So, does Andre Ward deserve the top spot pound-for-pound?

11/21/2016 James Slater

Going into this past Saturday’s big light-heavyweight title fight showdown plenty of people were saying the winner between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev would be deserving of being placed atop the mythical but always hotly debated pound-for-pound rankings. Ward, as we all know, won – at least officially – and we cannot go back on things now.

So is Ward, who was a dominant super-middleweight for a number of years and is now a king at light-heavyweight, the best boxer, pound-for-pound on the planet? On paper, yes, he probably is, although a number of people may choose to rate Kovalev higher than “S.O.G” due to the fact that they felt, and feel, “Krusher” won on Saturday, only to be “robbed.”

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Can Andre Ward follow Roy Jones, James Toney up to heavyweight?

11/21/2016 James Slater

Can Andre Ward make it as a heavyweight? After his close, controversial but at times very impressive win/performance over Sergey Kovalev, Ward, the new light-heavyweight king, briefly spoke about how he might – might – be tempted to take a fight at heavyweight one day. Ward hasn’t lost it completely, as he carefully inserted the caveat that the fight would have to be “the right fight.”

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One of Two Ways: Kovalev vs. Ward

11/21/201611/21/2016 Daniel M Webster

Convention wisdom dictated that Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward could only go one of two ways, either a Kovalev KO or a Ward decision. As a nearly 2 to 1 favorite, most people assumed that a Ward decision was the most likely scenario. Early in the fight it looked as if Kovalev was well on his way to the upset, punctuated by a fierce knockdown of Ward in the second round. The tide gradually turned and by the fifth round they were fighting on even terms, with Ward appearing to take the majority of the middle rounds. The championship rounds looked to be split, depending on your preference for Kovalev’s more powerful punches, or Ward’s pinpoint ones.

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Video: Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward – Post Fight Recap

11/21/201611/21/2016 Rummys Corner

The highly anticipated match-up between undefeated light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev and undefeated former super middleweight world champion Andre Ward did not fail to live up to expectations. The two pound for pound elites battled for pound for pound supremacy in a back and forth fight which brought out the best of both fighters. After being dropped early by a devastating left-right combo from the champion, Andre Ward persevered and rallied back to secure the victory in this close and competitive affair. The official judges all scored the bout in favor of Andre Ward by the same score of 114-113.

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Kovalev-Ward – there has to be a rematch, but will we see one?

11/21/201611/21/2016 James Slater

The only thing fans are in agreement on regarding last night’s exciting fight between Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward (the winner’s name goes first) is there simply has to be a rematch. The razor-thin unanimous decision awarded to Ward instantly became a topic of huge contention, even before either fighter had left the ring in Las Vegas – some even calling the verdict a “robbery,” some saying it is one of the worst they have ever seen.

There was a rematch clause inserted ahead of last night’s bout, so it seems there is a good chance a return fight will happen and soon. Kathy Duva, promoter of Kovalev, is calling for an immediate return. Kovalev, who says he never lost more than three rounds, is not guilty of having sour grapes; he genuinely believes he won the fight. Many millions of fight fans firmly agree with the now former light-heavyweight champ.

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Judges Swayed – Give Ward the Decision

11/21/201611/20/2016 Paul Strauss

Sad affair saturday night at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Expectations were high. Fans hoped for a classic matchup. What they got was an attempted mugging and resulting robbery. To call Andre Ward’s efforts scientific would be ill-judged, which is what happened with the decision in Ward’s favor.

One simple way to tell who won the fight is to look at each fighter’s face. Andre Ward’s was red, lumpy and swollen. The Krusher’s face was relatively unmarked.

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Andre Ward Defeats Sergey Kovalev in Close Decision Results

11/21/201611/20/2016 Main Events

In front of a packed house at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and live on HBO Pay-Per-View, Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (31-0, 15 KOs)* won a close unanimous decision victory over Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) to steal the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles in a decision that most ringside media thought went the wrong way.

Both fighters were feeling each other out in the first two rounds. The Krusher continued his come-forward attack and knocked Andre down in the second. Ward managed to get up quickly and took several hard shots from Sergey before the bell rang to end the second round. The next several rounds included heavy shots from both fighters and some wrestling-style moments. The majority of the rounds were hard-fought and close. Many writers had the decision going to the other way but all three judges scored the bout 114-113 in favor of Ward.

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Kovalev vs Ward: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Official Prediction

11/19/201611/19/2016 Vivek Wallace

Tonight, fans around the globe will tune in to what could very well go down as the “Fight of the Year” when American Gold Medalist, Andre Ward (30-0, 15KO’s) takes on Russian Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KO’s). 60 victories and no defeats between these two shining stars, although at the end of the night, one of them will face an element of the sport they’ve never quite been a part of. That element? The agony of defeat! As we prepare for this showdown, we take a look at Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction:

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Per Aspera Ad Astra- A Genuine Super-Fight

11/19/2016 Ben Anderson

2016 has not been a great vintage for boxing. In the eyes of many it has been a veritable annus terribilis. Whilst this may be over egging it somewhat, the year has certainly had its fair share of disappointments. The sordid saga of Fury Klitschko 2, the Wilder-Povetkin Meldonium scandal and the infuriating impasse between Canelo and Golovkin have left fans and the general public frustrated on many occasions.

There were of course some diamonds among the rough: Postol vs Crawford,Usyk vs Glowacki and Golovkin vs Brook were all high calibre fights. But far more was needed to atone for the bitter anti-climax that was Mayweather Pacquiao. The backlash from this fight is still reverberating among sports fans. Many hold it responsible for the current decline of pay-per-view in America.

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Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev: Legacy Sealer in Sin City

11/19/201611/19/2016 Chris Carlson

Legacy is on the line this Saturday night when former super-middleweight king challenges light-heavyweight crown-holder Sergey Kovalev, live on HBO PPV. The winner of this super fight from sin city will cement their hall of fame credentials and likely take over the pound-for-pound throne. Several questions linger in what has been rightfully billed as a 50-50 fight between elite level fighters. Matching 30-0 records and top-5 P4P status makes this the best matchup on paper in 2016.

A strong case for victory can be made for either men, but it’s not as simple as a run of the mill boxer vs. puncher dual due to the well-rounded skills each pugilist poses. It’s safe to say that both fighters will be facing their best opposition to date. A few opponents come to mind to compare and contrast in an attempt to split hairs.

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