He was putting so much more work into that fight than Usyk, who then started putting in nasty body shots. It was a good strategy to win, but he wasn't giving up rounds for the fun of it.
Exactly. For that reason I find it hard to rate him highly. Admire his willingness to win at all costs but he also relied on homecooking. The things he got away with...
Ward was always dreadful to watch, but always managed to find the win. Only time he was forced to box totally clean was Kov 1, which I thought he lost. Not sure how history will remember him.
Wards legacy is top notch and whilst he never had massive public appeal and probably never will have he is a winner. Best to win ugly than lose beautifully , I think is the expression.
Most of that video is footage of his fight with Bika. Ward was right to fight dirty against Bika , otherwise he would have been roughed up himself.
I didn’t even watch the video but struggle to remember a fight where he didn’t break the rules continually and get away with it.
Whilst I know what you mean for me the bottom line is that he essentially cheated, so for me it's a no, if winning ugly means cheating the way Ward did. If he'd have fought regularly he'd have been found out, the nature of his last two wins is how he'll be remembered by me.
