Contentious. That was the atmosphere on Monday morning at Le Parker Meridien in NYC during the Ward v Kovalev 2 press conference; dubbed “The Rematch.” Fight fans know, Andre “Son of God” Ward won a controversial decision over then light heavyweight champ Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev last November. The months since leading up to Monday’s event were filled with drama and social media beef, mostly from Kovalev and his camp. For his part, Ward says he isn’t here for all the Twitter and Instagram drama. He believes the rematch on June 17th is strictly academic.
In a series of tweets prior to Monday’s press conference, Kovalev said the following:
AndreSOK “Son of Kovalev”. Pray to me @andreward pic.twitter.com/BAbZ2HzLnD
— Sergey Kovalev (@KrusherKovalev) April 7, 2017
— Sergey Kovalev (@KrusherKovalev) April 7, 2017
#WardKovalev2
Be ready motherfucker! I’ll finish your boxing career??
@sergeykrusherkovalev pic.twitter.com/YCfftzpuJt— Sergey Kovalev (@KrusherKovalev) April 4, 2017
Kovalev and many fight fans feel the decision to Ward last November was unjust and akin to a robbery. Even if you scored the fight a tie, the decision would go to the champ, at the time that was Kovalev. There are merits to that argument certainly, and many will also point to Kovalev knocking Ward to the canvas in the second round. Kovalev and his team did not back down from that stance on Monday and let the assembled media know about it during our session with him, saying:
There are a lot of fighters I respect and some I don’t. I don’t like him [Ward]. When I see him I just want to punch him in the head.
To get back to the technical side of the rematch, Kovalev gave more insight into where there was potential for ambiguity from the judges in the initial fight, saying he overtrained, and lacked energy from the fifth round on. Where if you are a Ward fan, is where the fight turned. Kovalev was up to three workouts a day before the first fight, says he is doing less this time.
The approach, at least publicly to the media, from both camps is a story of opposites and contrasting styles, much like the fight. Ward and his camp believe they “cracked the code” on Kovalev. They obviously sight Ward’s performance from the 5th round on. Ward prides himself on being a student of the game and says he has no fear.
While Sergey is talking, my team is working. Ain’t nothing scary about this man. He felt me, he knows.
Kovalev’s camp claims Ward was ducking them and didn’t want a rematch, citing Ward’s talk of retirement. Ward is a religious/spiritual man and according to him seriously thought about retiring. But he says, it wasn’t because of Kovalev but because he feels secure with his place in the sport and is fighting for something bigger than money, prizes, and titles.
No matter which fighter you root for, June 17th is setting up to be an epic rematch. Kovalev is using the bitter taste of disappointment to fuel him to try and recover his titles. Ward is leaning heavily on his faith, limiting outside noise, and doing what he’s been doing since he was 13 years old. Both men are two of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. They say styles make fights, and that is definitely true. Both men obviously use different means of motivation and preparation but only one man will be victorious. Let’s hope this decision is void of controversy.
Flip the pages for video from today’s press conference. We will start with James Prince, Andre Ward’s manager. He’s making this fight about nations. Also, does he know who Ward is fighting?