Andre Ward’s recovery was something special
First of all, let’s not get carried away. Yes, Ward showed elite recuperative powers and the ability to methodically execute sound tactics under extreme duress. However, it’s not as if Ward boxed an utter masterclass as soon as he rose from that crushing second-round knockdown. Kovalev-Ward, from round three until the final bell, was hotly contested.
However, it’s one thing to rise from a knockdown and find a way to survive. It’s an entirely different accomplishment to get up from being badly hurt and then impose one’s game plan and start to win rounds convincingly. Ward, somehow, accomplished the latter.
Throughout his time as a champion, which included running roughshod over elite competition during the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Ward had never faced serious adversity. Indeed, Ward had been in some grueling fights, but he always managed to outclass his competition, build healthy leads on the scorecards and avoid getting rocked or knocked down.
But against Kovalev, when everything was going against him, Ward somehow managed to unearth a reserve of physical and mental fortitude — combined with truly unique boxing skills — to wrest control of the fight’s tempo.
Against Kovalev — regardless of whether one feels he was gifted a victory — Ward showed rare resolve. Even if he had officially lost the fight, Ward proved he can rally and that his mental fortitude is perhaps unrivaled. Given how admirably he fought, a first professional defeat would have still seen Ward rise in the esteem of fans and pundits, and the fact that he was controversially declared the winner shouldn’t detract from this.