In what was billed as being one of the fights of the year, it was Andre Ward who emerged victorious, snatching the WBO, WBA and IBF light-heavyweight belts from Sergey Kovalev by the narrowest of margins.
Whilst Kovalev thought he?d been the victim of a home-town decision, Ward thought he?d clearly won the fight, despite being knocked to the canvas in round two.
Following the fight, which was scored 114 ? 113 by all three judges, Ward spoke about the bout, remarking to the media,
‘In a tight fight, he’s going to feel like he got robbed. I’d have been disappointed. But we got the belts tonight.?
And on the second round knockdown, Ward commented,
‘That was the first time in my career I got dropped. I’m pleased with the way I responded.’
And continuing on that first ever knockdown, Wards trainer Virgil Hunter added,
‘We were a little careless with that knockdown in the second round, but we landed the cleaner punches.?
With the Kovalev camp demanding the re-match the fight contract entitles them to, it?ll be interested if Ward will grant them that privilege and if so how soon.
Ward on Win over Kovalev
