Are American boxers more inclined to cheat compared to Europeans?

The aim of this thread is not to debate the outcome of close and controversial fights. Rather I want to hear what ESB-posters think about the way american top boxers seems to consider fouling as a part of the game, that should be taken advantage of as much as possible.

A short reminder:

Andre Ward. Used very ugly headbutts against Kessler. Also punshed after the bell. Used elbow against Bika. Against AA he hit after the ref had broken the action. Always use excessive holding if the ref allows it.

Bernard Hopkins. Pretending to be hurt from a low blow was a part of his gameplan when he entered the ring with Calzaghe.

Timothy "Accidential Headbutt" Bradley. No comment necessary.

Andre Dirrell. Held like crazy against Froch. Ignored every warning from the ref with the attitude of a rebellious teenager (sorry for the bias).

Can anyone imagine Carl Froch go down, pretending he was hurt by a low blow? Or Joe Calzaghe to hold at every opportunity instead of throwing punshes? Would Amir Kahn dive in with his forehead like a billygoat? Stuff like that simply would not happened, in my opinion.

Thoughts? :think

 

I agree it can be seen as a bit shallow, and bringing Dirrell up might be a bit irrelevant. But Ward and Hopkins are absolute top names in the sport, and Bradley hold two titles. All three are frequently fighting dirty. Can it really be written of just like that? I cant think of any top European fighter that is even close as dirty as Ward.

 

The difference, as I see it, is that neither Froch or Abraham uses that kind off stuff as a part of their gameplan. Froch started to foul because he was frustrated with Dirrell ducking low (illegal) and tried to force him to give it up. AA did what he did in the heat of the moment.

When ward starts holding it is an integrated part of his fighting style. He has developed it on purpose. Hopkins had planned to fake injury from a low blow in advance.

 

No doubt, Wlad use excessive holding as a part of his fighting style. But in my opinion he does not go over the top with it in the way Hopkins and Ward does. If you compare their fights you cant miss the fact that there is a huge difference in the amount of hugging. Hopkins vs Calzage turned into a joke, since Hopkins held at every given opportunity. Wlad is happy throwing punshes at least most of the time.

 

Surely, but that is not the topic.