Will the American officials be fair to Kovalev when he fights Ward?

[BAD INTENTIONS]

What inferiority complex. The dirty spoiler will be smashed next week. No doubts about that.

I'm gonna feel bad for some of you if Kovalev loses.

If he gets dominated ...

[caldo2025]

Blaming the ref before the fight even happens? Sounds like some are having second thoughts about how good the Krusher is? Pathetic.

You do have to admit that the ref is going to be very important in this fight though right? If the ref lets them fight out of the clinch without breaking them up then Ward has a huge advantage. If the ref is strict about Ward holding with warnings and possible point infractions then it's a huge advantage for Kovalev because that will give him the space he needs to land on Ward.

The ref is the key in this one as we could have two very different outcomes depending upon how they call it.

As far as I know Ward has not been penalized for fouling with many, many different refs. Kovalev needs a game plan to counter tying up, if he expects it, or cutting off the ring if he expects Ward to run. Don't blame the ref for your inability to adjust, especially when you know what is coming. Both Ward and Kovalev know that winning the fight is in their hands, no one else. Making excuses about refs before the fight happens is pretty lame. Might as well say it will be the judge's fault too, before hand.

I should also add that if Kovalev wins, they picked the perfect ref and judges, correct? Or just maybe he won because he was more skilled, etc?

I think you minimize the the importance of the third man in the ring. A prime example is the difference between Floyd/Maidana I and II. In the first fight they were allowed to fight out of the clinch and the ref let the action happen. In the second, it was criminal how Baylis wouldn't even allow in fighting of any kind. Hence, a Floyd blowout.

I think that we've got a 55/45 or 60/40 fight here so it's extremely tight. Everything matters when you have a fight this closely contested and the smallest things could end up figuring into the final outcome. But the ref and the judging are NOT small things. I wonder what a real boxer would say to you after that comment.

[Badhusker]

You do have to admit that the ref is going to be very important in this fight though right? If the ref lets them fight out of the clinch without breaking them up then Ward has a huge advantage. If the ref is strict about Ward holding with warnings and possible point infractions then it's a huge advantage for Kovalev because that will give him the space he needs to land on Ward.

The ref is the key in this one as we could have two very different outcomes depending upon how they call it.

As far as I know Ward has not been penalized for fouling with many, many different refs. Kovalev needs a game plan to counter tying up, if he expects it, or cutting off the ring if he expects Ward to run. Don't blame the ref for your inability to adjust, especially when you know what is coming. Both Ward and Kovalev know that winning the fight is in their hands, no one else. Making excuses about refs before the fight happens is pretty lame. Might as well say it will be the judge's fault too, before hand.

I should also add that if Kovalev wins, they picked the perfect ref and judges, correct? Or just maybe he won because he was more skilled, etc?

I think you minimize the the importance of the third man in the ring. A prime example is the difference between Floyd/Maidana I and II. In the first fight they were allowed to fight out of the clinch and the ref let the action happen. In the second, it was criminal how Baylis wouldn't even allow in fighting of any kind. Hence, a Floyd blowout.

I think that we've got a 55/45 or 60/40 fight here so it's extremely tight. Everything matters when you have a fight this closely contested and the smallest things could end up figuring into the final outcome. But the ref and the judging are NOT small things. I wonder what a real boxer would say to you after that comment.

The ref can be important, but also must do his job. I hope they call headbutts if there are any. You mention the Floyd/Maidana fights...The first was horrible reffing, allowing Maidana to get away with foul after foul. Bayless was the other extreme because it is supposed to be a boxing match not MMA or wrestling. Maidana had no chance in a regular boxing match, and it showed.

[TheGman]

Its simple,kovalev has to knock ward out,not many ppl put hopkins down clean but he did

[Enlightened-One]

"Kovalev-Ward: Nevada State Athletic Commission Set Officials"

“The three judges selected to score Kovalev-Ward are Reno, Nevada’s Burt Clements, New York’s John McKaie and Las Vegas’ Glenn Trowbridge.”

Burt Clements was the judge that deprived Manny Pacquiao a well deserved victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004 when he incorrectly scored the 1st round 10-7 to the Filipino, when in fact the three knockdowns should have resulted in a 10-6 scoreline.

John McKaie was criticised for his scoring of the Cotto-Clottey bout, as he strongly favoured the Puerto Rican when many fight fans believed the result should have been razor thin with only a point splitting the two combatants.

Glenn Trowbridge was aggressively criticised for his scoring of the third Pacquiao-Marquez bout, which he awarded in favour of the Filipino by a 116-112 margin, when many believed the Mexican deserved to gain the nod.

The venue, the referee, the title challenger and the judges are all from US soil. Only the world champion is not from American shores.

[Jip]

i think there will be no doubt wo won the fight. either ward by clear ud or kovalev by late rd tko

[Badhusker]

Is it ok if I blame the judges and ref if Ward loses?

[Freedom2013]

What a fraud you are. After all that trash talk you actually pick Ward to win? Quit trolling.

I waited until the officials were announced to make my pick, they will play a crucial role in this fight. In a fair fight, Kovalev wins. But we'll have Robert Bryd as referee and 3 American judges.

Robert Byrd thought Bernard Hopkins did this by accident.

[Badhusker]

What a fraud you are. After all that trash talk you actually pick Ward to win? Quit trolling.

I waited until the officials were announced to make my pick, they will play a crucial role in this fight. In a fair fight, Kovalev wins. But we'll have Robert Bryd as referee and 3 American judges.

Robert Byrd thought Bernard Hopkins did this by accident.

If I heard someone complain that the ref is white and could possibly be prejudiced against black guys, I would consider it equally as stupid. Kovalev, by the way, is a United States Citizen, and has been for two years now. Where his roots are doesn't matter. Many, many boxers have roots in other countries, but when you fight in the U.S., you should expect officials from the U.S. If you don't like it, don't fight here. There is no room for racism or equally unfounded dumbass claims based on what nationality a boxer is.

As far as Ward and Kovalev go, the fight is in their hands, and I sincerely doubt the ref will be a huge factor, or all the judges are paid off.

[boxing_rocks]

The judges will not be paid off, but they still can be biased. Look at the animosity after the US elections. Both sides are US citizens, but it doesn't prevent hate. Anti-Russian propaganda machine has been running for a while, so one or few of these judges will likely be biased.

P.S. I am not sure if Kovalev got the US citizenship, but he definitely kept his Russian citizenship.

[boxing_rocks]

From the ref. Sounds promising.

https://twitter.com/RobertByrdRef/statu ... 7572413440

[Freedom2013]

Jack Reiss should have been stopped from working fights after that.

https://twitter.com/Brenmc83/status/798625486528126976

[diddy]

What a fraud you are. After all that trash talk you actually pick Ward to win? Quit trolling.

I waited until the officials were announced to make my pick, they will play a crucial role in this fight. In a fair fight, Kovalev wins. But we'll have Robert Bryd as referee and 3 American judges.

Robert Byrd thought Bernard Hopkins did this by accident.

You can't spell Freedom without an F. You can't spell Fraud without it either.

You're a fraud.

[Freedom2013]

You can't spell Freedom without an F. You can't spell Fraud without it either.

You're a fraud.

No, I'm a boxing fan who want to see FAIR and HONEST officiating.

Check the poll result in this thread.

[Badhusker]

Kovalev's promoter has no problem with the officials for the fight.

[boxing_rocks]

Kovalev's promoter has no problem with the officials for the fight.

That wouldn't be the first time Duva screwed up.

[Badhusker]

Kovalev's promoter has no problem with the officials for the fight.

That wouldn't be the first time Duva screwed up.

[world ranked]

I just hope someone gets knockedout so there's no excuses either way. People making excuses and the fight hasn't even happened yet.

[Boris Spassky]

Is Andre Ward a dirty fighter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1R8e0Ynrms

[Freedom2013]

Is Andre Ward a dirty fighter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1R8e0Ynrms

Good video.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Hilarious some of you dainties bawling about Freedom asking a legit question of whether Kovalev gets fair officiating in a dirty American boxing jurisdiction. We saw the derelict 114-113 card by Moretti in the Pac/Vargas bout with Manny downing Vargas 4x, yet only 1 KD issued by Bayless, just one of uncounted thousands of crooked officiating that boxing is infamous for. See the idiotic Ortiz/Scott referee as yet another example, just pitiable.

As far as Byrd goes, Pumpkin on record bragging loud and proud about butting Winky open Philly style afterwards. I'd be more worried about Byrd's fragile health in with two strong, healthy fighters for this fight though given recent undisclosed medical problems. He prematurely busted up the Ortiz/Kayode fight to leap into an exchange with only 5 sec left in the first round, a clear failure of judgement and double damned by being married to a deplorable judge, Adelaide Byrd, who ought to be officiating track meets, not boxing.

Obviously 51% here think Wardy dearest cheats with every ugly foul he can throw up with only 14% thinking Kovalev gets a fair shake. He was the only hometown fighter in the super 6 international tourney where everyone else took a loss away from home. God birthed him in an Oakland manger so he could tell his only ugly Son it was his constitutional, divine right to butt, elbow, and low blow his way to win that tourney at home. His Holy thanks to the late Goosen for making that sweet arrangement was a knife in his dying back.

Kovalev a very dangerous modern international type fighter, so this farce likely to turn ugly since Wardy ain't never been whacked like this before. Been more interested in expanding his Imelda Marcos shoe collection than fighting a legit contender in his division the past 4 years. I say he no longer wants to fight and rolls over this time in yet another stinker. We'll see soon enough.

[Freedom2013]

- Hilarious some of you dainties bawling about Freedom asking a legit question of whether Kovalev gets fair officiating in a dirty American boxing jurisdiction. We saw the derelict 114-113 card by Moretti in the Pac/Vargas bout with Manny downing Vargas 4x, yet only 1 KD issued by Bayless, just one of uncounted thousands of crooked officiating that boxing is infamous for. See the idiotic Ortiz/Scott referee as yet another example, just pitiable.

As far as Byrd goes, Pumpkin on record bragging loud and proud about butting Winky open Philly style afterwards. I'd be more worried about Byrd's fragile health in with two strong, healthy fighters for this fight though given recent undisclosed medical problems. He prematurely busted up the Ortiz/Kayode fight to leap into an exchange with only 5 sec left in the first round, a clear failure of judgement and double damned by being married to a deplorable judge, Adelaide Byrd, who ought to be officiating track meets, not boxing.

Obviously 51% here think Wardy dearest cheats with every ugly foul he can throw up with only 14% thinking Kovalev gets a fair shake. He was the only hometown fighter in the super 6 international tourney where everyone else took a loss away from home. God birthed him in an Oakland manger so he could tell his only ugly Son it was his constitutional, divine right to butt, elbow, and low blow his way to win that tourney at home. His Holy thanks to the late Goosen for making that sweet arrangement was a knife in his dying back.

Kovalev a very dangerous modern international type fighter, so this farce likely to turn ugly since Wardy ain't never been whacked like this before. Been more interested in expanding his Imelda Marcos shoe collection than fighting a legit contender in his division the past 4 years. I say he no longer wants to fight and rolls over this time in yet another stinker. We'll see soon enough.

Excellent post!

[Best Coast]

BOTTOM LINE: Kovalev will get a fairer shake in Vegas than Ward would get if he was fighting Kovalev in Russia!!

[boxing_rocks]

BOTTOM LINE: Kovalev will get a fairer shake in Vegas than Ward would get if he was fighting Kovalev in Russia!!

... and that is based on what ? Beside Chagaev's fights, what evidence of bad scoring or other wrongdoing in Russia do you have?

[diddy]

This guy is seriously trying to convince there's no evidence of Russia being as corrupt as it gets? I've officially seen it all now. This dude probably also believes in flying dragons and unicorns. From an athletics perspective Russia is basically run by the mafia. The doping spectacle from this year's Olympics was just another drop in the bucket.