السبت, يونيو 17, 2017

AT MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER, LAS VEGAS

مقدم من HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®

LAS VEGAS, NV (June XX, 2017) - On the heels of the most anticipated fight of the summer, here is what some of the media are predicting for Andre Ward vs. سيرغي كوفاليف 2: “The Rematch” on السبت, يونيو 17 في مركز الأحداث ماندالاي باي في لاس فيغاس. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 عصرا. و/6:00 عصرا. PT.

تيم داهلبرغ, أسوشيتد برس

I had Kovalev winning the first fight, so maybe I’m the wrong one to ask. But I think a boxer always has an easier time making adjustments than a puncher and that should favor Ward in the rematch. Ward has a good measure on Kovalev’s power and he’s really good at switching things up in the ring, as he did in the late rounds of the first fight. I think it goes the distance again, with Ward taking a unanimous decision.

جناح: قرار بالإجماع

برنار فرنانديز, SweetScience.com

There is an expanding school of thought that Ward, the craftsman/technician, will be even better the second time around, having had 12 rounds and months of tape time to work out an even more intricate fight plan. I’m not sure I buy into that. Kovalev is no one-trick pony; he has skills to go along with superior power. If it’s a KO, he probably gets it, and it’s not out of the question that he can win on points as well. Let’s call it “Krusher” بواسطة 10^عشر round stoppage.

كوفاليف: 10^عشر Round Stoppage

Keith Idec, BoxingScene.com

Kovalev by split decision. There isn’t much separating these elite light heavyweights. Expect another very competitive fight that includes several more very difficult rounds to score. Kovalev will win a debatable decision this time and create demand for a rubber match.

كوفاليف: قرار تقسيم

مايكل روزنتال, Editor Ring

Ward was successful in the second half of his first fight with Kovalev because he made necessary adjustments. I believe he’ll carry that knowledge and momentum into the rematch, which he’ll win by a unanimous decision in another competitive fight. No controversy this time.

جناح: قرار بالإجماع

مات كريستي, Boxing News Online

Just like the first contest, this one is exceptionally hard to call and the events of that closer than close opener do little to make the job of choosing a winner any easier. Kovalev was a menace throughout, but perhaps the defining factor could be Ward’s ability to adjust. He did it in the first bout whereas Kovalev struggled to when it became clear the tide was turning. The pick is for Ward to win again on points, but without the controversy.

جناح: قرار بالإجماع

براين كامبل, CBSSports.com

Ward has already tasted Kovalev’s power and figured out ways to adjust and disarm “The Krusher.” That puts the pressure on the former champion. While you can expect Kovalev to be more aggressive, Ward just seems to have an answer for every style thrown at him.

جناح: قرار بالإجماع

Willard Ogan, NBC Sports Bay Area

The fight will start slow with Ward working inside. Body shots will do Kovalev in.

جناح: 10^عشر Round TKO

مايكل وودز, NYFights.com

Ward adapted pretty quick to the Russian’s attack. We should see “Round 13” look like the second two-thirds of fight one. Unless Sergey is fresher on fight night because he’s not over trained. But he is 34, and he is what he is. Ward is the better adaptor, and a defensive master.

جناح: قرار بالإجماع

Daiske Sugiura, ياهو! اليابان

Kovalev might be spending too much energy on hating Ward, which could backfire, and Ward is calm and collected, focused on what he needs to do. أن يقال, I watched the first fight twice, scored it for Kovalev both times. Quite simply, Kovalev is a better and stronger fighter at this weight class, it won’t change, and the judges will get it right this time.

كوفاليف: قرار بالإجماع

جناح مباراة. كوفاليف 2: “The Rematch," a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight World Championships, is presented by Roc Nation Sports, الاحداث الرئيسية, Andre Ward Promotions, Krusher Promotions and Corona Extra, sponsored by Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Jetlux, Life10 Electrolyte, زابوس, D’USSÉ Cognac, ProSupps and Powered by Monster. The championship event takes place السبت, يونيو 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 عصرا. و/6:00 عصرا. PT. Tickets for Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” are available on axs.com and at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Box Office.

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WARD-KOVALEV 2: “THE REMATCH” SET FOR السبت, يونيو 17, 2017

AT MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER, LAS VEGAS

مقدم من HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®

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الائتمان الفيديو: Roc Nation Sports/Main Events

LAS VEGAS, NV (يونيو 13, 2017) – Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion أندريه "S.O.G." وارد (31-0, 15 كوس) and former titleholder سيرجي "Krusher" كوفاليف (30-1-1, 26 كوس) opened Fight Week Powered by Monster with their Grand Arrivals at Mizuya Lounge at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Tuesday, يونيو 13, ahead of their ultimate rematch on السبت, يونيو 17 في مركز الأحداث ماندالاي باي في لاس فيغاس. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 عصرا. و/6:00 عصرا. PT.

أقل ما كان المقاتلين القول:

أندريه "S.O.G." وارد – Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion

“I am looking forward to making a statement in this fight and answering any questions that may be out there and removing any doubt that may be out there, لذلك أنا متحمس. You got to look at the other side of the coin, there’s a lot of people that thought I won the fight and he got what he asked for. Now after this, we don’t want to hear any excuses. We don’t want to hear about anything. We’re going to shut the door on this and, كما قلت, take all doubt and all questions off the table.

“In this sport, I have very little room for error. I always have the pressure on my side – no matter if I’m the challenger or the champion. But that’s OK because me and my team, we’ve learned how to deal with the pressure. We know how to deal with it. I come here looking forward to bringing back everything that I brought, including those belts. أنا متحمس. لا استطيع الانتظار, we’re a couple days away. All of this talking is getting ready to be over. We’re getting ready for my favorite part, which is the fight. يونيو 17. It’s about business, so I did what I had to do the first time. I’m looking to turn it up this time.

“The pressure is always on, واحد. It comes with my territory and it’s been like this since I’ve been a baby – 16 سنة, 17 سنة. You get to a point where you don’t run from the pressure, you embrace it. That’s what all the greats do. All I got to do is be myself and that will be enough. Everything else will take care of itself. At the highest level, you’re going to face adversity. It’s not if, it’s when. But the question is how do you respond? We responded like we were supposed to. I’m just looking forward to giving the fans another great fight in a few days here at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on يونيو 17.

“A lot of people talk about the jab and the right hand. But if you look at the second part of the fight, هو [كوفاليف] wasn’t landing right hands and jabs. He had a good moment and he’s a really great fighter – I’m not taking anything away from him. That’s why I want to face the best, ليكون أفضل. Some people thought I won, some people thought I lost. So let’s do it again and that’s the beauty of rematches in this sport. It’s nothing to get defensive about. You just lace it up, do it again and we’ll see what happens.

“I got out of that business a long time ago - trying to prove people wrong – because it’s not an even playing field. I’ve shut guys out – 120-108; 120-107 on the scorecard – and I’ve literally heard grumblings about something. If it’s not this, it’s that. You get to a place where you mature as a man, you mature as an athlete, and you make the decision that ‘I’m going to live my life in the middle.’ I appreciate the praises, but I can’t get too high with those. And the criticisms – I can’t get too low with those. People are entitled to their opinions. Let me just keep doing me and that’s really the best place to be as an athlete.

“Tactically, I obviously want to have a better start and I’m going to have a better start. That’s really what got me in my hole – the start. I’m sure he’s made some adjustments and he’s going to come harder, ولكن أنا مستعد. I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do. When you prepare the way you’re supposed to – and all the boxes are checked – it’s time to go to work. And I’m going to go to work, having fun and enjoying what I do, and put on a show in the process on يونيو 17."

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – Former Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion

“You know it’s good that he’s believing himself right now, that he’s got the key for me, but he didn’t get the key. He won two rounds against me as empty Kovalev, I remember I was like a heavy bag. Just like a fighter who came in the boxing gym like one month ago. And he’s like right now, ‘oh yeah I beat the Kovalev, but he won with empty Kovalev’.

"لهذه المعركة, I definitely had to get in shape, have different emotions and different motivations. I don’t just want to get my belts back and thank boxing fans for the support. I want to thank my haters – they motivate me to keep going. I want to get my belts and I’m here for this.

"نعم, my fists will say it. I’ve already said enough. I want to say to Team Ward – they’ve said a lot of trash to my side, my team. He will pay for everything; أعدك.

“I appreciate him giving me the opportunity to get my belts back and on يونيو 17 it’s going to be a different fight.

“I was empty one month before the November fight. Ward fought an empty Kovalev. This time I will not be empty – Ward will be fighting Krusher. I had pushed myself so hard in the beginning of training camp that one month out I was empty. I felt so much presser for the fight – my first fight on HBO Pay-Per-View – that I just trained too hard.”