Bitter former rival Sergey Kovalev reacts to Andre Ward retiring as the boxing world was taken off guard by the news.

The boxing world was surprised this week at the news of one of it’s greatest modern day fighters Andre Ward retired at the age of only 33.

Credit to Ward must be afforded though. A man who is going out at the top – which is very rarely ever done in the sport of boxing.

Before the announcement many wondered would Ward and Kovalev go for a third fight after sharing the ring twice before. In somewhat controversial circumstances (in the eyes of some).

But two fights in which Ward came out the victor in nonetheless. By the stoppage in the latter fight.

Kovalev spoke to TMZ on the news Ward has retired and intimated he believed he made the decision as he was scared to face him again:

(Hat tip TMZ YouTube)

As you can see, Kovalev clearly believes there was some unfinished business between the two.

Kovalev was speaking during a media tour for his own upcoming fight next up, as it happens.

The former light-heavyweight champion will take on Vyacheslav Shabranskyy at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 25th in his first fight since been stopped by Ward earlier this summer.