The Home Depot Center’s tennis stadium in Carson has been the venue to a handful of entertaining and memorable boxing bouts in the last few years.
On July 14, 2007, Paul Williams made himself a house hold name within the sport by taking a hard fought unanimous decision from hometown Mexican hero Antonio Margarito.
Israel Vazquez and Rafael Vazquez fought two of their first three wars at the tennis stadium which seats about 2,000 fans, and those spectators present will never forget the pairs all or nothing performances.
Now on Saturday night, American super middleweight Andre Ward needs to make a statement against Arthur Abraham in the semi-finals of Showtime’s Super Middleweight tournament.
Ward brings an undefeated record into the ring, sitting pretty at 23-0, 13 KOs, during his last three fights, two being official tournament fights, the former Olympic medalist has displayed a boxing style dominated by holding his opponents.
In fights against Mikkel Kesler, Saiko Bika, and Allan Green, Ward has made a point to cruise to victory by punching his opponent and then tying him up inside to make sure they cannot counter with their own blows. Advertisement
This sort of strategy may be effective, but it kills the excitement a give and take boxing fight can provide, and if we take the time to look at Marcus of Queensbury boxing regulation created in 1865, Ward’s holding is illegal within the context of professional boxing.
“Rule #2 – No wrestling or hugging (clinching) allowed”
Ward, any many other modern boxers such as John Ruiz, Andre Berto, and Bernard Hopkins, have all ignored this rule, and even more importantly, the vast majority if referees has ignored it as well.
If Ward wants to breath life into his career, the Showtime tournament, and American boxing, he needs to abandon his propensity to hold and hug, and instead come out fighting – looking to create excitement with his elite athletic ability against Abraham..
