I mean i dont think any fan of boxing can defend his nut shots, headbutts, holding ,dirty tactics etc. Then you have the need to have a home town advantage (jokeland baby) everytime he fights, 3 judges from his home country and corrupt refs. And the dubious decisions he has gotten. I think ward is basically the american sven ottke. But id say I'd rank ottke higher because at least he wasnt as dirty as ward. You dont hear the germans ranting about ottke. their pretty embarrased by him.
Somewhat. For me at least. I respect him, really like the way he conducts himself outside the ring and aside from the dark side stuff he remains a hell of a boxer. but yeah, it takes the shine off a little for me. In no way is it the whole story but it's there and I can't pretend to like it,
outside the ring? Like suing a man dying of cancer who secured him all the home town advantages and corrupt refs when he was still the b side? Ya stay humble bruv and all that
Kovalev is an idiot. He should've stuck to his guns and demanded a neutral location and picked the ref or no fight. I've never seen a champion concede as much as Kovalev did. Also, Kovalev should've retaliated when he was getting lowblowed by returning the favor.
Tbf kovalev thought he was going to beat ward cleanly and he did, he just didnt expect the corruption to be that bad. The corruption in american boxing is insane, a foreigner cant get a fair shake, you would get a better shot fighting in north korea against the hometown favourite with kim jung un reffing
Of course it does. It already has. His legacy has been undoubtedly tarnished.. His career is littered with question marks and controversy.
Andre Ward is a legend, and just like Hopkins and many other rough house fighters he will be described as smart and crafty.
Kovalev, Froch, Kessler, Dawson, Abraham... line em up, he takes em down. Can't deny his incredible resume. Only one man ever pushed him and that was the bigger fellow elite P4P Kovalev, who he slapped around good in the rematch. I've always hated his religious nonsense and annoying do-good personality outside the ring. I understand why people hate Ward and little has to do with consistent discussion of what he accomplished in the ring.