Ward vs. Kovalev 2 results: Andre Ward controversially stops Sergey Kovalev in round 8

Andre Ward defended his light heavyweight titles with a stunning (and perhaps controversial) 8th round TKO over Sergey Kovalev.

Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) isn’t known for finishes, but in his immediate rematch with Sergey Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 KOs), he was able to get a TKO win in round 8 of this clash between two of the top light heavyweights (175 lbs) in the world. It was another close bout, as was the case last November, but this time there was a stoppage … and it was controversial.

There was very little to separate the fighters in round 1, but Kovalev was more effective with his stiff jabs in round 2. The crowd was a little irked by the incessant early clinching. Ward was content to work his counterpunching off the backfoot, making Kovalev chase him. The American clocked Kovalev with a sharp left but ate three punches in response, then referee Tony Weeks warned Ward for hitting the back of Kovalev’s head. It was a relatively good start for the challenger.

Ward landed a hard left hook on Kovalev to begin round 4, but Kovalev was continuing to score with his vicious jab. Action started to open up, with Ward going to the body and Kovalev really just going for head shots. Kovalev was caught by a couple of Ward jabs and power right hands. It was definitely Ward’s best round up to that point. Round 5 was another close one but Ward had perhaps the better of it with superior body work and a sharp left hook that stung Kovalev. Ward was bleeding out of his nose due to all of the jabs. The back-and-forth battle continued through round 6, with neither man convincingly making a case for themselves to take that frame. Kovalev went to the body in toe-to-toe exchanges, touched Ward up with the left hand, but also had to absorb a few rights and jabs by the champ.

There was an interesting moment in the 7th round where Kovalev complained of a low blow during a clinch and Tony Weeks told him to fight on. Replays showed that the punch was low. The 8th round began with vicious body punches exchanged, then Ward later threw a couple of left hooks to the side of the Russian’s head. A body shot by Ward hurt Kovalev and Sergey was doubled over in pain, but the ref wasn’t having his suggestions that it was a low blow. A big right wobbled Kovalev and he was in clear trouble with a minute left in the round. Ward threw a series of power punches in search of the finish. Another body shot bothered Kovalev against the ropes, and Tony Weeks stopped the fight in a rather curious decision. Kovalev was complaining that the shots were below the beltline in the post-fight interview with Max Kellerman. Replays suggested they definitely were.

Official result: Andre Ward def. Sergey Kovalev by TKO at 2:25 of round 8 to remain the WBC-IBF-WBA light heavyweight champion

At the time of the stoppage, Ward was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

Andre Ward defended his light heavyweight titles with a stunning (and perhaps controversial) 8th round TKO over Sergey Kovalev.

Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) isn’t known for finishes, but in his immediate rematch with Sergey Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 KOs), he was able to get a TKO win in round 8 of this clash between two of the top light heavyweights (175 lbs) in the world. It was another close bout, as was the case last November, but this time there was a stoppage … and it was controversial.

There was very little to separate the fighters in round 1, but Kovalev was more effective with his stiff jabs in round 2. The crowd was a little irked by the incessant early clinching. Ward was content to work his counterpunching off the backfoot, making Kovalev chase him. The American clocked Kovalev with a sharp left but ate three punches in response, then referee Tony Weeks warned Ward for hitting the back of Kovalev’s head. It was a relatively good start for the challenger.

Ward landed a hard left hook on Kovalev to begin round 4, but Kovalev was continuing to score with his vicious jab. Action started to open up, with Ward going to the body and Kovalev really just going for head shots. Kovalev was caught by a couple of Ward jabs and power right hands. It was definitely Ward’s best round up to that point. Round 5 was another close one but Ward had perhaps the better of it with superior body work and a sharp left hook that stung Kovalev. Ward was bleeding out of his nose due to all of the jabs. The back-and-forth battle continued through round 6, with neither man convincingly making a case for themselves to take that frame. Kovalev went to the body in toe-to-toe exchanges, touched Ward up with the left hand, but also had to absorb a few rights and jabs by the champ.

There was an interesting moment in the 7th round where Kovalev complained of a low blow during a clinch and Tony Weeks told him to fight on. Replays showed that the punch was low. The 8th round began with vicious body punches exchanged, then Ward later threw a couple of left hooks to the side of the Russian’s head. A body shot by Ward hurt Kovalev and Sergey was doubled over in pain, but the ref wasn’t having his suggestions that it was a low blow. A big right wobbled Kovalev and he was in clear trouble with a minute left in the round. Ward threw a series of power punches in search of the finish. Another body shot bothered Kovalev against the ropes, and Tony Weeks stopped the fight in a rather curious decision. Kovalev was complaining that the shots were below the beltline in the post-fight interview with Max Kellerman. Replays suggested they definitely were.

Official result: Andre Ward def. Sergey Kovalev by TKO at 2:25 of round 8 to remain the WBC-IBF-WBA light heavyweight champion

At the time of the stoppage, Ward was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards.