The super six has lost most of it's credibility. In each of the first round fights the hometown fighter fouled more than enough to be disqualified, but never even lost a point.
Dirty has always paid off in boxing. Kessler, like any pro boxer, should know that and have the skills to deal with it. I wouldnt call Ward a cheat. Like many other boxers, many considered greats, he just did what he can get away with. Nothing new there.
I do think that the referee should have most definitely warned for holding and hitting by Ward somewhere around the 3rd round and on. Would he have continued to hold and hit after the warnings and received point deductions? I honestly don't think so. He was doing what the ref. allowed and if warned would have been content to win from distance because he was dominating from that range also. This type of fighting is much more prevelant in the U.S. and Mexico than in Europe. In Europe boxing is seen more as a "sport" instead of a "fight" or a "war". Interestingly enough in Europe, preparing for a fight is referred to as "practice", where as in North America and Asia for that matter it is referred to as "training". This alone speaks volumes to the difference in the mentality for SOME fighters from Europe and North America. Kessler is a prime example of someone who views boxing as a sport and is not willing to do absolutely whatever it takes to win in the ring. He doesn't have the ring smarts or mentality to get down and dirty.
Ward had his arm wrapped around Kessler often and was never so much as warned. All those headbutts effected Kessler greatly.
Butts that are called unintentional butts is not a fighter cheating. The butts were by both men. The very first butt was caused by Kessler...
Those of you who think onesidedly hat Ward held and butted should stop posting. Kessler held also...infact he held more than Ward. The butts were clearly unintentional. Why would Ward need to butt on purpose when he was dominating the fight?
Same could be asked of Holyfield and many others. Most fighters will do what they can get away with, and Ward did last night.