HBO PPV Round by Round Results: Ward Edges Out Kovalev by One Point
By: William Holmes

Tonight’s main event was between Sergey Kovalev (30-0-1) and Andre Ward (30-0) and was one of the most anticipate boxing matches of 2016. Many felt that the winner of today’s bout could lay claim to the pound for pound throne.

Three bouts were televised on the undercard, and two time United States Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields was victorious on the untelevised portion of the undercard.

The Russian National Anthem as well as the United States National Anthem was performed before the boxers walked into the ring.

This fight was for the WBO, WBA, and the IBF Light Heavyweight Titles. Andre Ward entered the ring first and Kovalev entered second. The crowd seemed evenly split for both boxers.

The following is a round by round recap of tonight’s main event.

Round 1:

Kovalev comes right at Ward and throws a cross to the body of Ward. Kovalev throws a jab at the body of Ward. Ward with a jab to the body of Kovalev. Ward throws another jab to the body of Kovalev. Ward ducks under the arm of Kovalev when he throws a jab. Ward with two jabs to the body of Kovalev. Ward lands a right cross upstairs and follows it with a jab to the body. Kovalev hurts Ward with a stiff jab. Ward gets tagged with two jabs by Kovalev and then hangs on. Ward may have landed a low blow. Ward tries to get inside and Kovalev pushes him away. Kovalev lands a good jab at the end of the round.

10-9 Kovalev

Round 2:

Kovalev comes right at Ward again. Kovalev throws out two jabs and a cross to the body. Kovalev lands two short hooks to the body when Ward gets in tight. Kovalev throws a cross to the body and gets jabbed in response. Ward misses with a looping right hook. Kovalev lands another good jab I nthe face of Ward and follows it with a two punch combination. Kovalev lands an over the top right cross on Ward. Kovalev knocks Ward down with a hard right cross to the chin. Ward looks a little shocked and gets back to his feet. Kovalev lands two good jabs and a right hook. Kovalev lands another good jab and Ward is on his bike and survives the round.

10-8 Kovalev, 20-17 Kovalev

Round 3:

Ward may still be shaking his cobwebs out. Ward rushes forward and Kovalev ties up. Ward lands a right cross and goes for a takedown. Ward lands a jab to the chest of Kovalev. Kovalev lands a two punch combination and Ward ties up. They tie up again when they get in tight. Kovalev is pressing forward and Ward is fighting off his back foot. Ward lands a good jab. Ward lands a good short hook. Ward and Kovalev tie up again. Ward lands a lead left hook and follows it with a stiff jab. Ward gets tagged with a short cross by Kovalev. They tie up again.

10-9 Kovalev; 30-26 Kovalev

Round 4:

Kovalev again presses forward and Ward ties up. They’re getting rough on the inside and Kovalev backs him into the corner. Kovalev lands a short left hook on Ward. Kovalev tags Ward when he rushes forward with a hook. Kovalev lands another good right cross on Ward. Kovalev is staying out of the range of Ward. Kovalev lands a counter right uppercut and Ward answers with a jab. Ward misses with a two punch combination. Kovalev lands two good jabs on Ward.

10-9 Kovalev; 40-35 Kovalev

Round 5:

Kovalev pressing forward to start the round again and Ward circles away. Ward lands a long jab and Kovalev misses with a two punch combination. Ward ties up when Kovalev throws a jab. Kovalev with a jab to the body. Ward lands a decent body shot on Kovalev and sneaks a hook to the chin of Kovalev. Ward lands another lead left hook. Kovalev lands two jabs. Ward lands a good stiff jab on Kovalev. Kovalev is not cutting the ring off from Ward. Ward lands some body shots when they clinch up. Kovalev lands a good counter right on Ward. Stiff jab by Kovalev and Ward answers with a hard jab of his own. Ward lands another good hard jab on Kovalev. Kovalev lands a hard jab near the end of the round.

10-9 Ward; 49-45 Kovalev

Round 6:

Kovalev throws a quick lead left hook on Ward and Ward answers with a hook to the body. Ward connects with a jab to the body and then they tie up. Kovalev lands an over the top right cross and they tie up. Kovalev lands another good right cross lead. Kovalev lands a good right hand at the ear drum of Ward. Kovalev throws two jabs to the body of Ward and Ward answers with a jab to the body of his own. They clash heads when they both come forward. Kovalev lands a good two punch combination on Ward.

10-9 Kovalev, 59-54 Kovalev

Round 7:

Ward’s face is showing signs of swelling. They tie up again. Kovalev with a right hook to the body. Ward with a right hook to the body of Kovalev. Kovalev messes with a right hook and Warnd lands a good jab on Kovalev. Ward throwing jabs and crosses to the body of Ward. Ward lands a stiff jab followed by a right hand. Ward lands another hard jab on Kovalev. Ward doing some damage with his body shots. Ward lands another good jab. Kovalev ties up with Ward after getting tagged with another jab. Ward misses with a jab and Kovalev lands a hard jab of his own. Kovalev lands a stiff jab to the chin of Ward. Good round, slight edge to Ward.

10-9 Ward; 68-64 Kovalev

Round 8:

Ward throws a haymaker straight right but misses. Ward misses with a lead left hook and Kovalev ties up and pushes him back to the corner. They tie up again and Ward lands some short hooks to the body of Kovalev. Kovalev’s lead left hook gets blocked by Ward. Kovalev throws a double jab to the body. Ward lands a good jab to the chin of Ward and then lands a short hook. They tie up again by the ropes. Kovalev connects with a stiff jab and Ward lands two punches to the body of Kovalev.

10-9 Ward; 77-74 Kovalev

Round 9:

Ward rushes out to start the ninth round, but they tie up when they get close again. Ward lands two jabs to the body on Kovalev. Kovalev with a good hook to the body and lands a jab. Ward connects with a good jab followed by a two punch combination. Ward lands a hard right to the body of Kovalev and lands a ounter jab followed by a right hook. Kovalev answers with a hook of his own. They tie up by the ropes again. Ward lands a good straight right hand on Kovalev. Good exchanges this round and Ward is landing some short shots to the body.

10-9 Ward; 86-84 Kovalev

Round 10:

Kovalev gets tagged by two short right hands. Kovalev lands a left hook on Ward. Good jab by Kovalev. Kovalev with another good jab. Kovalev lands another jab. Ward throws and lands a lead left hook. Ward with a good lead left hook followed by a jab. Kovalev lands two good jabs on Ward. They both land good jabs. Kovalev lands another good jab on Ward. Kovalev connects with another jab and they both land crosses. Kovalev cracks a hard counter on Ward. They both land jabs at the same time. Ward lands a good body shot and Kovalev has a bloody nose. Kovalev tags Ward with a hard body shot and a left hook upstairs. Kovalev lands a good right hand.

10-9 Kovalev; 96-93 Kovalev

Round 11:

Ward backing away in a circle from Kovalev. They tie up again and Kovalev backs Ward up to the ropes. Kovalev lands another good jab on Ward. They both land a jab at the same time. Ward barely misses with a cross but lands the second one he throws. Kovalev misses with a jab. Ward is an elusive target this round. They both land a jab at the same time. Ward tags Kovalev with another good jab. Kovalev with another jab and Ward tags him with a flush left hook upstairs. They both land good jabs. Kovalev does look tired and slips to the mat after a push. Ward lands a vicious jab on Kovalev.

10-9 Ward; 105-103 Kovalev

Round 12:

Close fight lots of rounds could go either way. Ward opens up with a good left hook, but Kovalev answers with a hard jab and good hook. Ward lands another stiff hook on Kovalev and he looks like the fresher fighter. They tie up again and exchange punches while in tight. Ward connects with a lead left hook. Kovalev lands a few shots to the body of Ward. Ward with a short left hook to the head and body. Kovalev lands a hard left hook to the body of Ward. Kovalev lands a two punch combination and Ward ties up. Kovalev has Ward backing up to the ropes. They exchange at the end and neither lands a clean shot.

10-9 Ward; 114-113 Kovalev

The official scores were 114-113, 114-113, and 114-113 for Andre Ward.

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