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Agence France-Presse

Sergey Kovalev wants an “immediate” rematch against Andre Ward because he felt he got hit with a series of low blows.
American Ward kept his IBF, WBA and WBO titles by stopping the Russian brawler in the eighth round of their light heavyweight rematch on Saturday.
The unbeaten Ward hurt Kovalev with a right hand that buckled his knees and then finished him off on the ropes 30 seconds later with a series of body shots around the mid-section at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino.
“It was a low blow, again another one,” said Kovalev as he watched a replay of the stoppage with an HBO interviewer.
“We are boxers. I could still continue. Why stop the fight?”

Referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight with 31 seconds left in the eighth with Kovalev kneeling down from what he said was a low blow.
“Championship fights start in second half, in the sixth round. When I saw him reacting to the body shots that were borderline I knew I had him,” Ward said.
Andre Ward stops Sergey Kovalev to win light heavyweight rematch
Kovalev was the much busier of the two from the opening bell of the entertaining fight. He was the aggressor backing up Ward who seemed content to wait for his opportunity to land a punch.
Both fighters landed solid blows in the fourth round, Kovalev with his stinging jab and Ward scoring with well-timed counter punches.
But by the sixth, Ward said he could sense Kovalev was fading.

“He’s a great fighter, not a lot of people are going to beat him,” Ward added. “But when you are facing a great fighter you have to raise your game to the next level.
“I hurt him with a head shot and I just had to get the right shot in to finish him.”
Ward improved to 32-0 with 16 knockouts as he held onto three of the four major boxing belts that he snatched from Kovalev by winning the first fight in November by a slim unanimous decision.
The 33-year-old Ward needed this victory to validate his first win as many felt the Russian won that fight and that Ward had been given a gift decision by the three judges.
Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 knockouts) sent Ward to the canvas in the first fight, and while he landed several big shots in the rematch, once again he failed to close the deal.
“I cannot explain,” he said.



‘Why stop the fight?’: Sergey Kovalev calls for Andre Ward rematch after blaming low blows

Sergey Kovalev looks on after losing to Andre Ward. Photo: AFP

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 17: Andre Ward (L) reacts as reacts as referee Tony Weeks stops his light heavyweight championship bout against Sergey Kovalev at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ward retained his WBA/IBF/WBO titles with a TKO in the eighth round. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 17: Referee Tony Weeks (C) calls timeout after Andre Ward (L) apparently hit Sergey Kovalev (R) with a low blow in the second round of their light heavyweight championship bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ward retained his WBA/IBF/WBO titles with a TKO in the eighth round. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 17: Andre Ward (L) and Sergey Kovalev battle it out during their light heavyweight championship bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ward retained his WBA/IBF/WBO titles with a TKO in the eighth round. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Andre Ward stops Sergey Kovalev to win light heavyweight rematch

Andre Ward rocked Sergey Kovalev with a series of body blows for the TKO. Photo: AP

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 17: Andre Ward (L) and Sergey Kovalev battle during their light heavyweight championship bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Andre Ward, left, fights Sergey Kovalev during a light heavyweight championship boxing match Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Andre Ward celebrates after defeating Sergey Kovalev during a light heavyweight championship boxing match Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sport

Boxing

Referee stops the fight with 31 seconds left in the eighth round, with Russian kneeling down from what he says was an illegal shot


‘Why stop the fight?’: Sergey Kovalev calls for Andre Ward rematch after blaming low blows

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Referee stops the fight with 31 seconds left in the eighth round, with Russian kneeling down from what he says was an illegal shot

Referee stops the fight with 31 seconds left in the eighth round, with Russian kneeling down from what he says was an illegal shot