Andre Ward KOs Sergey Kovalev

Andre Ward KOs Sergey Kovalev

On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Andre Ward stopped Sergey Kovalev in the eighth round of their rematch to cement his position atop the boxing world. 

It was a controversial stoppage, since Ward appeared to hit Kovalev below the belt during the final exchange. Yet Ward left little doube he is the better fighter. For his part, Kovalev did not look eager to continue when referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight. Ward partisans will consider this a convincing win; others will say it is tarnished, much like his decision win in their first fight. 

It is possible to believe Ward deserves acclaim while acknowledging that Kovalev was probably jobbed in one if not both fights. This is boxing, and outcomes are rarely clean or satisfying. Someone must lose for the other to win, it is the ultimate zero-sum game. Kovalev simply ran into the finest boxer of his generation, and the Russian has nothing to apologize for. Fights at the highest level are decided by inches. Ward left no doubt.