Duva: Request for 'Neutral' Judges for Ward-Kovalev Denied by Ward

Why not all Russian judges? I mean they were all American in the first fight.

 

They should have a rabbi, a priest and an imam.

 

This should come as no surprise to anyone. The fighter known as loaded dice Ward wants to load the dice in his favour. What a shocker.

The first fight was in reality a Kovalev win but just possible to score to Ward if you have him the benefit of every close round. Three American judges and guess what, all three give him the benefit of every close round.

That said, I have little sympathy for team Kovalev as they should have demanded a fair shake for the first fight (bout in neutral territory and three neutral officials) or otherwise told Ward to whistle for his title shot. This is what happens when you allow the deck to be stacked in Ward's favour and "lose" the first fight, they make sure it's just as bad for the second.

 

Screw the judges. Won't go to judges if Kovalev gets "Let 'em fight" Smoger to ref.

 

No neutral judges? Wtf?

 

every title fight should have all three judges from neutral countries. it should be mandatory. but this is boxing, a sport barely more on the up and up than pro wrestling.

 

Exactly...Duva is a promoter! I think she's trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill to sale tickets. I don't think fighters have too much say in the selecting of the judges anyhow. Ward by UD!

 

Not just this fight, but all fights need neutral judges and refs that know how to do their jobs. But, I am in the minority because I feel Kovalev won the fight ,but do not think Ward getting the decision was a robbery.

 

Agreed!!!

 

I'll wait to see who the judges are before complaining, and I guess Ward/RocNation deserve a chance to respond too.

However, it does look bad if it is Andre Ward who denied the request. If it was the NSAC, that is more or less reasonable, but it really looks like a case of home country bias if Ward insists on American judges; especially with the current political situation.

 

Can you imagine a German boxer in Germany, with a German referee and 3 German judges, in a rematch for a fight he won under controversial circumstances the first time under the same conditions, refusing the request for neutral officials this time?!
The forum would blow up!

 

haha...like duva is supposed to be trusted right?

"we put in a request for neutral judges....it was denied...we said ta hell with it anyway and still signed...**** it"

sounds legit!

 

Wow, people need to listen to Duva. She says Ward thinks everyone hates him because he is america, hiding behind patriotism, this man is clearly a nationalist.

Ward and his drug dealer boss, refused any suggestion for fair impartial judges. They are banking on Ward surviving 12 rounds to get a rigged UD like in the first fight.

I really hope and pray Kovalev does what he needs to do in there and rids boxing off this fraudulent cowardly fake Christian hiding behind America and Christianity

 

It's the only way Kovalev was going to get his belts back. Ward was holding kovalev's contract hostage so had no choice but to agree to Ward's slimy terms.

But no terms or writing, is going to save Ward's jaw from getting absolutely smashed to pieces.