On Saturday night Las Vargas hosted a packed night of boxing here’s my review of all the action.
Sergey Kovalev V Andre Ward
Andre Ward comes off the canvas to win a tight unanimous decision by 1 point
Andre Ward walked to the ring looking very confident and focused. Sergey Kovalev walked to the ring looking very confident.
The 1st round was very much a feeling out round for both men,Kovalev did land some good power shots. The 2nd round was another close round but you could see Kovalev was trying to get on the inside and use his power. At the end of the round Ward hit the canvas and he looked ready to go. At the start of the 3rd Ward looked like he was trying to regroup but he couldn’t get out of the way a Kovalev’s power. By the end of the round Ward was landing some jabs and he looked like he was getting back into the fight. The 4th started a bit scrappy but then both men started to land some good shots. In the 5th the better quality punches and foot work was coming from Ward.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Kovalev 1 up but only because of the knock down. This was shaping up to be a classic. The 6th started scrappy again as Ward tried to get inside, but in was another close round with nothing to split them. In the 7th both men landed some good shots, but still the better punches were coming from Ward. At the start of the 8th Kovalev looked like he’d slowed down but it was yet another close round, but still the better work was coming from Ward. The 9th started slower but both men were landing some good shots. So into the championship rounds we go in a fight like this it will come down to who wants it more. At the start of the 10th Ward came out swinging. Kovalev looked like he’d lost his range, Kovalev was starting to look tired. In the 11th Kovalev landed a few good shots but then so was ward like most of the fight it was a tight round.
Going into the final round I had Ward 1 up but it could go either way in the 12th both men went for it both landing some good shots. At the final bell I had Ward 2 up but a draw wouldn’t surprise me
Isaac Chilemba V Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Oleksandr Gvozdyk makes Isaac Chilemba quit for the 1st time in his career.
The 1st round was a very close round with not much to split them but I think Gvozdyk might have just edged it with the better quality punches. The 2nd round started much the same, but Chilemba seemed to be growing into the fight it looked like Gvozdyk couldn’t find his range. At the start of the 3rd it looked like Gvozdyk was trying to take the fight to Chilemba knowing that he had a power advantage. At the start of the 4th Gvozdyk came out looking to land shots. Midd way through the round Gvozdyk had Chilemba pinned on the ropes and started to land combinations, however Chilemba did land some good body shots
Going into the second half of the fight I had Gvozdyk up by 1.The 5th was another close round with both men having their success. At the start of the 6th Gvozdyk came out throwing shots but again in was a close round but I think Gvozdyk won it on work rate. Towards the end of the round Chilemba was backed up on the ropes again it looked like Gvozdyk’s power was starting to get to Chilemba. The 7th was another good round for Gvozdyk it seemed like Chilemba had nothing left. In the 8th Chilemba came out swinging it looked like he knew he was behind in the fight, but he didn’t seemed to have the power to hurt Gvozdyk.
At the end of the 8th Chilemba quit on his stool with an arm injury but it looked to me that Chilemba just had nothing left and his heart was broken. So were dose Chilemba go from here.
Maurice Hooker V Darleys Perez
A controversial draw as Perez out classed Hooker.
At the start of the 1st round both men came out looking to be on the front foot there wasn’t much to split them. At the start of the 2nd Hooker landed some shots, but you could see that Perez was the better boxer it looked like Hooker was just looking for one big punch were as Perez was boxing his way in. In the 3rd Hooker was missing a lot, midd way through the round Perez rocked Hooker, it’s early In the fight but Hooker looked out of ideas. In the 4th it looked like Perez could just land at will it looks like a man against a boy.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Perez winning everything. The 5th was much the same Hooker was just been out boxed. In the 6th Hooker tried to take the fight to Perez but he was just missing and been countered. At the start of the 7th Hooker finally started to land some good shots but Perez was just able to walk through Hooker’s punches. In the 8th Hooker did seem to becoming back into the fight but the better punches were still coming from Perez, Hooker has looked scared all night. The 9th was much the same as the rest of the fight Hooker looked like he knew he’d lost the fight. Going into the final round the only way Hooker could win would be by knockout and that wasn’t going to happen. In the 10th Hooker did try and land some big shots but Perez was just walking through them.
At the final bell I had Perez winning it by 9.
Also on the bill:
Curtis Stevens won a unanimous decision.
Sounds like another great night off boxing except some dodge decision great blog felt like I was there?.