“Fighting Words” – Kessler-Ward: One Tough S.O.G., One Not-So-Great Dane

[Shadows]

ward thought the right fight,ugly and horrible too watch but effective against kessler
it was a hatton-esque performance,with more butts

Ward still outboxed him from the outside, and things got rough on the inside and during clinches, but the ref was allowing it. He told Kessler in the corner that he could and told them to punch out.

The fact is Kessler has virtually no inside game and Ward does and employed some veteran tricks to win.

It may not be pretty or a person's ideal style, but it's effective.

[Konstantin]

I just counted the number of clinches in round 2 - 9.

Tell me that isnt excessive holding...

Ward still outboxed him from the outside, and things got rough on the inside and during clinches, but the ref was allowing it. He told Kessler in the corner that he could and told them to punch out.

The fact is Kessler has virtually no inside game and Ward does and employed some veteran tricks to win.

It may not be pretty or a person's ideal style, but it's effective.

You're right it is extremely effective. Fighters (hopkins, hatton, dirrell, ward) have been using it recently to win their fights and stink the joint out. And the fact that they are being rewarded for it is the reason that it's happening so much. I think they should have stricter rules.

It's basically the equivalent of the lay'n'pray in mma. Boxing fans **** on that for being boring, well guess what, this style is just as boring. But yall are lauding it as beautiful boxing.

[Shadows]

I just counted the number of clinches in round 2 - 9.

Tell me that isnt excessive holding...



You're right it is extremely effective. Fighters (hopkins, hatton, dirrell, ward) have been using it recently to win their fights and stink the joint out. And the fact that they are being rewarded for it is the reason that it's happening so much. I think they should have stricter rules.

It's basically the equivalent of the lay'n'pray in mma. Boxing fans **** on that for being boring, well guess what, this style is just as boring. But yall are lauding it as beautiful boxing.

I didn't think it was all that bad after a first viewing and still feel that way after my second viewing. Would I have preffered to see less? Sure.

[Konstantin]

I didn't think it was all that bad after a first viewing and still feel that way after my second viewing. Would I have preffered to see less? Sure.

Who were you rooting for?

Do you think 9 clinches is acceptable in 1 round?

[Shadows]

Who were you rooting for?

Do you think 9 clinches is acceptable in 1 round?

I'm a Kessler fan and actually bet on him (here at least). However, I do like Ward.

Do I think it's acceptable? I don't think it's outrageous, but like I said, I would've preffered less.

[Konstantin]

I'm a Kessler fan and actually bet on him (here at least). However, I do like Ward.

Do I think it's acceptable? I don't think it's outrageous, but like I said, I would've preffered less.

You don't think 9 clinches in 1 round at the very least deserves a warning?? Do you realize if he kept it up at that pace itd be 108 clinches in 12 rounds?

You didn't even answer your own question of do you think it's acceptable. There's a pretty big difference of not acceptable and outrageous.

[Allucard]

I just counted the number of clinches in round 2 - 9.

Tell me that isnt excessive holding...



You're right it is extremely effective. Fighters (hopkins, hatton, dirrell, ward) have been using it recently to win their fights and stink the joint out. And the fact that they are being rewarded for it is the reason that it's happening so much. I think they should have stricter rules.

It's basically the equivalent of the lay'n'pray in mma. Boxing fans **** on that for being boring, well guess what, this style is just as boring. But yall are lauding it as beautiful boxing.

Yeah kinda... It stole us of a KO in the fight but lets be honest, everyone does it and Kessler did it too in the end part of the fight to survive... The only top fighter I've ever seen neglecting the use of the clinch was Cotto, and how did that cost him in the Margarito fight...

[IMDAZED]

I just counted the number of clinches in round 2 - 9.

Tell me that isnt excessive holding...



You're right it is extremely effective. Fighters (hopkins, hatton, dirrell, ward) have been using it recently to win their fights and stink the joint out. And the fact that they are being rewarded for it is the reason that it's happening so much. I think they should have stricter rules.

It's basically the equivalent of the lay'n'pray in mma. Boxing fans **** on that for being boring, well guess what, this style is just as boring. But yall are lauding it as beautiful boxing.

Nonsense. Infighting - which includes holding, hitting, maneuvering, footwork and loads of other stuff - is as much a part of boxing as fighting at a distance. Always has. Boxing isn't just the range where your favorite fighter likes it to be.

[Shadows]

You don't think 9 clinches in 1 round at the very least deserves a warning?? Do you realize if he kept it up at that pace itd be 108 clinches in 12 rounds?

You didn't even answer your own question of do you think it's acceptable. There's a pretty big difference of not acceptable and outrageous.

I do realize that 9 per round would equal 108 over the course of a 12 round fight. Often, when he clinched, he was doing work in there. He used as a defensive and offensive mechanism. Had he just done it every time to spoil and excessively so, eventually I would've.

Sorry, I thought I implied my answer. Yes.

[The_Demon]

Ward still outboxed him from the outside, and things got rough on the inside and during clinches, but the ref was allowing it. He told Kessler in the corner that he could and told them to punch out.

The fact is Kessler has virtually no inside game and Ward does and employed some veteran tricks to win.

It may not be pretty or a person's ideal style, but it's effective.

ye i totally agree he executed the perfect gameplan
the young american prospects (berto,dirrell,ward) seem too be doing what hatton used too get hated on for,ironic isnt it