Round-by-round: Andre Ward upsets Sergey Kovalev to win light-heavyweight titles

In a fight that lived up to its billing, Andre Ward overcame an early knockdown and edged Sergey Kovalev by unanimous decision to win Kovalev's three 175-pound title belts on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was televised by HBO pay-per-view.

Ward won on all three judges' cards by 114-113 in a very close fight. Ward improved to 31-0 with 15 KOs. Kovalev fell to 30-1-1 with 26 KOs. Ward, the last U.S. male Olympic gold medalist (2004), has not lost a fight since he was 12 years old. He now owns the WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight title belts.

Ward, who was dropped in the second round but gamely fought back over the next 10 rounds, said he would give Kovalev a rematch. Kovalev was disappointed by the decision and said Ward won because he had American judges. He does want a rematch.

Here's the round-by-round updates.

Round 1: Ward comes out jabbing, both guys feeling the other out. Ward clinches to keep Kovalev's punches away. Right hands land by both guys then two stiff jabs by Kovalev moves Ward back. Kovalev reaching Ward, connecting on a combination. Ward tries to get inside but backs away without having any luck. A good round for Kovalev. 1-0.

Round 2: Both fighters feinting. then get in a clinch. Nice jab by Ward, and another one. His jab is keeping Kovalev off him but a left by Kovalev and a hard right move Ward back. Kovalev walking Ward down, then attacks. A hard right-hand counter by Kovalev knocks Ward down. Kovalev hurting Ward with those right hands. 10-8 round for Kovalev, he leads 20-17.

Round 3: Ward tackles Kovalev and both get a warning from referee Robert Byrd. Ward surely has never felt punches like these. Ward looks a step slow here. Hard jab by Ward lands but Kovalev shakes it off and Ward throws two more jabs and a left hook. Kovalev misses with an uppercut. They tie up. and spend the last 15 seconds feinting. I give the round to Ward. 29-27 Kovalev.

Round 4: Hard left by Ward glances off Kovalev. Another left, and he avoids a shot by Kovalev. Ward jabbing nicely and Kovalev seems to have slowed his attack a bit but still landing the hard, cleaner shots. Kovalev throws three jabs as the round ends. Close round but I give it to Kovalev. He leads 39-36.

Round 5: Ward lands a nice body shot, but he's having trouble getting inside on Kovalev. A straight jab by Ward lands, then he handles a Kovalev jab. The jab seems to be the punch of choice. Ward lands a hard right that makes Kovalev wince. A left by Ward and he avoids a Kovalev right. Round ends, This one goes to Ward and he trails 48-46.

Round 6: The fighters tie each other up. Kovalev lands an overhand right, And another right by Kovalev lands. Kovalev jabs a few times, and Kovalev gets a right hand on on Ward's ear. Kovalev's right buzzes by Ward, and a right and left by Kovalev, followed by a body shot by Ward. I give the round to Kovalev. 58-55 for Kovalev.

Round 7: The pace slows a bit in the seventh. A Ward jab is followed by a right hand that lands, and Ward goes to the body. Then he moves back and throws the jab. Both fighters still seem fairly fresh. A stiff Kovalev left jab smashes Ward. Ward comes back with a right hand, as the round ends. A Ward round, and he trails on my card 67-65.

Round 8: Ward keeping his distance now and then gets inside on Kovalev and ties him up. Both fighters using the jab to perfection,, then a left by Kovalev lands. Ward connects with a hard right to Kovalev's ribs. He seems to be controlling the rounds now. I give Ward the round, and he trails by one point on my card 76-75.

Round 9: Hard left jab by Ward follows a nice combination by Kovalev. Ward doing great work to the body. Another right to the ribs by Ward. Andre lands a hard right to Kovalev's head. Ward is amazing. Straight right lands for Ward. Ward gets in tight on Kovalev and lands a right. Kovalev combination lands. Ward wins another round and ties it up at 85.

Round 10: Right hand counter by Kovalev and Ward follows that with a left counter punch. The action is back and forth here. Ward takes a Kovalev jab and lands a hard counter left hand. And a right hand by Ward follows a left by Kovalev, who seems to be bleeding a bit. Kovalev lands a hard right near the end of the round, which might have won him the round. 95-94 Kovalev.

Round 11: Hard left by Ward knocks Kovalev back, but the Russian returns with jabs, then he lands a hard right to Ward's jaw. More jabs by Kovalev. Ward connects with a left to Kovalev's jaw. Ward pushes Kovalev to the canvas. Kovalev seems to be tiring a bit. A Ward round ties it up at 104 as we go to the 12th round.

Round 12: Ward throws a left hook as he goes after Kovalev, who fights back. Kovalev lands two body shots. Kovalev's body shots might have hurt Ward. Byrd warns Kovalev for low blows, and Kovalev lands another right, while Ward counters with a left to the body. the bell rings and this one's over. I gave the 12th to Kovalev and the fight 114-113.

(Photo of Ward, left, and Kovalev by Al Bello/Getty Images)