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He has to be smarter. Frustrate Kov and force him to fight his fight. Ward is a spoiler that will totally take you out of your gameplan. This is such an intriguing bout.
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In amateur boxing they warn you for a few things before and during the fight:
1. Keep your head up
2. Keep your punches up
3. NO CLINCHING!
Ward actually got pretty lucky in the Olympics, where he clinched all of his opponents to death especially the Uzbek in the Semifinals, yet he received no warnings. The Semifinal fight was extremely close and the Uzbek fighter got screwed. Ward has always been able and allowed to get away with his BS tactics since the amateurs.
I don't understand why people say what Ward does is the sweet science, there isn't anything sweet about the headbutting/clinching tactics he uses.
Look at Guillermo Rigondeaux/Cuban/Eastern European/Central Asian fighters that don't need to rely on dirty **** to win. What Rigondeaux does is the Sweet Science, not the things Ward does. Clinching is illegal after all.
I don't mind if you have to clinch from time to time (ex. when you're hurt), but when it's you're game plan it's laughable.
I've always said it, before beating Ward inside the ring you need to defeat him outside the ring.
1. Don't fight him in Oakland. California is fine as long as it's not in Oakland. I get the feeling Ward is not well liked in Southern California.
2. Get a great referee that won't allow him to get away with his excessive clinching and headbutting.
3. Great Judges.
The only time Ward doesn't clinch is when he has a lower level opponent, such as Paul Smith or when he doesn't feel comfortable on the inside (ex. Abraham).
DeGale has the power over Ward. If that fight ever happens DeGale and his team would man handle Ward in negotiations. I now understand why Ward wasn't too keen on that fight.
Kovalev needs Ryabinsky because Duva doesn't control ****. I do think HBO has Sergey's back though. HBO probably doesn't want to deal with a diva much longer.
I don't like Ward, that much is not a secret (one of the few fighters I really dislike to the point of hating). However, I do think he'll fight Kovalev. Many seem to think he won't, but I can't see that happening.
Ward thinks he deserves more than what he gets and is a delusional man, but I do not think he's afraid.
Who knows I may be the one that is wrong, but I think Ward will fight Kovalev.Comment
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He'll pot shot and smother Kovalev. Ward doesn't punch hard but he's strong as ****. Anyone that can overpower Clemente Russo, even in the amateurs, is freakishly strong and that was at 81kgs.Comment
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I can honestly see ward getting touched in sparrimg when he cant use headbutts and clinch every 2 seconds with no ref and pissed sparring partner.
He is overated nowadays. Time passed and things changed. Kovalev is the big dawg now.Comment
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well even if that was true it still doesn't make it legal and its gotten completely out of control. people are clinching nonstop and ruining both the competitive aspect and entertainment aspect of boxing. it would be a lot better without clinching yet we can't enforce the rules because some of the "best" boxers are used to getting away with cheating. hopefully we can get rid of them soon and set a new precedent in boxing where clinching is actually punished as it should be.Comment
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I don't think that will ever happen. It's just too hard to enforce and a lot of the time, two boxers will mutually clinch when they are both tired. What will happen then? Both get disqualified?
Clinching is ok as long as it doesn't stop the action completely. But if used as defense I am completely ok with it. Take for example what Kovalev does at 12:19. He misses with the jab and immediately ducks under Pascal's right and grabs him. Now are you saying that Kovalev should be punished for that?
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Ward has to box use his skills and he has enough to get a UD , depends how he makes 175 though .Comment
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Ward outbboxes and dominates Kovalev in the same fashion that Hopkins dominated Tarver in.Comment
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