Andre Ward won a decisive victory over Mikkel Kessler in round 1 of Showtime’s Super Six tournament.
Although it’s great to see a talented American fighter rise to the level of Champion, his fighting style is the sort that will drive boxing even further out of the mainstream. Unless referees (and boxing’s sanctioning organizations) penalize fighters who use Ward’s tactics, boxing will die.
Andre Ward’s boxing game plan
“I’m not a dirty fighter” — Andre Ward
Ward’s gameplan consists of throwing a power shot, then diving in head-first and clinching. Although effective, this style is not classic boxing. It is dangerous, un-sustainable, and damaging to the sport. Andre Ward seems to have the mistaken assumption that, simply because he doesn’t set out to butt heads, his style is acceptable.
Mikkel Kessler suffered 5 (!) cuts from headbutts in this fight. This is inexcusable.
Headbutts during boxing matches make the sport unsustainable
Even mixed martial arts — led by the UFC — has taken steps to make headbutts illegal. They’re not concerned with a bit of blood; what they understand is something boxers have known all along: if you don’t prevent headbutts, the sport becomes unsustainable. No fighter can last after being butted repeatedly. Careers depend on this truism.
We saw the same sort of style in the Holyfield/Tyson fight. Iron Mike got so angry he bit off part of Evander’s ear. Do we blame Tyson for his savagery and absolve Holyfield of his underhanded attempts to prematurely stop the fight with a butt and win on points? What sort of sport is it if we do?
Until boxers are discouraged from using the headbutting style, boxing will suffer
Boxing has a problem.
I don’t know what the solution to this problem is, but until it is fixed decisively by the action of the sanctioning organizations, it will only get worse.
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