For all those who complained pre-fight about Ward's clinching...

[bojangles1987]

No it hasn't, it's just become acceptable. It's technically illegal, so spare me this BS about how it's always been a part of boxing.

It has ALWAYS been part of boxing. It's illegal to hold excessively, with no intention of fighting. It's not illegal to clinch. Clinching is and always has been part of inside fighting.

[SkillspayBills]

Because he didn't try to "work on the inside" you nimrod.

He was jumping in head first to clamp his arms and spoil the action. Those tactics are illegal.

He would work his was in our slip his way in to work the body, WHICH WAS HIS STRATEGY, but would almost get DDT'd by Jake the snake, you moribund dolt.

[_original_]

Very good point, Kovalev showed tremendous skills in dealing with two foulers and spoilers in Ward and Hopkins, arguably the two most notorious dirty guys in the game in recent memory. Big credit goes to JDJ for game planning.

[IronDanHamza]

No it hasn't, it's just become acceptable. It's technically illegal, so spare me this BS about how it's always been a part of boxing.

It has though.

Go and watch any fight from 1900-1960 and I bet 99% of them have more holding and clinching than most fights of the modern day.

[TheCell8]

One thing that surprised me was how ineffective Ward was on the inside. Like completely ineffective apart from a few low blows he threw at Kovalev. I thought that's where Ward would have most of his success. Kovalev realized just how easy it was to stop him.

Ward isn't going to have success at CW or HW like he claims.

[Hype job]

One thing that surprised me was how ineffective Ward was on the inside. Like completely ineffective apart from a few low blows he threw at Kovalev. I thought that's where Ward would have most of his success. Kovalev realized just how easy it was to stop him.

Ward isn't going to have success at CW or HW like he claims.

It was hilarious how Kov was manhandling him towards the ropes with such ease.

[Kigali]

Kovalev showed last night how a fighter can prepare to deal with it and even turn it to his advantage. He spent much of the fight neutralizing Ward inside. He tied him up, met the clinch, fought him in it, pushed him back. He initiated his own clinches to stop Ward from dictating the terms of the clinches. He fought back.

Yeah, clinching sucks when it's excessive, but there are plenty of ways for fighters to deal with it. Remember this fight next time you complain about a fighter you like being clinched. There are ways to deal with it during the fight, rather than just b*tch and moan afterwards. You should blame the fighter who just accepts it, not just the fighter doing it.

What fight did you watch?

Ward beat Kovalev up on the inside...that's why he faded.

Andre's body jab dictated the terms.

The body jab is supposed to be Kovalev's punch...Ward took it from him and used it against him.

Ward did mostly all the body work..

[Kigali]

It was hilarious how Kov was manhandling him towards the ropes with such ease.

Kovalev got manhandled on the inside.

Ward was working his body...that's why Kovalev faded.

Ward finished stronger than Kovalev...he had more left in the tank.

[Kigali]

One thing that surprised me was how ineffective Ward was on the inside. Like completely ineffective apart from a few low blows he threw at Kovalev. I thought that's where Ward would have most of his success. Kovalev realized just how easy it was to stop him.

Ward isn't going to have success at CW or HW like he claims.

[Chollo Vista]

Ward controlled the fight after the 3rd/4th round

3rd/4th could've went either way

I can say with surety that I can't give Kovalev a round after the 4th. Ward did better work on the inside/outside. Ward landed crisp head snapping jabs and punished sergey to the body. And oh yeah, Kovalev hit a lot of air after the 2nd round knockdown

Ward won the fight hands down