In a fair fight with an honest referee Golovkin would KO Andre Ward

[powerpuncher]

There actually was a rule against under the original MoQ rules but that was left out when the rules for pro boxing were adapted from them. With respect to fighters clinching and using it as a way to smother offense, its a smart tactic to outsmart your opponents who may be blessed with more offensive ability. At the same time, it defeats the whole purpose of people tuning into watch a fight. I would have less issues if you clinched and spun a person and released and then attacked. Conversely I wouldn't have an objection to a Muay Thai like tactics of throwing a person down if they excessively held you.

As for ward on the Headbutts, i don't think any fighter openly admits to using their head but you can tell a fighter that follows through with their head offensively. Unfortunately, the risk is not the same for both fighters. In a fight where brow on brow forehead on forehead or cheekbone on cheekbone contact is made, the risk is the same and Its fairly safe to say that its an accident. For fighters like ward, bradley and holyfield who have been accused of cutting fighters on occasion, there needs to be a distinction made by the referee than lowering your head (Using the top, side, or upper forehead are the striking surface) into an opponent (brows, cheekbone, bride of nose or other areas where the skin is thinner and stretched raised features of the face) will not be tolerated. Either start docking them early if they initiated a butt or simply remove the possibility for them to win on the cards if the fights stopped early due to a cut. It opens the door for their opponents to pull the old "i cant see" routine and get a no contest in a fight they were losing but would keep the accidentally on purpose follow through with their melons...

I can't wait for the days when those that only appreciate face first boxing stop telling everyone else what is enjoyable

agreed

[Rantcatrat]

This is a ridiculous thread. GGG hasn't defeated anyone near the quality of Ward, let alone even fought in Ward's weight class. Seriously, he hasn't even unified the titles at 160 yet. How can anyone with a straight face contend that GGG could beat Ward? I'm a fan of the guy and I can't. Let's see GGG get his defense against Rubio in and then move up in weight for a fight with Junior, Froch or Kessler first. If he beats one or more of them, at least then we can better gauge where he's at. Until then, come on, give it up, especially, when Abel Sanchez has outright said that they're willing to face Froch or Junior but not Ward because the risk isn't worth the reward, indicating at least implicitly that Sanchez views Ward as on a whole different level.

[zhubin]

This is a ridiculous thread. GGG hasn't defeated anyone near the quality of Ward, let alone even fought in Ward's weight class. Seriously, he hasn't even unified the titles at 160 yet. How can anyone with a straight face contend that GGG could beat Ward? I'm a fan of the guy and I can't. Let's see GGG get his defense against Rubio in and then move up in weight for a fight with Junior, Froch or Kessler first. If he beats one or more of them, at least then we can better gauge where he's at. Until then, come on, give it up, especially, when Abel Sanchez has outright said that they're willing to face Froch or Junior but not Ward because the risk isn't worth the reward, indicating at least implicitly that Sanchez views Ward as on a whole different level.

Finally! A person with common sense! Love or hate Ward...he is the bigger and more skilled fighter. GGG would NEVER fight Ward at 168. If this fight ever happened, and it's a big IF, they would try to bring Ward down. GGG has not faced anyone even remotely as good as Ward at his own weight class...but he is going to KO one of the top 3 p4p fighters in the game?! People need to stop drinking the cool aid.