How much of Andre Ward's dirty & illegal tactics will Steve Smoger allow?

[Tmann400]

Ward was regularly deliberately headbutting Green, while hitting while holding for much of the fight. He was very dirty in that fight.

Both he and Bika were dirty, but the ref got on Bika's back for it, and said nothing to Ward. Ward blatently hit Bika off the break, the referee was right there but said nothing.

Ward didn't need to do as much dirty stuff to beat the shorter, reach-challenged Abraham, but I remember when he became frustrated that his feathery punches weren't hurting Abraham in a late round, and charged into Abraham's face with his head like a ram.

Once again, no credit given. Newsflash you can't become a world champion and beat world class fighter after world class fighter using dirty tactics alone, Tunney. You make it sound like the only reason he wins fights is because he cheats, also "reach-challenged abraham" Abraham had the reach advantage, so what are you talking about? Abraham put Ward in several headlocks, and pounded on his ribcage, that TO ME is dirty.

If a fighter gets dirty with Ward he gets dirty back, and rightfully so. Bika started the dirty s.hit, and Ward retaliated, you have to in this sport if you want to make it far, you have to have the mental toughness to let your opponent know you wont be bullied, wouldn't you respond the same way? Exactly. The Green fight was not all dirty, putting your head on an opponents chest and working inside is NOT DIRTY. Some of the greatest fights in HISTORY have been fought LITERALLY forehead to forehead.

And "punching on the break as you say" isn't what Ward does, he waits until the referee separates them and says "box" and he catches his opponents off guard, it's a tactic commonly used by MANY fighters, PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES. But, anyway...you never answered my question, will you give Ward credit if he beats Froch fair and square. If there's an accidental headbutt or 2, will you use that as the excuse for Ward winning? How is Ward cheating when he's outboxing and beating up his opponents on the outside? He did to Kessler most of the fight, Abraham the whole fight and part of the Green fight. Why can't you give him credit man.....Seriously.

[snoopymiller]

Once again, no credit given. Newsflash you can't become a world champion and beat world class fighter after world class fighter using dirty tactics alone, Tunney. You make it sound like the only reason he wins fights is because he cheats, also "reach-challenged abraham" Abraham had the reach advantage, so what are you talking about? Abraham put Ward in several headlocks, and pounded on his ribcage, that TO ME is dirty.

If a fighter gets dirty with Ward he gets dirty back, and rightfully so. Bika started the dirty s.hit, and Ward retaliated, you have to in this sport if you want to make it far, you have to have the mental toughness to let your opponent know you wont be bullied, wouldn't you respond the same way? Exactly. The Green fight was not all dirty, putting your head on an opponents chest and working inside is NOT DIRTY. Some of the greatest fights in HISTORY have been fought LITERALLY forehead to forehead.

And "punching on the break as you say" isn't what Ward does, he waits until the referee separates them and says "box" and he catches his opponents off guard, it's a tactic commonly used by MANY fighters, PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES. But, anyway...you never answered my question, will you give Ward credit if he beats Froch fair and square. If there's an accidental headbutt or 2, will you use that as the excuse for Ward winning? How is Ward cheating when he's outboxing and beating up his opponents on the outside? He did to Kessler most of the fight, Abraham the whole fight and part of the Green fight. Why can't you give him credit man.....Seriously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R92UP2ql3oI

[jazluvr]

Even if Smoger is fair, Carl's getting his ass handed to him by Ward. Bets are welcome.

[edgarg]

There has been more shady officiating the past year in the US than I can remember. I realize Smoger always does a good and fair job.

But Ward will try to cut Froch with a sneaky deliberate headbutt and then work on the cut with his fists to force a stoppage (TKO or TD win, depending on whether Smoger sees it or not).

But according to the rules, if a fight has to be stopped because of a deliberate headbutt, the boxer who is cut wins by DQ.

Yes he does do a fair job, but that's because he allows all sorts of fouls to be committed right under his nose. I have never thought Smoger to be a "god" referee, but a callous, throwback to the days when fighters were allowed all kinds of dirty tactics with long fights almost certainly, it could be said, in reality fights to a finish. And when ex pugs would die at age 45-50 of Dementia Pugilistica.

He allows brutal fight go on far too long and rerely reprimands a fighter for fouling. Anyway, I just don't like to see him as the third man in a fight where fouls and vicous brutality are almost certain. A fight needs to be controlled, there are rules, which should be obeyed, and the ref is the man put there to enforce them. If he doesn't, you can have a back alley fight with boxing gloves.

Not my idea of a boxing match.

[Tiozzo]

Tunney, do us a favor and get back to whatever you were doing while you were banned for false allegations, we were much better off without you.

[The Hammer]

Tunney, do us a favor and get back to whatever you were doing while you were banned for false allegations, we were much better off without you.

I know that deep in your heart, you really love me Tiozzo.

[Furn]

Points off should be for blatant dangerous stuff like low blows, deliberate headbuts,rabbit punchs deliberate elbows etc.

Otherwise its a world title fight just let it go.

[S H A R K B O Y]

Froch hit on the break in his fight with Dirrell. He's just as dirty.

[tyger]

If Ward Clinches, Froch can just hit him on the back of the head.

I can't believe threads are started complaining about outcome before the fight even started. This has the potential to be the best fight matchup wise this year.

[ShoulderRoll]

bias based on racism, classic freedom.

Tunney likes to make sure he has all of his excuses out of the way beforehand. Because, you know, a black man should never win any fight, ever.

So Freedom doesn't like Andre Ward because he's black? I always thought that it was because he can't stand to see a successful American fighter.

But this sheds new light on things.