Sergey Kovalev is hoping to secure an immediate rematch after losing his IBF, WBA Super and WBO world light-heavyweight titles to American Andre Ward on Saturday.

The Russian went into the bout as the slight underdog but he soon showed his class in the early stages of the fight.

After a cagey first round, Kovalev through a 1-2 combo with the right hand sending Ward to the canvas for just the second time in his career.

Unfortunately for Kovalev, Ward recovered quickly and displayed his class in the latter rounds as his opponent started to tire.

The crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas were rooting for Ward and they cheered as the home favourite secured a 114-113 win via all three judges scorecards.

Saturday night’s defeat was the first of Kovalev’s career and he believes he deserved more from the fight.

Speaking afterwards to reporters, the 33-year-old claimed boxing politics once again cost him and he is determined to secure a rematch in 2017.

“I don’t want to say my opinion, so the people are the witnesses are here and everybody saw what happened,” he said.

“I made the best shape for this fight since I was 11 years old. It was the [biggest] fight of all my life and really I am disappointed with the judges decision. “He got a few rounds.

I am agreeing with that, it’s not the full fight and controlled all the rounds. I lost maybe three rounds in all the fight. Of course I want a rematch.

And I will kick his a***. I just wanted to show boxing I am good boxer and fight rounds – not small rounds.”