Ward unfazed by Kovalev’s forceful words
For a worthwhile rematch to take place in the ring, there has to be interest, with controversy and animosity sprinkled in. Not to mention two talented fighters with a lot to lose and much to gain.
If last week’s media tour for “The Rematch” between Oakland’s Andre Ward and Russian Sergey Kovalev is any indication, all the ingredients are simmering for their June 17 fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. In their first goround in November, Ward (31-0, 15 knockouts) won a controversial decision over Kovalev (30-1, 27 KOs), coming back from getting knocked down to take the WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight titles.
“I still think he’s going to try to get out of this fight somehow,” Kovalev said. “I want to destroy Andre Ward and finish his boxing career. He didn’t deserve the last victory, and I want to retire him.”
Kovalev has also taken to throwing profanities at Ward on social media, a far cry from the buildup to the first fight, when the boxers had nothing but nice things to say to each other for months.
Ward is not fazed by Kovalev’s comments and hopes they make this a bigger fight in the eyes of fans. Their fight was Ward’s first in Las Vegas and also his first payper-view fight, as critics say his methodical and smart approach — not taking a punch to give one — is a little boring.
“He could talk all he wants about ending my career,” said Ward, 33. “It sounds good. I actually love it. It sells payper-views. When I was young I used to take that stuff personal, but not anymore. He just better be ready to stand by what he said and back it up.”
Kovalev had a mandatory rematch clause written into the first fight’s contract, or else his camp thinks Ward wouldn’t be doing this media tour in Oakland, Los Angeles and New York.
Main Events promoter Kathy Duva thinks Kovalev was robbed — and that Ward lost as well.
“Both of them lost something in the last fight,” she said. “Ward may have gotten the belts; I don’t think he got a lot of respect. Most people are out there saying he lost. He’s craved respect for so long and he didn’t get it, and so he has a chip on his shoulder.
“Meanwhile, Sergey, he had his belts taken from him, and he knows it wasn’t right. There was something unfair about it. So he has a chip on his shoulder. It’s coming across between the fighters.”
Ward was knocked down in the second round but came back to win most of the last eight rounds, according to the judges, all three of whom scored the fight 114-113 in his favor.
Kovalev said he overtrained and ran out of gas.
Ward practically laughed.
“The only problem with that conclusion is that I’ve seen multiple fights in which he fades late,” Ward said. “As an athlete, you never want to accept that someone was the better man. It’s a hard thing to do, so I can understand after losing a close fight like that after being undefeated, he’s searching for answers.”
Ward plans to pick up where he left off.
“He’s gonna have to knock me out to beat me,” he said.
Ward says he hopes Kovalev doesn’t overtrain this time, makes some adjustments and is “the best he can be.”
“That’s what big rematches and big fights are all about,” Ward said.
“I want to destroy Andre Ward and finish his boxing career. He didn’t deserve the last victory, and I want to retire him.” Sergey Kovalev, Russian boxer, on his first fight with Oakland’s Andre Ward