Andre Ward's signature move: Ducking -- Is it Legal

There has been a great deal of discussion on this board about what Andre Ward introduced to the boxing world last night -- something that was unprecedented and some, notably the redoubtable "Jack", have suggested is an illegal tactic.

For those who missed it, here's what Andre was doing. When his opponent, Arthur Abraham, would swing a wide looping hook, Andre would bend his knees ever-so-slightly and allow the punch to whiz right over him. Almost like how Maverick from Top-Gun would slam on the breaks and let his pursuers "fly right by!".

Andre Ward did something extraordinary. The only word I can use to describe this unheard of maneuver is "duck". That's right, Andre Ward was ducking punches in order to avoid them!

I put this to the collective wisdom of ESB. Is this newfangled thing, this "ducking", this very tricky innovation from Ward -- is it legal? Does Abraham have a case for filing a protest? After all, Ward was doing something so bizarre, so unprecedented, that it deserves in my opinion a looking over. I must admit, it is almost strange that in 100 years of boxing no fighter before Andre Ward had ever discovered this unorthodox move -- the "duck".

I am personally in 100% total agreement with "Jack". Ducking seems to me a dirty tactic and the referee probably should have disqualified Ward somewhere in the 6th round, when he was repeatedly ducking under Abraham's wide hooks.

Astonishing.

 

don't be so hard on your countrymen, horse-head.

 

That's the prevailing wisdom among the likes of horse-head and Jack.

 

It seems there are precursors to Ward's use of this strange tactic! I was not ware of that, thank you!