Why do people think Andre Ward is "boring"

[FerdinandMarcos]

How come Kessler-Froch was exciting, but Kessler-Ward blew?
How come Green-Johnson was exciting, but Green-Ward blew?

Because Froch and Green don't have the defensive skills of Ward.

Guys with no defense put on better fights.

That's why everybody loves to watch mexicans.

[warp1432]

Didn't seem Green's negative style made Glen Johnson clinch.

And Green had a lot more success against Johnson and decided to fight.

He has exceptional skills. Doesn't mean fans of all stripes should appreciate his strategy of intentionally clinching like it's some kind of exciting style that we just don't understand. We get it, he gets away with it. Doesn't mean it isn't against the rules or should be accepted as boxing. If all boxing was is jabbing and clinching I wouldn't watch.

It's not. I'm not saying you don't have to like it. I just think people are really overrating the degree of his tactics.

Maybe they weren't 5 years ago but the last 3 years have been constant clinching. I think you are just ignoring it because you are a fan of him.

I like that style of fighting, yes. I'm not a fan of constant clinching where people don't fight out of it or people who hold just to negate the other person. The way Hopkins and Ward holds is strategic.

And they are wrong. It's against the rules. It's very clear. For whatever reason it's creeped into the sport gradually and become accepted as a sort of tactic, just like other things in other sports.

It's like saying in Basketball that you aren't allowed use your body to defend because its making physical contact and that would be a "foul"

It just "hasn't creeped into the sport gradually" either. Have you seen fights from the golden era and even before then? They clinched all the time too, maybe even more so.

His style is clinching. I'd love to see a fight where he's on the verge of getting DQ'd for excessive clinching where he was forced to fight by the rules.

His style is boxing with clinching mixed in. I'm not saying he doesn't do it, it's just not nearly as bad or unfair as you make it out to seem. If you don't like it personally that's fine. I have certain styles I don't like watching either.

[KILLA RIGHT]

Maybe if he got hit more he'd be more exciting.

Yeah..that makes sense..

Go out there and take punches like a donkey..


Ward doesn't bore me.

Why doesn't he counter off that defense like a juan manuel marquez? The guy is boring put it any way you want but he is horrible to watch. I guess clinching is a great defense now a days

[Kevin Malone]

Because Froch and Green don't have the defensive skills of Ward.

Guys with no defense put on better fights.

That's why everybody loves to watch mexicans.

Holding and clinching is a skill, like throwing low blows is a skill. Of course they put on better fights. Froch and Johnson throw punches. Their first instinct is to actually box, not go into some sort of MMA holding tactic. That's why their fights are more exciting. Froch and Johnson have good defense, because it's genuine boxing defense. It's not foolproof like Ward's methods because they actually follow the rules.

[warp1432]

Yeah, I get boxers who get low and go forward trying to position themselves on the inside. However, Ward goes forward like a bull, so he actually first hits the other fighter with his head, and then tries to get some punches on the inside. If someone was coming close to you with his head in front you would also clinch, because even if he doesn't manage to get some punches, his head would still hurt you.

The headbutting is more unintentional. It's just there and it happens. Ward and Hopkins are sneaky about it because they can position themselves better. I'd rather see Ward position himself better than just stand there and hold like Berto or Shane Mosley does.

[warp1432]

Holding and clinching is a skill, like throwing low blows is a skill. Of course they put on better fights. Froch and Johnson throw punches. Their first instinct is to actually box, not go into some sort of MMA holding tactic. That's why their fights are more exciting. Froch and Johnson have good defense, because it's genuine boxing defense. It's not foolproof like Ward's methods because they actually follow the rules.

Froch constantly roughs up his opponent which is "against the rules" too. Where are you complaining about that? Froch fights out of the clinch like Ward. He doesn't hold as much as Ward, but he doesn't position himself as well either.

Ward's defense is generally genuine boxing defense. He slipped, rolled, and blocked many of Abraham's punches last night.

[vacon04]

The headbutting is more unintentional. It's just there and it happens. Ward and Hopkins are sneaky about it because they can position themselves better. I'd rather see Ward position himself better than just stand there and hold like Berto or Shane Mosley does.

Well I never said it was intentional headbutting. Have you seen boxers throwing all sort of punches from all angles and then hitting the opponent below the belt accidentaly? The ref has to stop the action because it's an illegal punch, even if it's not intentional. It's actually the same with Ward, yeah he might just be trying to position himself on the inside and has no intention of headbutting the rival, but in the end he hurts the other boxer with his head, and that's illegal.

As I said, Ward has some good qualities and if he tries to polish his skills he could be a great fighter. It's harder to position yourself on the inside without headbutting the opponent? Yeah, it is, but that's legal, while hurting your opponent with your head is not.

[ShoulderRoll]

Pernell Whitaker is a legend and he didn't knock people out either. There has to be room in the sport for all kinds of different styles.

[Deevel916]

Pernell Whitaker is a legend and he didn't knock people out either. There has to be room in the sport for all kinds of different styles.

Pernell didnt have to be a KO artists to be entertaining. He could stand 6 inches from you and make you miss a 4-5 punch combo without even moving his feet! That alone is quite impressive and entertaining.

[junior gong]

He's a very good boxer, but I just dont enjoy watching his fights. He is succesful, but can be dull to watch.