John Conteh vs. Andre Ward

[TED 822]

The Conteh of the 2nd Saad fight was gone,I think.He pulled out a great performance in the first and nearly won,but had showed serious decline a good while before that.For me at his peak before during and just after Ahumada.Great fighter which IMO itd take to beat Ward,wholl be an all time great.

[Mr Butt]

Well conteh wins this by ud and of course the fight being held in America as ward won't fight big fights outside the comfort zone is a good win for conteh

[glue glove]

Originally Posted by IntentionalButt

I mean, Conteh was very good. I've got no sort of nationalistic or nostalgic attachment to him whatsoever and recognize that he'd be more difficult than anyone Ward has yet seen. (or is like to at 168 or 175, among those active)

Nobody on either side of the fence should be viewing this as a piece of piss.

I understand what you mean.

It is difficult, but I do feel most go with the past fighters as its the easier option.

[Strongback]

Originally Posted by TED 822

The Conteh of the 2nd Saad fight was gone,I think.He pulled out a great performance in the first and nearly won,but had showed serious decline a good while before that.For me at his peak before during and just after Ahumada.Great fighter which IMO itd take to beat Ward,wholl be an all time great.

Conteh fought like a drunk man that night............'he was rolled like a bum on the street.'


On the Conteh v Ward match up it's hard to to really estimate how good Ward is because he has handled everything put in front of him fairly comfortably. He's so fucking elusive I think Conteh would find him an enigma wrapped up in a riddle. I could see Ward fighting conservatively and taking a decision.

[TED 822]

Originally Posted by Strongback

Conteh fought like a drunk man that night............'he was rolled like a bum on the street.'


On the Conteh v Ward match up it's hard to to really estimate how good Ward is because he has handled everything put in front of him fairly comfortably. He's so fucking elusive I think Conteh would find him an enigma wrapped up in a riddle. I could see Ward fighting conservatively and taking a decision.

Wouldnt argue with that Strongback.I think the fact that he handled both Froch and Kessler fairly easily makes him a really excellent fighter.Regarding lightheavy,if Dawson hadnt come down in weight the win would have been even better.But I saw Conteh clearly outpoint a decent British heavy in Les Stevens who I think drew with Jimmy Young,in his pre decline days.Conteh a bigger man than Ward,making it a great fantasy match IMO.

[lora]

Conteh would have put horrible beatings on Froch and Kessler too, probably two stoppages of some kind.His offensive ability, size, significantly better power and overall athleticism would be awfully tough for a smaller less physically impressive cutie like Ward to get past.that Napoles headmovement and left-hand counterpunching from the outside..very tough to overcome for a smaller man that likes to dictate pace and range in a patient methodical and technical manner.

Contreh might have also been one of the better headbutters in the ring since fullmer...dubious distinction that it may be.He was vicious as Gomez or Duran in there and cut and roughed up so many fighters even when just briefly taking things up close.Ward would get his eyes busted up no doubt, if he tried the subtle fouling stuff he can tend towards.

[AndyPaterson]

Originally Posted by dftaylor

When Conteh was on the slide?

doesn't matter if he was on the slide or not imo, Ward is that good he would have forced the stoppage.

[dftaylor]

Originally Posted by AndyPaterson

doesn't matter if he was on the slide or not imo, Ward is that good he would have forced the stoppage.

It's a just a strange point. You pick Conteh when he was largely washed up to get stopped by the Ward we're currently seeing in his physical prime. The prime Conteh would have way too much versatility for Ward.

Ward, much of a talent as he clearly is, is favoured by guys who lack the tools to compete with him. Conteh was a fabulous fighter - he could fight at pace, he could box, he could slug, he could play it cute and he could switch up during a round.

Ward can do that too, but hasn't shown it at the same level Conteh did, or with the same fluidity.

[El Bujia]

Originally Posted by AndyPaterson

doesn't matter if he was on the slide or not imo, Ward is that good he would have forced the stoppage.

Apart from the Dawson anomaly, Ward has never stopped a good fighter, and Conteh was far superior to anyone he's ever faced.

[Lilo]

Fucks sake.

Ward hasn't even fought at 175 yet

Conteh would be the biggest, strongest, most skilled fighter Ward has faced.

Conteh KO.

[widdy]

Originally Posted by Lilo

Fucks sake.

Ward hasn't even fought at 175 yet

Conteh would be the biggest, strongest, most skilled fighter Ward has faced.

Conteh KO.

Wards good but just not that good. Prob the best about at this time,but no where near the best in the SM lifespan

[Farmboxer]

Conteh by stoppage, but Ward will only fight in his hometown, with his own personal referee and judges.................

[IntentionalButt]

It's funny, nobody seems to feel it'll be terribly close regardless of who they're picking - yet the poll is deadlocked. (sixteen apiece)

Personally, I think it wouldn't be more than a two point margin either way and thus far am the only person to (cop out and ) vote draw.

[Lilo]

Which knobhead voted Ward stoppage

[IntentionalButt]

Originally Posted by Lilo

Which knobhead voted Ward stoppage

"AndyPaterson"

I would respectfully point out that you're in a minority yourself picking Conteh by stoppage...

Ward got noticeably hurt once, eight years ago, while still a green novice - yes, by a journeyman, but a top-shelf journeyman who's made a regular habit of giving unbeaten youngsters a hard night. (and by whom Adonis Stevenson was KTFO).

Since then his punch resistance and poise have proven immaculate.