POSTFIGHT: Judges have it 116-112, 116-112, 120-108, all for Kovalev, who wins by unanimous decision.
Huge props to trainer Buddy McGirt, who helped figure out how to get through to Kovalev.
12th round: Forbes scores it for Kovalev. Overall: Kovalev 118-110
11th round: Alvarez actually lands a few punches to Kovalev’s head. Looks like he’s trying for that knockout. But Kovalev is still pressing the action. Big right by Alvarez a minute in. Kovalev took it fine. Alvarez lands two hard rights. It’s one of his best rounds of the fight. Forbes scores it for Alvarez.
Overall: Kovalev 108-101
10th round: Alvarez’s trainer told ESPN that Alvarez needs to get desperate and that he needs a KO to win. I don’t disagree. It doesn’t even seem that Kovalev is trying to KO Alvarez. He’s just completely out-classing him. Big left and then a big right for Kovalev. Alvarez doesn’t respond with any punches. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 99-91
Ninth round: Alvarez’s corner does NOT seem pleased with how Alvarez is performing. Alvarez comes out reckless but then allows Kovalev to take over again. Right hand lands for Kovalev. A few seconds later, he lands a hard left. Right now, about 27 minutes into this fight, Kovalev doesn’t look all that tired. Alvarez lands a right, but it didn’t do much. Four-punch combo for Kovalev near the end of the round. Forbes scores it for Kovalev
Overall: Kovalev 89-82
Eighth round: Alvarez really focusing on that body. He’s landing some and affecting Kovalev. Kovalev is still throwing more than Alvarez, but Alvarez is doing a nice job of blocking them with his gloves. Both are landing jabs. Close round, but I’ll give it to Kovalev because Alvarez just isn’t throwing enough punches. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 79-73
Seventh round: A bunch of the ringside media has this fight much closer than I do. One has it even and many have given Alvarez two rounds. I don’t see it. Kovalev is landing more with better punches. Alvarez lands some body shots with both of his hands. Kovalev responds with two rights to the body. Big left lands for Alvarez with a minute left. Then, he hits Kovalev with a few more. Forbes scores it for Alvarez.
Overall: Kovalev 69-64
Sixth round: Big right hand from Alvarez 30 seconds in. Kovalev did not take that so well. But that has to give Alvarez a ton of confidence. Kovalev is still using his jab and still landing rights and some combos. Nice left hook to Alvarez’s body and then another to Alvarez’s head. Kovalev is just out-boxing him. Very nice response to getting buzzed by Alvarez early in the round. Five-punch combo from Kovalev and then lands an uppercut near the end of the round. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 60-54
Fifth round: Alvarez focuses on the body early in the round. That’s a good move if he thinks he can make Kovalev run out of gas (like last time). Kovalev is warned again for trying to backhand Alvarez. He’d better watch that. Kovalev hits him with a right and then a left as Alvarez scurried away. Big right from Alvarez with 45 seconds to go. Kovalev took it fine. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall:Kovalev 50-45
Fourth round: So far, Kovalev looks good. But remember, he looked good in the first half of the first fight with Alvarez. And then he got knocked out. Alvarez tries to go the body. Kovalev responds with a jab midway through. Four-punch combo for Kovalev. Alvarez stretches out his neck in response. Alvarez thew some punches in the third, but for the most part, he’s simply not doing enough to win these rounds. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 40-36
Third round: Bunch of jabs landing from both fighters here. Alvarez misses with a big right. But Alvarez is being more aggressive. Buddy McGirt tells ESPN in the middle of the round that Kovalev is doing fine and that he wants Kovalev to keep it basic. That seems to be what Kovalev is doing. Couple shots to the body for Alvarez with a minute to go. One might have gone low. Pretty good round for both fighters. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 30-27
Second round: Kovalev is throwing more combinations this round. Nothing devastating has landed, but he is landing some of his jabs. Nice right by Kovalev with about a minute left. Follows it up 10 seconds later with a strong jab. Then a 1-2 combo. Good round here for Kovalev. Alvarez lands a wide right near the end. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 20-18
First round: Kovalev comes out aggressively, but nothing much happens in the round. Forbes scores it for Kovalev.
Overall: Kovalev 10-9
Eleider Alvarez ringwalk: Alvarez walks to the ring accompanied by AC/DC’s “Thunderstuck.” That song always makes me think of Arturo Gatti, probably my favorite fighter of all time. Alvarez is throwing punches as he walks, and his eyes look awfully intense.
Sergey Kovalev ringwalk: He’s sauntering to the ring slowly with a smile on his face. He looks relaxed and he keeps looking at his feet. He acknowledges the crowd before entering the ring.
