Lampley wants to say it was rigged but won't

Can't give the 12th to Ward with a straight face. Fight was close, but that last round just stretches credulity

So you gave Kovalev the 12th? If so which you should have. How did you grade the other 11?

The 12th may have been weird scoring but I had Ward ahead by 2 going into the last round so Kov got some favourable scoring earlier in the fight

Let's brightside here folks. With the quality of the action and the hype the poor judging is likely to get, the rematch might actually sell.

Ward wins 8-4 in that by the way

I had Ward winning by 1

A fella at HBO had Kov winning by 4? What?

huh? Ward two up going into the 12th, is this real life?

Ward won five rounds. Kovalev the rest including a 10-8.

How anybody scores that to Ward I don't know.

It is more than "weird scoring", it is 3 judges all deciding a crystal clear round should go the opposite way, conveniently making way for a 114-113 decision.

And yeah, you may have had Ward ahead, but most people don't seem to share your view, and it is besides the point anyway.

In before HBO didn't actually announce the judges gave the 12th to Ward and we have a few trolls or deaf people in this thread.

The fight is fresh in our minds and Kevin pretty much has to die on this hill now. Let's be gentle.

People who thought Kov won by a landslide really underestimated the body work Ward did inside. Cuts and bruises on the face leave a greater impression than body punches. Plus, headshots are just more visually appealing. If you were just going to evaluate on pure aggression, then Kovalev won by a pretty decent margin. But Ward's work inside is what got him the win on the cards.

I had it 114-113 Ward giving the last to Kovalev.
1. 10-9
2. 10-8
3. 9-10
4. 9-10
5. 9-10
6. 10-9
7. 9-10
8. 9-10
9. 9-10
10. 10-9
11. 9-10
12. 10-9

Great fight, def need to do this again asap

people who defend this by stating the obvious (that you could find a way to legitimately score it 114-113 ward) is part of the problem.

I still can't see 7 rounds to give to Ward, but Kovalev can only blame himself. Every later round was sitting there for the taking, Ward was winning rounds by default. I can't feel sorry for either guy.

Except you can. There were a few rounds in there that were pretty close and could have gone either way. They decided the fight.

I think this point is that if we heard correctly (and if HBO was correct to begin with), then that 12th round going unanimously to Ward renders the rest of the discussion moot.

Edit: Oops, thought you were responding to KoC

Pretty much my scorecard

I love how the people that disagree somehow think your crazy. I obv score boxing differently to you. Kov marched forward and at times was reckless, swinging and Missing a lot. Ward was so clever on the inside, caught Kov with so many body shots on the way out. Ward surprised me by finishing strongly, def didn't see that coming. Great fight, would love to see it again.

Kev has Ward ahead by 2 going into last with a 10-8 round lolol

Goodnight on that note

France 114 Germany 113

Not enough and not big enough. Most were incredibly short punches while in a clinch, not Rios - Alvarado type close body shots. They didn't seem very significant either, despite Ward's HBO commentary team's constant mention of them, as Kovalev neither looked worn down nor did he fade late.

If you look:

Knockdowns - Kovalev
Total punches - Kovalev
Power punches - Kovalev
Aggression - Kovalev
Face damage - Kovalev

Even if some of those are by smaller margins, it's still pretty clear.

Just hard to give Ward more than 6 rounds (and he loses at 6 rounds). I thought Kovalev won 6-8 rounds here with the 6 giving Ward all the close ones unless you counted a round for Ward simply bc he didn't get rocked.

Well as is the theme this year, at least Kovalev won the popular vote.

#NotMyLHWChampion

Goodnight

Didn't everyone on HBO have Ward losing?

Must be an American thing. Yous did vote a reality TV star to run the country tbf

so 2/3 judges had it 10-9 Ward, but the guy who scored it for Kovalev had Ward winning the 10th? They all had the 10th for Ward.

Ok. Never change, boxing.