Referee: From the US, English speaking. Judge 1: From the US, English speaking. Judge 2: From South Africa, Commonwealth country, black English-speaking referee in need of money. against; Judge 3: From Sweden.
The rules are clear. The referee HAS TO be from neutral territory. Each fighter has ONE local judge - and the final judge must be from neutral territory. ___________ Why is Ward the ONLY one in the whole tournament with no away fight? Why is Ward the only one who can have a local referee?
Stanley Christodoulou (the South African judge) is NOT black, for the record. do we know the names of the other two judges and the ref yet? I haven't seen any names other than Christodoulou.
I think it is unprecedented in boxing history that a long time world champion has to go to the challengers backyard - and the referee is from the challenger's state. This reeks of bull**** and corruption.
Dude. It is not Kessler's style to go for the KO. In the one fight where he did (after round 5 or so in the Calzaghe fight) he made it much easier for Calzaghe. Kessler then has to load up and that reduces his speed and his output. This fight WILL 100% go the distance. Therefore the judges are everything.
How about Klitschko-Arreola for starters? Or Mayweather-Judah? Or pretty much every other title fight where the titlist has gone to California for the fight, or any other title fight where the challenger lives in Vegas and the fight is in Vegas. California state law requires a California licensed ref, just like Nevada law requires a Nevada licensed ref. The only way to stay licensed is to do a fight whenever the commission asks. That means that the majority of California refs live in California and the majority of Nevada refs live in Nevada.
True. However, Ward-Kessler is very likely to be close. We all know Vitaly-Arreola wasn't going to be close. It will be interesting for the next two fights Ward has at home. Will they also have Californian referees? I think Ward should be forced to go away in the remaining two fights - or at the very least not fight in California. With those third world corruption rules fights should not take place in California.
You should change the face on your Avatar and put Ward face! He will run all fight long! and Americans fans will call it Elusive and Slick!:huh
Let's hope not. We have a chance to get boxing more popular again. We cannot afford another Dirrell circus.
