In this past year I can see where the US has made a mess of thing, I just think with the recent showings and bad decisions.. The Super Six Final will not fall into one of these categories of Robberies...
You are clearly saying that in a boxing match is fine to do whatever you can get away with. This is a vera manly attitude, the problem with it is that you get messy fights that few likes to watch. Mirande htting his opponents in the nutters over and over again, AA taking a swing at helpless Dirrell, and Ward headbutting with his full bodyweight behind the momentum is NOT doing the sport any favours. He became more carefull after the Kessler fight. Too much criticism. Up to that point he did. He leaned his head forward, and run into the opponent with all his might. I believe he was during his fight against AA. Dont think there was a penalty though. Dude, you are clearly making excuses for your favourite fighter. Here is how it is: Ward is diciplined, has talent, skill and is clever. I expect him to UD Froch, do a second number on Kessler if Kessler dares to step up, and probably defeat Bute. Even though Bute has skill and talent he lacks exerience at top lever. Ward might be on the road to eclipse Calzaghes achievements. But never the less, Andre Ward IS a dirty fighter. Probably the dirtiest top level fighter in the sport today.
Froch can box from range and win this fight, maybe wear Ward down for a late TKO. Ward is horribly overrated on here, Froch is favorite to win in my eyes. Too tough and determined for Ward.
I think you using the term dirty is a bit much and Ward isn't dirty, he works well with in the rules.. No excuses it is what it is.. No ref has stop the fight and warned him for any illegal activity.. so drop the term dirty.. U referenced Miranda.. at the top of your response.. It is clear Miranda is Dirty, he broke Abraham's Jaw with a headbutt, he punched his last opponent repeatedly in ball bag.. He is a habitual line stepper, Ward employs old school boxing its that simple... Ever since he beat Kessler and the headbutt that happend in that fight he has been called a billy goat.. a headbutt-er, but that wasn't the case in any other fights before that one.. Nor after.. so to say he was more careful after the Kessler fight is a joke :dead Really...?
I am not really sure what to make of your response ... I have seen Ward use excessive holding, and against AA I saw him hitting during a break. In the Bika fight he used an elbow. And of course we have the infamous headbutt against Kessler. Surely these kind of methods are against the rules??? He has some slick skill, I have never suggested anything else. But I dont agree old school includes all the kind of "tactics" Ward apply. Ward said in an interview after the Kessler fight "I am learing to keep my head out the way". Obviously he realized how ugly it had appeared to the viewers. I have not seen him use his forehead like that ever after. There where headbutts in the Bika fight, but Bika fights in a way that invites headbutts. And Ward headbutted his opponents before the Kessler fight. So I stand by my point.
The Clench that he uses it not excessive holding he just knows when to tie up.. its done so much its just a tactic to fustrate opponents.. Ward is a boxer, can be a brawler, he used many different tactics against various fighters... if you notice in the Abrahamn fight.. since thats the one u said he was holding in.. the Ref did not let them fight inside..when they got tied up and a hand was free on each fighter the Ref kept breaking them.. Ward wanted to work inside on Abrahamn but could not sue to quick breaks during clenches.. Ward tried over and over.. that was his game plan to get inside via the clench.. Against Bika he out toughed Bika, fought fire against Fire and had Bika fustrated he was loosing at his own fight.. He was looking to the Ref for help.. when usally its Bika's opponents who are the ones looking to the refs.. Ward went out there to prove a point and he did.. Kessler all the headbuts were rulled accedental.. the only reason he said what he said in the interview was because of all of the backlash saying he was intentionally reckless with his head.. so he said hey ill work on that.. hasen't been a problem since.. but that dosen't stop people from saying that he is going to headbut his next opponent, Abraham and Froch fans bring up headbuts all the time.. I will admit that Wad does use his elbows a bit much.. it is dirty but he attemps to masked it in a way that Floyd Mayweather does..
Froch has had alot of fights that people have found close The Adamu fight could have gone either way Against Magee, Froch was only just ahead before the end Against Taylor, Froch was behind before the end Dirrell was a SDec Johnson was a MDec Still except for the Kessler fight, which was close, Froch has found a way to win
Did not know about the distinction between holding and a clench, so thanks for pointing it out. Guess I just need to take a closer look on what Ward is doing. Sure, I can see why it makes sense to give Bika a doze of his own medicine, it just dont make a good show. Calzaghe and Bika outboxed him. In my book that was cooler. I simply aint to fond of all that wrestling business. If he stops doing it, then it should be fair enough, from a fan perspective. But regardless what the ref ruled, the headbutt seemed intentional to me. Perhaps you should have a second look yourself? That headbutt was just crazy. Ward is a business man. I think he will do whatever he thinks helps him get the business done. Froch will probably be a tough customer, even for Ward. I am curious to see if Ward resort to fouling if Froch gives him trouble. We'll see.
Ward will have his personal referee and judges to protect him. SOB does not believe in a level playing field and will cheat as usual. Ward refused to allow Bute to fight in his own personal tournament where he always gets his way, his opponents have to travel thousands of miles while he just has to relax. Ward is surely practicing his famous headbutt!