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SPORTS Saturday 17 June 2017
Ward, Kovalev do it again in light heavyweight title bout

By TIM DAHLBERG “When I see his face
AP Boxing Writer I want to bash him,”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An- Kovalev said. “I don’t
dre Ward won’t apolo- like this guy.”
gize for the close deci- Ward (31-0, 15 knock-
sion that Sergey Kovalev outs) isn’t about to invite
insists should have gone Kovalev over for dinner,
his way when the light either. He’s not happy
heavyweights fought in about what he said
November. were racist overtones in
Still, he’s eager to videos sent out by Kova-
clear up any remain- lev and his team, and
ing doubts when they unhappy Kovalev keeps
meet Saturday night in a questioning the legiti-
175-pound title rematch. macy of his win in the
“I am looking forward to first fight.
making a statement in “I’ve been through ad-
this fight, and removing versity in and out of the
any doubt that may be ring,” Ward said. “I’m
out there,” Ward said. not perfect but I make
“Some of you think I lost an effort to be an asset
the fight, but you’ve got Andre Ward, left, and Sergey Kovalev pose for photographers during a weigh-in Friday, June 16, to the game.”
2017, in Las Vegas.
to look at the other side Associated Press The fight will be tele-
of that coin. There a lot vised on HBO pay-per-
of people who are con- The rematch is as intrigu- they were not afraid to ing to buy our fight are view, which has some in
vinced I won it.” ing as the first fight, when voice this week. There’s still going to buy it and boxing scratching their
Ward is among those the question was wheth- also a bit of an under- come out,” Ward said. heads. The first bout
people, and the fact er Kovalev’s vaunted current about a Russian “I don’t feel like it affects was on pay-per-view,
that he rallied from a power would carry the meeting an American, me. It is what it is.” too, and drew only a re-
second-round knock- day against a fighter though Kovalev spends Anyone who watched ported 150,000 buys, de-
down to win makes him who never really excites much of his time in Los the first fight would have spite it being an attrac-
even more confident fans but always leaves Angeles. to be intrigued by the tive matchup for boxing
about the rematch. the ring with his hand Unfortunately for both rematch. Kovalev ap- fans.
Kovalev faded in the first raised. fighters, those outside peared on his way to Though Kovalev (31-1-1,
fight, and Ward plans to Ward, the 2004 Olympic boxing don’t seem ter- beating Ward in Novem- 26 knockouts) made his
do everything he can gold medalist, hasn’t lost ribly interested. The fight ber before Ward gained mark as a power punch-
to ensure that happens since age 12, though at the Mandalay Bay control midway through er, he was unable to put
again. Kovalev is convinced resort is being held in a the fight and eked out Ward away after put-
“When he can’t get you there should be one big smaller arena than the a one-point win on all ting him down in the first
out of there he fades,” loss on his record. first, and pay-per-view three scorecards. fight.
Ward said. “You kind of “I know I will get my belts sales are expected to be Kovalev claimed he Ward said that will play in
see a theme in his fights. back,” Kovalev said. “I tepid. overtrained for the first his favor in the rematch.
He’s so used to people was empty in the first And any efforts to gener- bout and had nothing “I’m not averse to get-
trying to get away from fight. For him it was like ate buzz this week were when he went into the ting hit,” Ward said.
his power that he’s able fighting a heavy bag.” dashed when Floyd May- ring. “But I’m not going to put
to rest between the ac- If the matchup isn’t at- weather Jr. and Conor Regardless, he said, he my head out there on a
tion. tractive enough, the two McGregor announced plans to not only win the platter. I’m not into tak-
He’s not used to some- fighters have a genuine their own fight. fight but take out his frus- ing two (punches) to get
one pushing the action.” dislike for each other “The people who are go- trations on Ward. one.”q
Lopez upsets Berdych, Zverev

stops Haas at Stuttgart Open

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) defeated Roger Federer Zverev said he was “a bit
— Feliciano Lopez upset in the second round on sorry, especially because
Tomas Berdych 6-7 (4), 6-3, Wednesday, was play- I could always hear his
6-4 and Mischa Zverev end- ing for the last time at the daughter, who shouted,
ed veteran Tommy Haas’ grass-court tournament, ‘Come on, Daddy!’ They’re
participation in the Stutt- and he was accompanied special moments. He’s a
gart Open quarterfinals on by his six-year-old daugh- champion.”
Friday. ter Valentina at the post- Also, the fourth-seeded
Lopez saved all nine break match news conference, Lucas Pouille defeated
points he faced against the where she sat on his lap. Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4,
third-seeded Berdych. “She is the biggest reason 2-6, 6-3 for a semifinal
Zverev defeated Haas 6-4, why I still do it,” said Haas, against French compatriot Germany’s Mischa Zverev returns the ball to Germany’s Tommy
6-4 for a semifinal against who plans to retire at the Benoit Paire, who beat Po- Haas during their quarterfinal match at the Mercedes Cup tennis
Lopez. end of the season. “On the land’s Jerzy Janowicz 6-1, tournament in Stuttgart, Germany Friday, June 16, 2017.
The 39-year-old Haas, who whole it was a nice week.” 7-6 (4).q Associated Press