Will the officials (ref and Judges) be fair in Kovalev-Ward II?

[A-Wolf]

If someone would explain to me why there would be an organized conspiracy to favor Ward I would love to hear it. The majority of fans support Kovalev. The largest contingent of paying customers support Kovalev.

What business sense does it make to rig these fights for Andre Ward?? Give an actual reason that makes sense, please. Thanks.

[i love boxing]

Man just enjoy the fight.

[A-Wolf]

For the last fight, the ref didn't stop Ward from using illegal tactics and the judges awarded Ward a decision he did not win (all three gave him the 10th round which he clearly lost, and every single close round).

Will the officials be fair this time?

Freedom, I got two questions for you.

1) Is this political for you?
2) Do you actually score BODY PUNCHES?

[Buckfever]

This is why even though I'll be rooting for Ward again, I think Kovalev wins. Because unless Kovalev is a complete idiot he must know that he needs a KO or a complete beat down to win and if Kovalev turns it into a brawl it's a hard fight for Ward.

[Vlad_]

Man just enjoy the fight.

Careful, you might crash the forum servers with such blasphemous advice.

[The Hammer]

Freedom, I got two questions for you.

1) Is this political for you?
2) Do you actually score BODY PUNCHES?

1) It's not political for me, but I feel strongly that there needs to be fair and honest officiating. Without it, the sport is ruined.

2) Yes, of course I score clean and effective body punches

[A-Wolf]

1) It's not political for me, but I feel strongly that there needs to be fair and honest officiating. Without it, the sport is ruined.

2) Yes, of course I score clean and effective body punches

Understood. But how on Earth you could have scored this match for Kovalev, if you indeed score body punches, is beyond me. I can't stand Ward for the most part but he won on that ticky tack left jab to the stomach. With room.

Based on your overall narrative I won't try and convince you.

[The Hammer]

What business sense does it make to rig these fights for Andre Ward?? Give an actual reason that makes sense, please. Thanks.

Nationalism. All four officials are from the same country as Ward.

Ward may have a low market value, but he's the home country boxer. He had home advantage for ALL his Super Six fights, and was awarded points when he skipped a round! Home officiating has happened in Germany, UK, and elsewhere.

Also it's possible that James Prince, who once sent some of his henchmen to beat up poor Leonard Ellerbe and put him in hospital, could be paying off the officials.

[A-Wolf]

Nationalism. All four officials are from the same country as Ward.

Ward may have a low market value, but he's the home country boxer. He had home advantage for ALL his Super Six fights, and was awarded points when he skipped a round! Home officiating has happened in Germany, UK, and elsewhere.

Also it's possible that James Prince, who once sent some of his henchmen to beat up poor Leonard Ellerbe and put him in hospital, could be paying off the officials.

I think the notion that Americans would be nationalistic is a stretch but you made points I cannot counter without inserting too much opinion. Good arguments.

[Mammoth]

They will be fair. They were the last time. It was just hard to score.