Andre Ward did cheat against Sergey Kovaev, but why didn't Kovalev also cheat back?

I agree with your justification as to why Kovalev didn't foul in retaliation and I haven't got a problem with Kovalev not doing any such thing. My only problem lies with those who are solely blaming Andre Ward without being open to the possibility that Kovalev could've taken such tactics upon his own hands and retaliated himself. As long as such fans aren't solely blaming Andre Ward and are being at least partially critical of Kovalev, then I haven't got much of a problem. This thread is directed towards those who are putting all the blame on Andre Ward and not even partially being critical of Sergey Kovalev for not adjusting accordingly as he could've done to even the playing field. My complaint in this thread isn't directed towards Kovalev himself but those aforementioned fans. I agree. Ward did what the ref allowed him to do and in pro boxing that varies from fight to fight and ref to ref. So the ref's in charge of enforcing the rules not the fighter. Ward was doing what he usually does, maybe a few more obvious low blows than usual. Kovalev should have been prepared for Ward's tactics. He was overconfident, supposedly didn't train hard and when he came up against a top guy who had trained his butt off, he folded. That said, Weeks did a terrible job of reffing and ruined the outcome for both fighters.

The mindset of a fighter who, from an early age, is taught to observe the rules of the sport, is different from a fighter who does anything he can get away with. Of course Kovalev should have gone low blow for low blow with Ward, and it's his mistake not to have, but for a fighter whose instinct is to fight fair and allow the ref to officiate, it's difficult to begin disregarding the rules he's been taught to observe, in the middle of a fight. If the ref is allowing Ward fight his typical fight, I doubt if there is any fighter who could beat him. How could they? Ward turns a boxing match into a wrestling match. Ward's style was so successful, I'm surprised we don't see young fighters imitating him. I agree with your justification as to why Kovalev didn't foul in retaliation and I haven't got a problem with Kovalev not doing any such thing. My only problem lies with those who are solely blaming Andre Ward without being open to the possibility that Kovalev could've taken such tactics upon his own hands and retaliated himself. As long as such fans aren't solely blaming Andre Ward and are being at least partially critical of Kovalev, then I haven't got much of a problem. This thread is directed towards those who are putting all the blame on Andre Ward and not even partially being critical of Sergey Kovalev for not adjusting accordingly as he could've done to even the playing field. My complaint in this thread isn't directed towards Kovalev himself but those aforementioned fans.

Soviet system fighters are taught to fight clean. It is hard-wired into them. It isn't the first time we saw one perplexed by dirty tactics that an inept referee is not addressing. Kovalev tried some minor dirty stuff to discourage Ward from holding and grinding inside, but he didn't have an answer for the low blows. He should have blasted Ward low when Ward started doing it. It doesn't really matter now. The fight will stand as an even more egregious version of Duran-Buchanan to anyone with a fully-functioning brain and eyes.

he should have. he robbed of us norwood-gainer part 2 fast forward to 4:10 in the video gainer "thats a bodyshot, another bodyshot." lmao troll face. notice how they were the same exact shots ward threw. uppercut low blows. these guys were masters at trolling.

Why are Sergey Kovalev supporters / fans / rooters complaining about Andre Ward cheating / fouling when Kovalev (presumably) could've also fouled in response to even the playing field? Like how Lomachenko did against Rigondeaux. Were there any particular things that were preventing him from fouling back? My point is. If Ward was fouling Kovalev, Kovalev should've even the playing field by fouling back and then if Kovalev was truly the better boxer, he should've been able to win with the playing field being evened out. Of course, I'm referring mainly to the rematch because I do believe Kovalev should've won the first bout but ended up not getting the judge's nod. The mindset of a fighter who, from an early age, is taught to observe the rules of the sport, is different from a fighter who does anything he can get away with. Of course Kovalev should have gone low blow for low blow with Ward, and it's his mistake not to have, but for a fighter whose instinct is to fight fair and allow the ref to officiate, it's difficult to begin disregarding the rules he's been taught to observe, in the middle of a fight. If the ref is allowing Ward fight his typical fight, I doubt if there is any fighter who could beat him. How could they? Ward turns a boxing match into a wrestling match. Ward's style was so successful, I'm surprised we don't see young fighters imitating him.

#wardruinslives

Kovalev should have taken a page out of Tito Trinidad's book and nailed Ward straight to the nuts in order to recover from the body shots.

My criticism is more directed towards Sergey Kovalev's fans who are only criticizing Andre Ward's fouling in Kovalev's loss, rather than being critical at what Kovalev could have done in order to neutralize Ward's fouling. I'm not against Kovalev not fouling and losing to a fouler. I'm more against Kovalev's fans blaming his entire loss on Ward's fouling, rather than being critical of what he could've done differently. Some have been critical, me for one and I've read a couple other posts about it too. Thing is though, the vast majority of criticism HAS to be focused on Ward and Weekes. It was horrendous. Weekes was almost as bad as Smoger in Hopkins/Murat and Ward hasnt been this dirty in his entire career, not even in the Kessler and Bika fights. So when a fighter is "KOd" on the back of like 4 or 5 low blows, thats the story. Not the other guy not low blowing back lol

That's fair but it's not right to criticise someone for following the rules lol My criticism is more directed towards Sergey Kovalev's fans who are only criticizing Andre Ward's fouling in Kovalev's loss, rather than being critical at what Kovalev could have done in order to neutralize Ward's fouling. I'm not against Kovalev not fouling and losing to a fouler. I'm more against Kovalev's fans blaming his entire loss on Ward's fouling, rather than being critical of what he could've done differently.

Oh no I agree. Ward definitely fouled. There isn't any dispute about that from me. My point was that in any scenario where a boxer is fouled and has the playing field stacked against himself unfairly. It is the job of that boxer to foul back to even up the playing field and if that boxer doesn't do so and ends up losing, despite being fouled multiple times and despite knowing his opponent is a fouler prior to the bout, then he has to be blamed for the defeat, just as much as his opponent. So I'm calling out Kovalev fans that aren't being critical of Kovalev to be critical of him. It's not correct to complain that Kovalev lost unfairly because he was fouled since he should've evened the playing field by fouling in retaliation. That's fair but it's not right to criticise someone for following the rules lol

Exactly and the sad part is that I thought Weekes was a good ref, started off well by talkin to ward after the first low blow and then...somebody in between rounds spoke to him without a doubt. Punches which were much worse than that first blow and Weeks laughed them off. I could not believe it. Why can't we be friends? Lil homie.. Let's talk physics and suff off One.. Why can't we be friends? Other men took my old Azz off iggy more zy..

Why are Sergey Kovalev supporters / fans / rooters complaining about Andre Ward cheating / fouling when Kovalev (presumably) could've also fouled in response to even the playing field? Like how Lomachenko did against Rigondeaux. Were there any particular things that were preventing him from fouling back? My point is. If Ward was fouling Kovalev, Kovalev should've even the playing field by fouling back and then if Kovalev was truly the better boxer, he should've been able to win with the playing field being evened out. Of course, I'm referring mainly to the rematch because I do believe Kovalev should've won the first bout but ended up not getting the judge's nod. You posting all kinds of threads? Who da fvck are you?

This isnt a question of "if" Ward cheated, he blatantly did. In fact, he was originally called by Weekes following the first low blow, which was marginal at best. When Kov complained on at least one instance about a far worse low blow, Weekes actually laughed. I assume someone had gotten in his ear in between rounds. As for KOv, I agree, if a fighter is being dirty, you have to be dirty back. Was it because Kov is far too disciplined? Maybe. Was it because he seemed to lack motivation throughout the build up and the fight? Most likely. Bottom line is, you have to fight fire with fire if the referee has been paid off by one side. Kovalev should have hit on the break, hit low and done all sorts. He didn't but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Kov maintained his integrity as a fighter while Ward will be remembered as a cheat. Oh no I agree. Ward definitely fouled. There isn't any dispute about that from me. My point was that in any scenario where a boxer is fouled and has the playing field stacked against himself unfairly. It is the job of that boxer to foul back to even up the playing field and if that boxer doesn't do so and ends up losing, despite being fouled multiple times and despite knowing his opponent is a fouler prior to the bout, then he has to be blamed for the defeat, just as much as his opponent. So I'm calling out Kovalev fans that aren't being critical of Kovalev to be critical of him. It's not correct to complain that Kovalev lost unfairly because he was fouled since he should've evened the playing field by fouling in retaliation.

What a sad state boxing is in If we really have to have a conversation about these type of things. A referees job really isn't that hard of a thing to do, follow the two guys around the ring and monitor what is going on for 36 minutes, the rules are pretty damn simple to follow as well so there can be no confusing it. Yet people like Weeks get called top referees and they just call it an off night, a good referee NEVER has an off night, you can make marginal little mistakes, but not the same one over and over and over again when its right there point blank for you to see. Exactly and the sad part is that I thought Weekes was a good ref, started off well by talkin to ward after the first low blow and then...somebody in between rounds spoke to him without a doubt. Punches which were much worse than that first blow and Weeks laughed them off. I could not believe it.

This isnt a question of "if" Ward cheated, he blatantly did. In fact, he was originally called by Weekes following the first low blow, which was marginal at best. When Kov complained on at least one instance about a far worse low blow, Weekes actually laughed. I assume someone had gotten in his ear in between rounds. As for KOv, I agree, if a fighter is being dirty, you have to be dirty back. Was it because Kov is far too disciplined? Maybe. Was it because he seemed to lack motivation throughout the build up and the fight? Most likely. Bottom line is, you have to fight fire with fire if the referee has been paid off by one side. Kovalev should have hit on the break, hit low and done all sorts. He didn't but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Kov maintained his integrity as a fighter while Ward will be remembered as a cheat. What a sad state boxing is in If we really have to have a conversation about these type of things. A referees job really isn't that hard of a thing to do, follow the two guys around the ring and monitor what is going on for 36 minutes, the rules are pretty damn simple to follow as well so there can be no confusing it. Yet people like Weeks get called top referees and they just call it an off night, a good referee NEVER has an off night, you can make marginal little mistakes, but not the same one over and over and over again when its right there point blank for you to see.

This was a good post. In hindsight it would have been hilarious if Kovalev has just snapped and started trying to kick, elbow and headbutt Andre Ward after the 3rd or 4th blatant low blow. Regarding 'inside' fighting, Hopkins has taught Ward well. Hopkins was no where as dirty as Ward though. Lol yeah, as bad as Hopkins was, he was nowhere near as dirty as Ward.

This isnt a question of "if" Ward cheated, he blatantly did. In fact, he was originally called by Weekes following the first low blow, which was marginal at best. When Kov complained on at least one instance about a far worse low blow, Weekes actually laughed. I assume someone had gotten in his ear in between rounds. As for KOv, I agree, if a fighter is being dirty, you have to be dirty back. Was it because Kov is far too disciplined? Maybe. Was it because he seemed to lack motivation throughout the build up and the fight? Most likely. Bottom line is, you have to fight fire with fire if the referee has been paid off by one side. Kovalev should have hit on the break, hit low and done all sorts. He didn't but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Kov maintained his integrity as a fighter while Ward will be remembered as a cheat. This was a good post. In hindsight it would have been hilarious if Kovalev has just snapped and started trying to kick, elbow and headbutt Andre Ward after the 3rd or 4th blatant low blow. Regarding 'inside' fighting, Hopkins has taught Ward well. Hopkins was no where as dirty as Ward though.

Why are Sergey Kovalev supporters / fans / rooters complaining about Andre Ward cheating / fouling when Kovalev (presumably) could've also fouled in response to even the playing field? Like how Lomachenko did against Rigondeaux. Were there any particular things that were preventing him from fouling back? My point is. If Ward was fouling Kovalev, Kovalev should've even the playing field by fouling back and then if Kovalev was truly the better boxer, he should've been able to win with the playing field being evened out. Of course, I'm referring mainly to the rematch because I do believe Kovalev should've won the first bout but ended up not getting the judge's nod. This isnt a question of "if" Ward cheated, he blatantly did. In fact, he was originally called by Weekes following the first low blow, which was marginal at best. When Kov complained on at least one instance about a far worse low blow, Weekes actually laughed. I assume someone had gotten in his ear in between rounds. As for KOv, I agree, if a fighter is being dirty, you have to be dirty back. Was it because Kov is far too disciplined? Maybe. Was it because he seemed to lack motivation throughout the build up and the fight? Most likely. Bottom line is, you have to fight fire with fire if the referee has been paid off by one side. Kovalev should have hit on the break, hit low and done all sorts. He didn't but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Kov maintained his integrity as a fighter while Ward will be remembered as a cheat.

The reason Kovalev did not 'cheat back' is because of white privilege....doe.

#wardruinslives