Would someone like to explain to Headshots pushing an opponents head down is illegal.

[Redd Foxx]

People who are cool with Kovalev pushing his opponent's head down must be massive Amir Khan fans.

[BattlingNelson]

It's obviously against the rules. It has to be taken in proper context though. Maybe the referee should enforce the rules in the rematch ie no attacking head-first by Ward and no pushing head Down by Kovalev. It might lead to a better fight.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

The way Klitschko did it to Povetkin was cause for reprimand and the ref should have done something about it. Same thing with the way Khan did it to Collazo - these guys simply do not like their opponents to get close and they should have been penalised for clearly employing such a strategy.

However, the way Kovalev did it to Ward was simply to defend himself from headbutts because Ward likes to rush in head-first like a fucking billygoat. It was a smart way to negate Ward's dirty tactics and it worked. It prevented Ward from mauling and wrestling, and kept things as more of a stand up boxing match where Kovalev showed himself superior. He should employ the same tactics in the rematch if he wants to have the same success.

Otherwise he may end up looking like this:

Great post. I thought Kovalev did an exceptional job of nullifying Ward's cheating. It's one of the reasons he beat him enough to win in the eyes of many and I think he'll do even better in the rematch.

[el_locoteee]

There is always an answer for that dirty tactic.

Make sure to throw uppercuts to the body once you feel the head being pull down you inevitably (or intentionally ) will hit the opponents balls, and Refs can only warn you because, your head being pull down is the excuse.

Do that a couple of time and the opponent will stop.

[kingstip9]

The way Klitschko did it to Povetkin was cause for reprimand and the ref should have done something about it. Same thing with the way Khan did it to Collazo - these guys simply do not like their opponents to get close and they should have been penalised for clearly employing such a strategy.

However, the way Kovalev did it to Ward was simply to defend himself from headbutts because Ward likes to rush in head-first like a fucking billygoat. It was a smart way to negate Ward's dirty tactics and it worked. It prevented Ward from mauling and wrestling, and kept things as more of a stand up boxing match where Kovalev showed himself superior. He should employ the same tactics in the rematch if he wants to have the same success.

Otherwise he may end up looking like this:

phenomenonal post. hit the nail on the head, hate the way ward charges head first. green k

[boliodogs]

Pushing an opponent's head down is illegal because that's the rule. Not all boxing rules are always enforced. Holding a fighter in place with one hand while pounding away with the other hand is illegal holding and hitting but that rule is often not enforced. If your opponent is holding you then you can legally hit him but you can't legally grab him and hold him and then pound on him. That's legal in MMA but not in boxing.

[boliodogs]

There is always an answer for that dirty tactic.

Make sure to throw uppercuts to the body once you feel the head being pull down you inevitably (or intentionally ) will hit the opponents balls, and Refs can only warn you because, your head being pull down is the excuse.

Do that a couple of time and the opponent will stop.

That's a good idea. That should work.

[Mister Wolf]

The display Errol Spence put on is the latest example on how to deal with a opponent who excessively clinches or tries to push your head down.

[NYG]

Ward is like that one kid who you are beating in a game and he decides to change the rules when he is losing. Dude is a total diva and hopefully Kovalev puts him away, doubt it though.

[Mr Objecitivity]

Yes, it is illegal! However, an illegal move used to neutralize an opponent's illegal move as a counter move (provided the referee or the authorities aren't solving the issue) is acceptable to me. So for instance, Andre Ward coming in with his head, headbutting and bending below the waist are all also illegal moves. Since Sergey Kovalev pushed Andre Ward's head down as a counter response to the initially initiated illegal moves performed by Andre Ward first, it's acceptable to me!

When taking into consideration Sergey Kovalev rarely ever consistently cheated or used illegal moves in any of his fights prior to facing Andre Ward, whilst also taking into consideration that Andre Ward has regularly / consistently used illegal moves in many of his other fights prior to his fight against Sergey Kovalev, then the benefit of the doubt can be given to Sergey Kovalev whilst Andre Ward is the one that deserves greater criticism.