WHILE much of the debate after Andre Ward beat Sergey Kovalev focused on the timing of Tony Weeksโ stoppage and the impact of the last punch drifting low, Ward had seized control of the contest in dramatic circumstances and had hurt the Russian in the eighth round.
โI donโt think they can dispute that right hand. They canโt dispute that,โ Ward said. โI think it was a great fight as long as it lasted.โ
The American had beaten Kovalev once before, a narrow points win last November. He was more dominant second time around, revealing he was in better physical condition. โThe first fight almost got postponed maybe two times because of issues with my body, my knee flaring up and stuff like that. I was in tears two different times throughout camp not knowing if that fight was going to get cancelled or not. Iโm telling my team I canโt pull out of this fight. Iโm thankful to Virg [Virgil Hunter, his trainer] and my team. Virg being smart, not pushing me hard, letting me rest. Just getting through. I felt like that had a lot to do with my mobility when I watched the film the first time. I was too stationary and heโs too good of a boxer to be stationary against. This fight, even when I was sparring, the movement, the angles were different. I had that going into an eight week camp. I knew it was going to be different,โ Ward said. โHeโs a timing fighter, heโs not the quickest, heโs got good timing though. A lot of Russian fighters theyโre good with their timing. So the key was keeping my motor, keep moving, giving him different looks. I was feinting, I was acting like I was going to do something, I tagged him out of the blue. Iโve got to keep giving him different looks and that was the most disappointing thing that I saw when I watched the first fight.
โI had great sparring. The first fight, I think I sparred 107 rounds total, this training camp was about 135 rounds and I had four different guys. It was a great camp. So what I did in camp translated [Saturday]. There were times when I did get stationary and I heard Virgil saying keep your legs moving. Again thatโs what heโs there for, if Iโm falling asleep for a second to get me back on my game. With a fighter like him, with the timing, itโs the smart movements that keep him off balance.โ
After a period of inactivity, boxing three times in 2016 also helped him. โThe timing was just a result of me being active over the last year and a half. Being inconsistent in the ring, even though youโre in the gym, itโs not the same. So I think the last year it was really good for me to get all three of those fights. I was in training camp probably six months out of the year last year. To finish it off with the Kovalev fight, I took some time off and I came back to camp really sharp. I just knew. Camp went really, really good this time. I just knew things were going to be different and it translated into the fight,โ Andre said.
He insisted heโd learned from their previous fight. โIโm a seasoned veteran. I know what happened in the first fight. A close fight but I knew I was doing damage. I knew this fight would be better and thatโs what it was,โ Ward said. โA lot of little stuff at this level goes a long way. So it wasnโt one big thing.
โItโs strategy. Itโs playing chess. If I know that you have a good right hand, it doesnโt mean that I canโt take it but why would I give you a shot just so I can land a shot? Iโd rather have you miss it, or have you miss as many I can make you miss to get you tired and then counter. Not everybodyโs fortunate to have a skillset like that and I respect the guys that have to take one to give one back.โ But he added, โYou canโt give a guy like that, with his accuracy too many shots because youโll start to wear down.โ
The American maintained he was unafraid of the threatening Kovalev. โYouโre a man like Iโm a man. And I fought you before. And I know what you got. And I know if I become better itโs going to be a problem and thatโs what it was. So taking nothing from him, heโs a really good fighter. Iโm thankful and blessed to be able to come out on top,โ he said.
On the stoppage he concluded, โHe missed a lot of shots and that wears you downโฆ To me thatโs almost as good as hitting a guy and knocking him out. Itโs to feel him methodically breaking down. I love that feeling. Iโm breathing but Iโm going to regulate and Iโm going to get stronger. Somebody asked about the stoppage but if that had gone another round it could have got ugly.โ