Can anyone devise a plan for Kovalev or any future face opponent to combat his ridiculously excessive hugging??
Ahhw, you wanna cry some? Or you already dried out the well? There's nothing left to shed? You guys are the same folks who spent a decade complaining about Wladimir Klitschko hugging and holding and fouling every round of every fight, now have fun spending the rest of your life resenting Andre Ward for the same thing. I love Wladimir. I don't like Ward as a dude due to his god-spewing, but I respect him especially because many fans disproportionately whine about him on sites like this. They both box how they box. It is what it is. Muhammad Ali held, pushed, hit and held, and fouled a tremendous amount. Tim Bradley headbutts a ton too. If you watch enough boxing or partake, you may one day understand both how and why, and maybe even come around.
In respect ward for what he has accomplished, but I enjoy watching wlad more, at least you know an the end of the long tunnel there is a possibly a big knock out coming
I've always thought the shoulder roll would work well against a fighter that likes to initiate the clinch. It's hard to clinch when you create that shoulder barrier with the shoulder roll. Early on Kova was using his forearm to control Ward, pushing him away or when Ward tried to come under his left he'd use his forearm to push down on Ward preventing the clinch. But Ward switched things around. Instead of trying to come under Kova's left hand he started using more lateral movement and coming in on Kova's right side so Kova couldn't use his left arm to lever him off him. Ward was then able to find himself inside the left arm of Kova, so Kova's left arm could not longer be used to control Ward's head. Ward also started coming in sometimes when Kova's had his left arm low so he could pin it to the side of his body with his body, once again taking away Kova's left arm. Whoever faces Ward needs ensure they can create a barrier to prevent the clinch, either with the left arm or with a shoulder. Keep the left hand high, to prevent it being pinned to the body, keep Ward to the left to ensure you can roll the shoulder the block him from coming in to clinch. This is easier said than done of course as most fighters will want to try and move Ward onto the right which gives Ward chances to come in.
This content is protected Look at this crap! How on earth are you expected to punch when all sleepy face wants to do is avoid fighting. He's perfected the art of not fighting.
