What Andre Ward and Sven Ottke have in common

[The Hammer]

Sven Ottke refused to fight outside Germany because he wanted to be sure he had a home referee to protect him from tough cookies like Robin Reid. He was very skillful, but of course he also wanted home judges to be sure he'd get the decision in close fights.

Andre Ward refuses to fight outside California because he needs a home referee who allows him to deliberately headbutt and hold his opponent's arm while hitting. He's fast, but if he wasn't allowed to hold so much, he might have his questionable chin tested.

If Ward doesn't fight outside California for the rest of the Super Six tournament, is that fair to the other five fighters, who will all fight on the road?

[street bully]

You honestly think Ward would not have dominated Kessler even in Denmark? Ffs that was a 10-0 wipe out at the time of stoppage.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Andre Ward was clearly the better man.

[Guest]

I don't know Carny.

Ward was just way too fast for Kessler and Kessler seemed to be doing more of the clinching last night.

Ward looked very versatile last night and Kessler doesn't know how to step back and throw the uppercut when Ward lunged in with his head.


Ward seemed to fight better on the inside period, headbutts or not.


It was a basic ass kicking in my book.

And Kessler couldn't throw the right too much period and when he did, Ward dealt with it well.

[Tmann400]

o cmon tunney kessler landed a couple of good shots that ward walked right through so yes his chin was tested. just accept kessler got outclassed and that ward is a world class elite boxer. im picking kessler over froch though.

[The Hammer]

You honestly think Ward would not have dominated Kessler even in Denmark? Ffs that was a 10-0 wipe out at the time of stoppage.

I think without the three cuts on Kessler due to Ward's headbutts in different rounds, and without the constant holding while hitting by Ward, it might have been a competitive fight.

And I think Ottke might have lost to Robin Reid if the referee was fair.

[The Hammer]

Both Andre Ward and Sven Ottke had great amateur records.

Did you know Ottke has amateur wins over Chris Byrd, JC Gomez, Antonio Tarver, Michael Moorer, and Zsolt Erdei?

[Tmann400]

I think without the three cuts on Kessler due to Ward's headbutts in different rounds, and without the constant holding while hitting by Ward, it might have been a competitive fight.

And I think Ottke might have lost to Robin Reid if the referee was fair.

can you explain to me why ward STILL outboxed kessler on the outside with stiff jabs and left hooks. cmon tunney your a really good poster and i know you like kessler and kessler is a world class fighter but andre ward is also and he had the style to beat kessler and that is what happened, nothing can be done about that.

[Pugilistic™]

Ward was simply the better man.

[The Hammer]

can you explain to me why ward STILL outboxed kessler on the outside with stiff jabs and left hooks. cmon tunney your a really good poster and i know you like kessler and kessler is a world class fighter but andre ward is also and he had the style to beat kessler and that is what happened, nothing can be done about that.

Sure. I agree Ward is very fast and has every boxing skill imaginable. Even if the referee was fair, there was no way Kessler would have won a decision last night.

But I also know Kessler has decent handspeed and one-punch KO power, and Ward's been knocked down and hurt by clubfighters in the past.

So without the holding and headbutting, like it or not, there was definitely a chance Kessler would have won by KO.