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 Last year we got one of the most significant fights of the 21st century when Andre Ward challenged the (mostly) unified light heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev. This year, they're fighting again, and it's just as important. If you want profiles on the individual fighters, click the link up top and check out my OP for their first fight. The guys are the same, so their story just needs updating, not rewriting. They're really interesting people though, so I recommend checking it out if you don't already follow boxing closely.  The First Fight It was supposed to be a close fight, the potential number 1 and 2 pound for pound fighters in the world. It was a close fight and a very good one at that. It wasn't exactly a stand up brawl, but it had a lot of action and tension. Ward was knocked down early, but fought his way back into the fight with some grade A boxing and got a decision. That's the general narrative of the fight, but there was significant controversy over the results. Ward definitely fought his way back into contention, but it wasn't certain he had done quite enough. At the end of the fight, a slight majority of the media cards had Kovalev winning 114-113 or 115-112, while a significant minority of had Ward winning 114-113. Don't get it twisted, these are all legitimate cards you could take away from the fight, as there were at least two split rounds. It wasn't a robbery by any means, this is just sort of what happens when the best fight the best. A mix of attitudes emerged following. A lot of fans felt Kovalev should have walked home with the win, and there were rampant accusations of an American scheme to rob the visiting fighter and all that. Ward got the belts, but it was clear that unless he rematched, there would be a huge question mark over this fight. After a bunch of bullshit, we finally got the fight. The narrative from here is whether Ward can continue to improve upon his performance and win more decisively or if Kovalev can bring something more overpowering and stop Ward from doing his thing. Ward is the favourite going in, as tends to happen to with rematches, but this is a very dangerous fight for him, as we've already seen that Kovalev can definitely hurt him. On Kovalev's side, he's not the sort of guy to take this kind of thing lying down. He's never lost before, and based on everything he's said and done since the decision, he is pissed. He seems to think he's pinpointed the problems he had in the first fight and is sure his new approach can take it for him. Despite this being a rematch, it really feels like the continuation of a fight paused 6 months ago. Both fighters definitely have the tools and ability to make changes and win in my opinion. I personally favour Ward here, but if this goes anything like the first match, it's not a comfortable fight at all for him. The Undercard Hey, it's the part of the PPV that's going on while you're reading this. Being honest, this undercard is hardly exceptional, but its definitely worth watching, Dmitry Bivol vs Cedric Agnew Bivol is the prospect on display here. He's a Russian light heavyweight knockout artist, trying to follow in Kovalev's footsteps. He's a fun fighter to watch at any time, and Agnew is good enough to make this fight meaningful. Agnew is one of those guys who has too many wins to be considered a journeyman, but not enough significant accomplishments to be anything more than a fringe contender. It's a stepping stone fight for Bivol, around the same level of his previous two fights. If it goes like the previous two, it should be quick. Luis Arias vs Arif Magomedov Two prospects I really know nothing about.  Maybe it will be good, maybe it won't! You never quite know what you're getting with these sort of second fight prospect buster undercard fights.Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Moises Flores Hoo boy, could write a bit more about this one with time, but I don't have that. Rigondeaux is potentially the best fighter in the world right now. It'd hard to say for sure though, since he rarely fights and has a lot of trouble getting big names in the ring with him. Flores is a good fighter, a real contender, but on paper he is outclassed here. Flores is actually good though, and that's probably enough to make Rigo work for this, and maybe show why he's given so much praise in the boxing community.
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Jun 18, 2017 02:00
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| # ? Apr 19, 2024 07:23 |
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But how do they compare to Conor McGregor?
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Jun 18, 2017 02:08
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i wonder what kovalev can really change in this fight
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Jun 18, 2017 02:10
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Giving Roc Nation my pity 65  .
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Jun 18, 2017 02:11
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loving hell Rigondeaux has deigned to grace us with his presence?
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Jun 18, 2017 02:11
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Predicitions: Rigo's fight might be a stealth good one? IDK I just want to see Rigo leave first gear I think the judges will be a lot harder on Ward this time, because of all the controversy from last time. He can't let this fight be close. I'm not sure if Kovalev is going to try to hurt Ward more early, or if he's going to be focusing on the later rounds, since he seems to blame a certain amount of his problems on conditioning. Lid posted:But how do they compare to Conor McGregor? Hmm, I think McGregor is easily the sexiest of the three, in part based on his youth and attitude. Kovalev is a pretty rough looking man, and his personality is as cold and unsettling as his home country. Ward is more thoughtful than either of the others, and his contemplative musings can be interesting, but he's also a bit flat and boring. Plus I'm not really into religious guys. McGregor has sort of figured something out in using a decent sized beard to cover up his fighter face while also making him instantly recognizable. He also arguably has the best fashion sense and can at definitely wear a suit well, something I'm not sure the other two have tried. McGregor also has some solid charisma, I'm kind of a sucker for that huge goofy confidence thing. He seems like he would be fun to go drinking with. I mean, I'm sure Kovalev would be fun to drink with too, but I'm pretty sure you'd end up as an accomplice to a crime Jump King fucked around with this message at 02:19 on Jun 18, 2017 |
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Jun 18, 2017 02:15
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This Magomedov guy was in the WBC's top 5 at middleweight a year ago lol.
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Jun 18, 2017 02:16
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both of these guys have landed flush right hands and done 0 damage. i fear this is going 10
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Jun 18, 2017 02:16
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If I were the Nevada or California State Athletic Commissioner I would mandate that fight cards cannot end before 11 PM just to piss off thehappyprince.
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Jun 18, 2017 02:19
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thehappyprince posted:both of these guys have landed flush right hands and done 0 damage. i fear this is going 10 The nemesis of the yank card watching brit. I'm not lasting the distance on this one lads.
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Jun 18, 2017 02:20
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thank god
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Jun 18, 2017 02:27
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Funnily enough I'm going through be out all night and will be barely able to check rbrs
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Jun 18, 2017 02:45
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Bivol might be legit but on the other hand Cedric Agnew is basically a bouncer looking for a bit of cash in hand
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Jun 18, 2017 02:49
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rigo will deliver us a war to keep us awake
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Jun 18, 2017 02:57
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lol
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Jun 18, 2017 03:08
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this. is. boxing.
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Jun 18, 2017 03:08
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Oh man that DQ would be terrible
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Jun 18, 2017 03:09
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Yessss I love it
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Jun 18, 2017 03:10
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Just make the ruling Vic. Bob Bennett is too busy swimming in that MayMac money Scrooge McDuck style.
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Jun 18, 2017 03:10
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This is horrible lol
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Jun 18, 2017 03:10
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loving lol if rigo loses his 0 because of someone andre dirrelling it up
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Jun 18, 2017 03:11
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The ref doesn't seem to know the round ended
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Jun 18, 2017 03:14
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The gently caress does Drakluich need Bob Bennett for anyways? What does he have to do with it? Just take a look at a replay on one of the monitors make your decision. Why do you need the head of the Commission there for what should be ref's duty?
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Jun 18, 2017 03:15
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What the gently caress hahah
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Jun 18, 2017 03:17
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hahahahahahah owned
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Jun 18, 2017 03:18
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Thank god KO
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Jun 18, 2017 03:18
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rigo the killer
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Jun 18, 2017 03:19
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I have no idea how Nevada managed to actually referee that in the spirit of the rules but I'm glad they did
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Jun 18, 2017 03:19
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lol wow. I'm happy for this because the hell with trying to win that way, flops are garbage.
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Jun 18, 2017 03:19
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Chacal has thermite in his gloves god drat
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Jun 18, 2017 03:19
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he didn't get a count tho what poo poo ref
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Jun 18, 2017 03:20
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Two punches with him holding his head down, then a third after the bell. I don't know. All of that sounds illegal but I hardly ever watch boxing.
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Jun 18, 2017 03:22
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it should've been a no contest but losing by knockout when you were faking is the funniest result so am happy
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Jun 18, 2017 03:24
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Illegal things in boxing are illegal with a wink and a nudge
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Jun 18, 2017 03:26
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I_want_to_believe_with_a_ring_bell_instead_of_a_ufo.jpg
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Jun 18, 2017 03:28
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This is what happens when you limeys get your wish and fights end quickly. The loving NSAC executive director listening to ring audio.
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Jun 18, 2017 03:31
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Oh no are they going to loving reverse this? Lol
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Jun 18, 2017 03:31
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truckgate 2017 lmao
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Jun 18, 2017 03:33
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If they reverse this I will be loving livid lmao
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Jun 18, 2017 03:34
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| # ? Apr 19, 2024 07:23 |
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The 9/9 Chocolatio - Sor Rungvisai card is going to be loving loaded. The undercard is Cuadras-Juan Francisco Estrada and Inoue's US debut.
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Jun 18, 2017 03:36
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