Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

Heard today that Rob McCracken had a few of the British Lionheart WSB team in during the week running the rule over them, also gave them a look at Carl Froch's camp

Irish and European Light Heavyweight champ got 3 rounds of sparring with Carl and also 3 with Bellew.

Ward who only turned 19 gave Bellew a real go in sparring and dropped him with a real peach of a right hand. McCracken has described him as a beast :lol:

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

i wouldnt be surprised if true, Joe Ward is future world champion material, without a doubt.

he's only 19, maybe 20 now though ,and he is as strong as an ox. He has absolutely schooled and man handled Kenny Egan (Bejing silver medalist) the last two times they've fought in the irish senior finals. Im actually surprised he didnt go pro after he didnt make the London olympics

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

Sparing stories are great, never usually true though. Who is your source?

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

So is he British or what?

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

My source was there, i'd never even heard of Ward to be honest with you, I got the low down on him afterwards.

Apparently this guy is going to be fighting in the WSB and was due to be fighting in the olympics this summer but missed out.

Was very lively in the gym apparently, Bellew was not impressed and didn't take it like a man either, challenged him to go out to the car park afterwards aswell after, classy bit of stuff :shock:

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

One of the non Brits chosen to represent British Lionhearts WSB team. There was some Swedish guy there aswell who is apparently on the team too but can't recall his name.

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

I think they mostly are true actually :good

BUT, it would still be a VERY different scenario if Bellew stepped in the ring for a pro fight with this kid.

In sparring, you DO hold back a bit, but the young cubs less so. So while Bellew was maybe going for it at 25% this young kid was trying to land with 110%ers.

Fair enough Bellew was dropped.

In the ring when man and boy went at it, I absolutely KNOW who my money would be on :yep

Sparring isn't fabrication. But you can't replicate the real thing and some people react differently.

Audley with headgear on is by all accounts a World Beater. Take it off though and we all know what happens :patsch

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

Joe Ward is the irish lhw amateur champion for the past 2 years, and finalist for the year before that, when barely 17 if my memory serves me right.

world junior champion, european junior champion. He was blatantly robbed and denied a place at the london olympics when he lost in turkey, to a turk no less in the final qualifier. He was ranked number 1 in the world at lhw as well

he fights like a pro, is built like a brick shit house. Ive seen him box a few time here in Ireland, and as i said earlier, i was actually shocked Eddie Hearn didnt try and sign him after he didnt make our olympic squad.

i even tweeted Eddie Hearn about him the night he was "beaten" by the turk to deny him a place in the olympics.

i know his uncle, and if im not mistaken, he's actually a cousin, or second cousin, of Martin Ward that recently debuted on a recent Matchroom card.

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

Thats very true

Just thought it was quite funny, apparently he went easy on the kid but then saw the kid was tough (apparently has won numerous world titles at junior and youth level, also won his first ever international senior title-european champ at light heavyweight) and stepped it up a gear but got his ass handed to him, kid had serious power and boxed the head off Bellew. He didn't behave in a good way afterwards either, mouthing off at McCracken for blindsiding him with a kid.

McCracken was bewildered himself, had no idea the kid had those kind of skills in his locker. One to watch id say!

Bellew is in action soon enough too isn't he? or would it be a case of a fighter being rusty?

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

Is he black..?

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

i find it hard to believe neither bellew nor mccracken didn't know of joe ward, everyone here is well aware of his talents, he's one of the best prospects in the game worldwide imo

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

hes an irish traveller

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

Great post.

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

ha ha ha, a black pikey,

now that would be a sight :rofl:rofl

Re: Bellew dropped by an amateur in sparring
 

not sure Bellew did, of course McCracken knew who he was

I meant the manner of it bewildered him, an amateur out of competition gave a drubbing to a pro who was deep in training and wasn't exactly holding back himself. I think McCracken was expecting a leisurly spar for the both of them, giving the kid a taste of what to expect against Britains best pro in his division.

And for what its worth i'm a big Bellew fan, great bloke and really good fighter