The myth that Ward was the one that initiated the dirty tactics in Kovalev fight

[Robbie Barrett]

People continue to blame ward for the dirty tactics in the Kovalev fight, but it was Kovalev that was the one that initiated them.

Watch the first round Kovalev would grab Wards head a force it down every opportunity he got.

Ward wasn't holding at this point. The holding started because of Kovalevs dirty tactics. When someone continually forces your head down the natural reaction is to grab hold of the person doing it to support the weight.

When you know that's going to happen everytime you reach out to hold everytime.

Here are gifs from the first round. Who's doing the fouling?

[uppercut510]

exactly, its sickening... kov held to avoid an inside fight which was a decent gameplan but it seems to be overlooked by the ones who cry about holding/clinching all day... Kov did some dirt himself. All champs have dirt in their arsenal.

[Shrap]

[Robbie Barrett]

Notice how the guy starts from the 2nd round?

Kovalev started the dirty tactics in the 1st. Ward started holding in the 2nd to support the weight of Kovalev continually pushing down on the back of his head. It's indefensible in the 1st round and can't be twisted. That's why the guy starts from the 2nd.

[GGG Gloveking]

It's all Kovalev fault because Ward never holds

[SplitSecond]

This is what would happen everytime, it would be ward kessler/bika all over again, who wants that? The point of boxing is damage with your fists, not you head/elbows..

Floyd boys are incredible hypocrites doe, this was floyds go to move, abused so it was.

[Robbie Barrett]

It's all Kovalev fault because Ward never holds

Kovalev is the one that started it in this fight. But people want to just blame Ward.

[Robbie Barrett]

This is what would happen everytime, it would be ward kessler/bika all over again, who wants that? The point of boxing is damage with your fists, not you head/elbows..

Floyd boys are incredible hypocrites doe, this was floyds go to move, abused so it was.

His head doesn't even hit Kovalev's there. Nothing illegal

[GGG Gloveking]

Kovalev is the one that started it in this fight. But people want to just blame Ward.

Kovalev started it...

You sound like my 8 year old

[Robbie Barrett]

Kovalev started it...

You sound like my 8 year old

Do you have an argument that he didn't. Or do you just want to deflect?