LAS VEGAS ? Sergey Kovalev was beside himself.
So, too, was promoter Kathy Duva. Rather, she was apoplectic. Manager Egis Klimas also couldn?t believe the judges? scorecards.
Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) dominated the first half and even dropped Andre Ward in Round 2 of their light heavyweight title fight Saturday, but the challenger staged a big rally to eke out a decision.
All three judges turned in 114-113 tallies for Ward, the same way USA TODAY Sports scored the fight.
Kovalev will have a chance to exact revenge, though ? and soon.
Main Events, which promotes Kovalev, provided USA TODAY Sports with the letter they sent to Ward promoter Roc Nation Sports on Monday informing that the company exercised its option for an immediate rematch.
Duva said Saturday Ward wouldn?t be allowed to take an interim fight unless Main Events allowed it. She said they have no plans to allow such an interruption.
The Russian, who lost three 175-pound belts in narrow defeat, claimed bias from the three American judges and felt Ward won three rounds.
?It?s the wrong decision,? Kovalev said. ? ? Of course, I want a rematch, and I will kick his (expletive). I want to show good boxing.?
?Krusher? displayed great boxing over the first half with his excellent jab, and he?s going to get his wish for a return encounter with Ward.
?We thought he was clearly ahead on points,? Duva said. ?I think Ward could have a great career in the UFC. I haven?t seen so much wrestling since Conor McGregor in the UFC card last week.?
?(Kovalev) won the first six rounds, and he had a knockdown. How the hell did he lose a decision??
He lost because two of three judges scored each of the last six rounds for Ward. The other judge gave him five of those frames.
Ward scored the cleaner shots over the second half after making adjustments to fight at a more strategic distance.
He told USA TODAY Sports that Kovalev is more of a ?thudder? than a devastating one-shot puncher.
Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) believed the knockdown changed everything, and the rematch should be different now that the cerebral fighter had 12 rounds to diagnose and dissect Kovalev?s game.
?It was about those in the trenches moments,? said Ward, a master of fighting in the clinch. ?Sergey has no inside game. So my mid-range and inside game is what I focused on.
?After that second-round knockdown, I think he realized I wasn?t going anywhere and I was stepping on the gas.?
Main Events and Roc Nation Sports had contentious negotiations that dragged out to consummate the summit meeting.
The rematch should be easier to make, and it?s likely to land in Las Vegas again.
So if everything goes according to plan, Ward and Kovalev will mix it up again in the spring, likely in April or May.
And with the dramatic, controversial finish of the great first outing, the rematch should be even more highly anticipated.
