One of the biggest story lines for Saturday's rematch between unified light heavyweight champion Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev is that many boxing fans and pundits believe Kovalev was robbed the first time around when judges announced Ward won by unanimous decision. Many pundits felt Kovalev had done enough including a second-round knockdown to exit Las Vegas with his belts.
The 34-year-old immediately invoked his rematch clause and will get a chance to right a wrong as he rematches Ward on Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET).
The "Krusher" is tired of hearing about the judging from the November fight. He's only focused on one thing, and one thing only.
"It was bad in the decision," Kovalev told Fightful. "I don’t care anymore what it was. For me, the most important (thing is) what it will be and what I have right now. I have right now that I’m ready due to training camp and kick ass. I’m going to get my belts back and I will get my belts back on June 17."
Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) didn't spend much time on the defeat. He watched it one time and that was enough for him to realize what he did wrong and will prove he is the better fighter on Saturday night.
"One time (I watched the tape)," Kovalev said. "I lost to me, to myself because I overtrained for Ward. I made a lot of drop in my training camp for the last fight. I burned all my energy in the training camp and I went into the fight empty. And why did nobody ask me or Ward why he looked bad in the first four or five rounds? Nobody asked me this. But I beat him the first five rounds. And I will prove it in all 12 rounds in the rematch."
Kovalev said he sparred fewer rounds so he could go all 12 on Saturday and not burn himself out. He believes Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) is easy to fight and that he has corrected what he feels is the sole reason he lost.
"Because this time I didn’t overtrain," Kovalev said. "He’s simple for me. And this means I will be more sure in myself and a lot more relaxed and have a lot more energy inside the ring."
