By Kurt Jean: Outrage, cries of foul play, dirty politics will surely be put to rest after the rematch between newly crowned IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Andre Ward and the beaten Sergey Kovalev after Ward’s close 12 round unanimous decision win last Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In fact, to the keen eye, it was obvious who won that fight.
The true pivotal moment of that fight wasn’t anything Andre landed, it’s what he didn’t manage to, or got beat by the punch to. That moment resulted in a knockdown for Kovalev. This moment is essential in understanding the greatness of the comeback victory by Andre Ward. Boxing is all about confidence, momentum and belief. Whatever you think you can do, you will do. Had Ward’s right landed, it would have been a different fight, much different. But it didn’t.
Ward seemed troubled and even on wobbly legs when hit with anything from Kovalev. The jabs were especially vicious and you could sense the feeling in the air “Wait, what, just like that, that easy?” Kovalev was making Andre Ward look outclassed, outmatched, and way in over his head. It was surreal. The deal was sealed and that knockdown only confirmed what most were anticipating to happen. At that stage, mythical rankings were starting to change, all-time great status would be consecrated upon Kovalev. Who and how could you make Andre Ward look like that, with such ease? Who is this guy? Who is he fighting next? Who can stop him?!! But you are talking about an Olympic champion, an undefeated fighter, a fighter who’s ring IQ, second to none. When that right hand landed, it completely changed Ward’s mental programming and demeanor for the rest of the fight, Kovalev’s also.
Ward’s right hand became reclusive, not because he was gun shy, but because, within those moments, within those purpose and integrity defining seconds, he had to make adjustments, concessions and audible on the fly. On the fly, under such duress, on the go, with no excuses to make, with nowhere to hide, on the biggest stage, he was able to compose himself, gather enough data on Kovalev to fashion a second half of the fight where he would put his best attributes on display while nullifying Kovalev’s game plan. He didn’t panic, didn’t get swayed by emotions or doubts. With the one pointed focus of a scientist, he assessed the situation, carved a new game plan based on those findings and pulled off the close, nonetheless convincing victory. Most fighters would of looked for an easy way out of such situation. Either by persisting with an ineffective game plan, getting reckless and losing or even by getting stopped. Then, they would have said it wasn’t their night and asked for a rematch, where they would make all sorts of promises and statements about how they had an off night the first time and would avenge their lost. But not Andre. Defeat was never a question, he demanded greatness from himself, never did he give in to the notion of losing. He managed to do all those things other fighters need another fight, and sometimes two more fights to “get it right”, he did it within the 12 rounds.
As for the rematch, it won’t be close at all. Ward will win it with ease. The reason being that, from the amount of head thumping jabs Ward landed, only on a very few occasions did he follow them up with the right hand that we are so accustomed to seeing from him. That was because of the knockdown. Expect those adjustments to be made in the gym, factor in his dominant inside and close range performance in the second half, I don’t see it even being close.