right hand by
ning of the end to the bout. Ward that landed midway
The fight had been close, through the eighth.
with Kovalev (30-2-1) win- “I could tell he was react-
ning the early rounds be- ing to my body shots and I
fore Ward (32-0) began knew I had him then,” Ward
making adjustments and said. “I knew he was hurt.”