Boxing almost got it right but it just shows us why it will always disappoint us

[Wolfie*]

The Kovalev-Ward fight had the making of showing why boxing will never die. Two prime, elite, undefeated, prime for prime fighters in the game going at it. It's rare we get such a great match up like this. It was truly at toss up match-up.

Now the fight itself was really entertaining. Kovalev dominated early and got a knockdown. Ward showing a lot of heart and grit getting off the canvass and winning rounds, making it a very competitive fight. Most guys would have gave up but ward didn't. It was very competitive in the second half. Close rounds that could have gone either way. Props again for Ward making it competitive after it looked like it was a matter of time before kovalev KO'd him. Everything seemed in place and everything seemed to be in line where it showed boxing in a great light but then the actual decision was called, boxing again showed us again why it can't be trusted as a fair sport, not only for fans but for boxers themselves.

Now before I actually say how I saw the fight let me say this. Before going into this, I had no real bias in terms of who I wanted to win. I like Kovalev's style more but I liked Ward's character as well. I had no problem with either guy winning as long as they deserved it. As many of you know who read my posts, I'm one of the very few unbias posters on here.

Let me tell how I saw this fight. This fight was very competitive, not close because close indicated that the fight could have gotten either way which isn't the case here. Kovalev dominated early and got a knockdown as well. Ward did a great job of trying to dig himself out of a hole that Kovalev dug him in. He won rounds forsure but he didn't win enough rounds to actually win the fight. A lot of the later rounds where super close that I personally gave Ward but even when I did I still had Kovalev winning by a few points. There were some later rounds that forsure Kovalev won because he was landing the more effective punches oppose to ward who landed a few jabs and clinched. I watched this fight a few times, with no bias HBO audio and every time I had Kovalev winning. HBO actually missed a lot of **** that was crucial moments in terms of who was winning rounds for example kovalev in the 12th round landed a body shot that hurt ward and stopped his momentum. For those who had Ward winning, it is clear you gave every close round to Ward but you also gave rounds to Ward where Kovalev clearly won. Ward's reaction to the decision said it all for me. Even he was suprised he won and he knew he didn't deserve it.

I'm disappointed tbh because this highlights how boxing isn't fair and will never be. I don't even see this as a sport anymore tbh because sports are fair for the most part, whoever deserves to win actually wins but not with boxing. It's sad to see once a great mainstream sport become just a business and nothing more.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

The Kovalev-Ward fight had the making of showing why boxing will never die. Two prime, elite, undefeated, prime for prime fighters in the game going at it. It's rare we get such a great match up like this. It was truly at toss up match-up.

Now the fight itself was really entertaining. Kovalev dominated early and got a knockdown. Ward showing a lot of heart and grit getting off the canvass and winnng rounds, making it a very competitive fight. Most guys would have gave up but ward didn't. It was very competitive in the second half. Close rounds that could have gone either way. Props again for Ward making it competitive after it looked like it was a matter of time before kovalev KO'd him. Everything seemed in place and everything seemed to be in line where it showed boxing in a great light but then the actual decision was called, boxing again showed us again why it can't be trusted as a fair sport, not only for fans but for boxers themselves.

Now before I actually say how I saw the fight let me say this. Before going into this, I had no real bias in terms of who I wanted to win. I like Kovalev's style more but I liked Ward's character as well. I had no problem with either guy winning as long as they deserved it. As many of you know who read my posts, I'm one of the very few unbias posters on here.

Let me tell how I saw this fight. This fight was very competitive, not close because close indicated that the fight could have gotten either way which isn't the case here. Kovalev dominated early and got a knockdown as well. Ward did a great job of trying to dig himself out of a whole that Kovalev dug him in. He won rounds forsure but he didn't win enough rounds to actually win the fight. A lot of the later rounds where super close that I personally gave Ward but even when I did I still had Kovalev winning by a few points. There were some later rounds that forsure Kovalev won because he was landing the more effective punches oppose to ward who landed a few jabs and clinched. I watched this fight a few times, with no bias HBO audio and every time I had Kovalev winning. HBO actually missed a lot of **** that was crucial moments in terms of who was winning rounds for example kovalev in the 12th round landed a body shot that hurt ward and stopped his momentum. For those who had Ward winning, it is clear you gave every close round to Ward but you also gave rounds to Ward where Kovalev clearly won. Ward's reaction to the decision said it all for me. Even he was suprised he won and he knew he didn't deserve it.

I'm disappointed tbh because this highlights how boxing isn't fair and will never be. I don't even see this as a sport anymore tbh because sports are fair for the most part, whoever deserves to win actually wins but not with boxing. It's sad to see once a great mainstream sport become just a business and nothing more.

Yes, I'd say it's actually a business more than a sport of any kind anymore. The money drives it all and a lot of shady things go down. Even for people who thought the Kovalev-Ward decision was fine, they have to admit that Perez was robbed against Hooker. It's playing favorites and showing the viewers that it doesn't matter so much about how the fighters perform since much of this business side has already been worked out and the fighter they are pushing will get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the judges. I'm willing to bet that in an NBA game, this benefit doesn't happen. Each team has to win based on points alone in every single game. I'd love to see boxing be that way, but it's hard to picture it happening. This stuff has gone on for years and years. Maybe one day...

[Eff Pandas]

To take one of your points I definitely think boxing commentating f#cking sucks by & large. I only watch combat sports & none of them give you the details of whats happening in front of you less than the boxing shows do. They are off talking about other fights & what x, y & z means if fighter a or b wins or loses & other nonsense. Tell me about the fight & show some f#cking passion for that fight. Everyone talking boxing in 2016 needs to go watch Joe Rogan & Dana White talking about the fights coming up on PPV in the last moments of their free TV lead in. I NEVER see that level of passion for a fight by the people talking about it. I want some mfers talking boxing who give a f#ck about it & have passion for it. I don't see that very often in boxing.

[Canelo and GGG]

It was big fight and interesting,but "very entertaining" is reaching imo

[Wolfie*]

To take one of your points I definitely think boxing commentating f#cking sucks by & large. I only watch combat sports & none of them give you the details of whats happening in front of you less than the boxing shows do. They are off talking about other fights & what x, y & z means if fighter a or b wins or loses & other nonsense. Tell me about the fight & show some f#cking passion for that fight. Everyone talking boxing in 2016 needs to go watch Joe Rogan & Dana White talking about the fights coming up on PPV in the last moments of their free TV lead in. I NEVER see that level of passion for a fight by the people talking about it. I want some mfers talking boxing who give a f#ck about it & have passion for it. I don't see that very often in boxing.

Yeah, the HBO crew was ****ing disgusting. Jim Lampley and Roy Jones in particular. I thought these dudes are supposed to be unbias and call it for what it is. The highlight of the night was Jim Lampley saying saying in the 10th round, every moment counts and him, Jones, and Kellerman were in a pissing contest saying "that moment goes to Ward, now Kovalev" like children.

It was big fight and interesting,but "very entertaining" is reaching imo

If you were expecting Muira vs Vargas you were sadly mistaken.

[Wolfie*]

Yes, I'd say it's actually a business more than a sport of any kind anymore. The money drives it all and a lot of shady things go down. Even for people who thought the Kovalev-Ward decision was fine, they have to admit that Perez was robbed against Hooker. It's playing favorites and showing the viewers that it doesn't matter so much about how the fighters perform since much of this business side has already been worked out and the fighter they are pushing will get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the judges. I'm willing to bet that in an NBA game, this benefit doesn't happen. Each team has to win based on points alone in every single game. I'd love to see boxing be that way, but it's hard to picture it happening. This stuff has gone on for years and years. Maybe one day...

Sadly you are right. I personally didn't see the booker/perez fight since I went to grab some beer when it happened but I don't doubt you saying it was a robbery with how things are now a days.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Sadly you are right. I personally didn't see the booker/perez fight since I went to grab some beer when it happened but I don't doubt you saying it was a robbery with how things are now a days.

Oh man, yeah. It was. Everyone said it was. Hooker was the American fighter they're propping up, though. So that's the way it goes...

[Beercules]

Fair assessment and I agree 100% it was a competitive fight but I thought Kovalev won it.

I do respect Ward more now, he really did show heart - he didn't win though.

[Shrap]

There was a mess of awful judging and poor decisions throughout.

Curtis Stevens got gifted a UD win with one judge scoring it a ridiculous 98-90 in his favour.
Maurice Hooker somehow got a draw decision after getting soundly beaten.
Finally, of course, Ward somehow got a UD win against Kovalev.

In all 3 of those fights every referee and judge was from the USA. All 3 boxers that got gifted decisions were from the USA against foreign opponents.

How was this even permitted in the first place? Surely that has to be against rules and regulations?

[Motofan]

Boxing can't manage to avoid tripping over its own **** even when we are gifted with the kind of real, meaningful, 50-50 fight we had here. Getting this one wrong matters.