Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward: can Kovalev make it an exciting fight?

08/08/201608/07/2016 James Slater

Andre Ward sure is a talented boxer, but he sure can turn in a boring fight. Last night’s almost pointless 12-rounder with a totally outclassed Alexander Brand has received some of the worst reviews in recent memory, with a number of experts calling the dreadfully dull shut-out win for Ward one of the worst fights ever televised on HBO. Ward cruised to the lopsided win, content to win each round in pretty much the same manner he had won the previous three minutes.

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Kovalev vs Ward on 11/19

08/07/201608/07/2016 Main Events

On Saturday, Nov. 19 the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer will be crowned. Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs), the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion, and Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) Two-Time World Champion, officially announced their long-awaited showdown following Ward’s victory over Alexander Brand at the conclusion of the live HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast Saturday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Kovalev vs. Ward will take place Saturday, Nov. 19. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT and is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions.

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Video: What can Andre Ward learn from Kovalev vs Chilemba?

07/12/2016 Rummys Corner

With the highly anticipated showdown between two of boxing’s most elite talents, Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward, scheduled to take place in November, only one obstacle remains before the best fight than can be made in all of boxing becomes a reality. That happens August 6 when Andre Ward takes his final tune-up bout against Alexander Brand. For his part, Kovalev just took care of business in his final bout before the mega fight with Ward when he outpointed Isaac Chilemba by unanimous decision yesterday.

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Andre Ward must get past his “tune-up” first, but looks the favourite to defeat Sergey Kovalev in November

07/12/2016 James Slater

In boxing, a so-called “tune-up” fight can have the exact opposite result than was planned or hoped for. Wanting to sharpen up tools and pick up added, reaffirming confidence before heading into a big match-up, a fighter can sometimes leave said “tune-up” feeling rustier, less sharp and less confident than he was before fighting it. Light-heavyweight ruler Sergey Kovalev might be feeling a little this way right now, after his frustrating, less than satisfying points win over Isaac Chilemba yesterday.

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Kovalev: I believe my mistake was that I was trying to put power in every punch

07/12/2016 Main Events

Tonight at the DIVS Sports Palace in Ekaterinburg, Russia undefeated WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs*) dazzled his hometown crowd during 12 heart stopping rounds as he defeated Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) via unanimous decision.

The hard-fought battle between Kovalev and Chilemba was non-stop action from bell to bell. Kovalev came out of the gates guns blazing but the tough Chilemba took every punch handed out by the hard-hitting champ. The toughest round for the 29-year old Chilemba was the 7th when he was knocked down by the Krusher.

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Sergey Kovalev wins 12-round UD over a game and tricky Isaac Chilemba

07/11/2016 James Slater

Tonight in Russia we came away with two overwhelming thoughts: no wonder Isaac Chilemba has never been stopped, and Andre Ward will be feeling quite happy right now.

IBF/WBA/WBO light-heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev retained both his belts and his unbeaten record against Isaac Chilemba, but, boy did he have a tough/awkward night’s work in doing so. The final scores of the three judges – 118-109, 116-111, 117-110, all for “Krusher” do not tell the full story. Kovalev, now 30-0-1(26) still moves ahead to his big November fight with Andre Ward, but Chilemba, now 24-4-2(10) sure gave Ward plenty of pointers.

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Kovalev defeats Chilemba

07/11/201607/11/2016 Vladimir S

IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) fought in a controlled and relaxed manner on Monday night in beating the 29-year-old Isaac Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision at the DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Kovalev put Chilemba on the canvas in the 7th, and came within an eyelash of getting a knockout in that round. It looked like Kovalev took it easy on Chilemba until pouring it on in the last minute of the 12th round. Kovalev suddenly came alive and was punishing a badly hurt Chilemba as the fight ended. Chilemba’s nose was bleeding and he looked in bad shape. The question is did Kovalev take it easy on Chilemba to get rounds in so that he could get practice for the Andre Ward fight coming up? It sure looked that way to me.

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Sergey Kovalev: 174.6 lbs. – Isaac Chilemba: 174.8 lbs. – Weights

07/11/201607/09/2016 Main Events

Monday’s HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

The fight is a 12-round light heavyweight title bout, featuring Sergey Kovalev defending his unified titles against Isaac Chilemba.

Official Weights from Russia:

Sergey Kovalev: 174.6 lbs.
Isaac Chilemba: 174.8 lbs.

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Kovalev vs. Chilemba on Monday, July 11

07/09/201607/08/2016 Main Events

On a special night, one of the sport’s top performers defends his unified light heavyweight titles when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. ISAAC CHILEMBA is presented MONDAY, JULY 11 at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT) from the DIVS Palace of Competitive Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

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Training Camp Notes: Isaac Chilemba – Kovalev vs Chilemba

07/06/201607/06/2016 Main Events

Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) is in for the fight of his life against the world’s fiercest light heavyweight Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) on July 11 in Ekaterinburg, Russia but the 29-year old from Malawi is no stranger to fighting in enemy territory. The grudge match between Kovalev and Chilemba will be for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles.

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