Just watched the fight back (got in late) and it's incomprehensible to me that anyone had Kovalev up 3 fukking rounds before the stoppage (and I thought Kov won the first fight). While it was a very even fight for the first 6 rounds (I had it 4-3 Ward with two rounds possibly going either way), Ward was moving better, defending better and landing better shots throughout the fight. In fact, Ward landed a shot to start the 7th that put him in control and put Kov off for the final two rounds.
Yes, at least one of the final three shots was low and the stoppage was absolutely horrendous (not giving Kov a standing 8 count was mind boggling). However, it really seemed like it was only a matter of time before Ward finished him off. Weeks really should've just given the count and let the finish happen afterward.