PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
NEW YORK, NY (April 4, 2017) – Roc Nation Sports, Main Events, Andre Ward Promotions and Krusher Promotions are pleased to announce the highly anticipated rematch between the unified Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Andre “SOG” Ward (31-0, 15 KO) and former title holder Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KO). Ward vs. Kovalev II “No Excuses” will take place Zaterdag, Juni 17 in het Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. EN/6:00 p.m. PT.
Team Ward and Team Kovalev will partake in a three-city press tour the week of April 10 to officially announce the fight, including New York City, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Further details will be available in the coming days.
“I’m going to keep it short and sweet. You got what you asked for – now you have to see me on June 17. Deze keer…leave the excuses at home,"Zei Ward.
“I’m glad to know that rematch will happen. I really hope that Andre Ward will get into the ring for this rematch. Fans of boxing will see the real Krusher–the one they have missed for couple of my last fights. For me this rematch is very important as no other bout in my entire boxing career. Thanks a lot to all of boxing fans,” said Kovalev.
“Roc Nation Sports is proud to be the lead promoter behind a boxing rematch for the ages,"Zei Michael Yormark, Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding and Strategy. “Last November, Andre showed the world he was boxing’s best. No doubt he will build upon his legacy come Juni 17 in another historic night. Er is geen excuus, the rematch is on.”
“After the last fight, we are preparing for another unbelievable experience. Can’t wait for the bell to ring! This is sure to be another nail-biting roller coaster ride,” said Kathy Duva, CEO, Main Events. “This is the only fight that Sergey wants right now and he refused to settle for anything less than the chance to get his belts back. I’m told that Roc Nation and Andre Ward have lots of great ideas for the promotion and we can’t wait to see them in action!"
“After a razor thin decision last November in their first meeting, the boxing community has been eagerly waiting for a Ward-Kovalev rematch,” said Tony Walker, Vice-President, HBO Pay-Per-View. “These are two world class prizefighters who embrace being on the sport’s biggest stage. Like Andre and Sergey, we can’t wait for June 17th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.”
“This spectacular rematch of pound-for-pound champions will be a ‘can’t-miss’ fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center,” said Richard Sturm, President of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International. “We look forward to working with both Roc Nation Sports and Main Events once again on this championship event which should be one of the most thrilling fights of 2017.”
Bekend om zijn sterke karakter en integriteit buiten de ring en het instinct van zijn krijger erin, 33-year-old Andre Ward’s skill and talent were apparent early in his outstanding amateur career. Hij pijnigde tot elke titel in de boeken, culminating in a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympische Spelen in Athene, Griekenland. As the only male American boxer to claim Olympic gold in the past decade, Ward toegetreden tot de wil van Mohammed Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard en Oscar De La Hoya. Hij draaide zich professioneel op december 18, 2004, het scoren van een tweede ronde technische knock-out overwinning op Chris Molina bij Staples Center in een strijd die live werd uitgezonden op HBO. He has gone on to rack up an undefeated record since then, het bouwen van een steeds groeiende legioen van fans in het proces. Nadat hij de Ring Magazine en WBA super middengewicht wereldkampioen, oplopend tot de nummer twee plek op de lijst pound-for-pond en het winnen van de 2011 Vechter van het Jaar Award (ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Ring Magazine en de Boxing Writers Association of America), werd aangekondigd dat Ward in januari een exclusieve promotie-overeenkomst getekend met Roc Nation Sport 2015, het openen van een nieuw hoofdstuk in zijn legendarische bokscarrière. Ward returned to the ring on June 20, 2015 op de Oracle Arena in de voorkant van zijn geboortestad fans in Oakland, Californië en scoorde een negende ronde knock-out over Paul Smith. Op maart 26, 2016, Ward made his highly publicized 175-pound debut against Cuba’s undefeated and IBF number one rated light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera and came out victorious. Ward continued his conquest of the light heavyweight division on August 6, 2016, with a unanimous decision over Alexander Brand. Immediately following the win, Ward announced that he will be taking on unified Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev in the ultimate showdown for division supremacy and recognition as the best pound-for-pound fighter. In the most anticipated fight of 2016 op November 19 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Ward would prove to the world his dominance as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters by becoming the unified World Light Heavyweight Champion with a unanimous decision win over Kovalev, the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO titleholder.
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, the Russian Wrecking Ball, 34, is currently ranked #2 Pound-for-Pound by Ring Magazine and has been dominating boxing’s light heavyweight division with his aggressive, fan-friendly style since his breakout performance against then-unbeaten Nathan Cleverly in 2013 when he won the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. One year after winning his WBO title Sergey went on to defeat future Hall-of-Famer Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins in a 12-round unanimous decision victory to add the WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles to his mantle. His rise to boxing stardom has been meteoric, as he has gone from an unknown fighter from Chelyabinsk, Russia to headlining HBO Pay-Per-View in just four years after signing with his first promoter, Main Events. In zijn laatste gevecht, Kovalev went the distance against former two-time world champion Andre “SOG” Ward. The bout ended in a highly-contested unanimous decision against Sergey even though Kovalev managed to knock down Ward and many thought the cards should have gone in his favor. Out of Kovalev’s 30 carrière overwinningen 26 have come by way of knockout. Daarnaast, he has entered into championship rounds only three times in his professional career. Kovalev has always sought to test himself against the best boxing has to offer; he wants to prove in the ring that he deserves that mantle.
Ward vs. Kovalev II “No Excuses," a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA light heavyweight championships, is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Main Events, Andre Ward Promotions, Krusher Promotions and Corona Extra, and is sponsored by Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The championship event takes place Zaterdag, Juni 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. EN/6:00 p.m. PT.
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