Newly crowned WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight champ Andre Ward said he put himself into position as the world's pound-for-pound king, downplaying issues that his controversial win against Sergey Kovalev was not because of boxing politics.
Critics and boxing fans alike criticized Ward's win and said that Kovalev was robbed of the victory after the former was knocked down in round two of their bout that lasted 12 rounds last Nov. 19 at the T. Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ward won on a controversial 114-113 decision in all three scorecards.
In a report by TMZ Sports, Ward said his knock down did not matter as he redeemed himself in the succeeding rounds.
"I think people are entitled to their opinion. Definitely a close fight that I felt I won, hands down. I felt like I earned it, I felt like I did what I was supposed to take it from the champion," he said. "That's why we have 12 rounds, you have to look at the totality of the fight and you have to add those rounds up."
"I definitely feel like I put myself in position [as pound-for-pound king.] Before this fight, all the build-up of the fight was the winner of this fight should be recognized as pound for pound champion and now that this fight is over, I don't see why it should be any different."
Boxing critics, like Stephen Smith of ESPN First Take tweeted that Ward "did not deserve" the win and that Kovalev was "robbed" of the win. Kovalev claimed that Ward won because of politics, as all three judges are American.
The American figher, who is now second in The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound list, dismissed that politics was not the reason of his victory.
"I'm not the political fighter, I'm always the guy who has to earn everything so if I got my hands raised, trust me I earned it."
Ward hinted that a rematch could take place but added it would be in his terms. He also said that if the rematch would happen, it would be a "different" story, saying that he can make certain adjustments while Kovalev' brand of boxing is already set.