Too soon to judge Ward.

[kosaros]

Originally Posted by dan-b

I know some people get upset about this, but Dirrell faked against AA and nothing will convince me otherwise. I really hope he gets sparked for real in his next fight, if for nothing other than having a gay, 80s AIDS victim moustache.

Did Dirrell piss you off last night when he said something along the lines of "I don't know if I have fully recovered yet (from the Abraham punch)"?

[Will]

Originally Posted by Beeston Brawler

If you watch the previews on Primetime the promoters are sat round a table and Gary Shaw threatens to pull Dirrell out of the tourney if there are any further mentions of it being a controversy.

If it wasn't a controversy, then what the hell was it?

He was being paranoid about the whole fake thing. Total over-reaction. He is a one man comedy show. Love watching the guy!!!

[Will]

Originally Posted by kosaros

Did Dirrell piss you off last night when he said something along the lines of "I don't know if I have fully recovered yet (from the Abraham punch)"?

Mentally he probably hasn't.

It appears the concept of getting punched is new to him.

[dan-b]

Originally Posted by kosaros

Did Dirrell piss you off last night when he said something along the lines of "I don't know if I have fully recovered yet (from the Abraham punch)"?

I was too busy cringing to hear him say that.

[dftaylor]

I think Ward and Dirrell are two sides of the same coin. Dirrell's the more athletically gifted plus a complete dick, and Ward's the better technician and comes across as a classy guy who takes everyone he faces seriously.

I think Ward's a superb talent. We'll see after the Dirrell fight just how good Ward is, because Dirrell will match him for speed and movement. But I think he'll beat him impressively.

[brucebufershair]

I like Ward he's a good thinking fighter uch like Bradley he seems to get better and show a little more each time you see him . I really hopes he beats Dirrell who is number one on my hate list at the moment

[robpalmer135]

if Ward wins the tournament surely he goes down as the best career SMW of all time??

[jordan1]

You can tell Ward love's what he is doing and I don't see any one beating him soon because he know's his craft to well.

[kosaros]

Originally Posted by robpalmer135

if Ward wins the tournament surely he goes down as the best career SMW of all time??

Way too early to tell.

[dftaylor]

I'm not sure about that, Rob. He'll be well regarded certainly, but I expect he'll move to 175 once the tournament's over.

[Will]

Originally Posted by robpalmer135

if Ward wins the tournament surely he goes down as the best career SMW of all time??

I'm sure I'll get some stick due to my Avatar but I don't see that at all.

He could conceivably lose to dirrell and then win his next two (possibly without avenging the defeat) and win the title. He still won't have unified more than two of the title's and taken on all the top challengers.

Way too early to tell. And to be honest all I've seen him do in the first two fights is maul against two fighters that didn't wan't to be mauled.

Like I said in the title. Too soon to judge IMO.

[dftaylor]

He's very reminiscent of Hopkins is the truth of it, along with all that entails. If Hopkins hadn't had such longevity, no one would give a hoot about him. His style was, by and by, tedious beyond all measure.

Good to watch in retrospect, like poison live. I've already got painful memories from Hopkins-Wright, and Ward-Green is up there for tedium. Ward did what he had to do, never got out of his own comfort zone and Green never really did anything.

Ward-Dirrell is liable to be 12 rounds of alternating keep away and inside mauling. Here's hoping Froch makes it through to the semis somehow (I expect Dirrell will lose to Ward), since his rough-housing's likely to cause Ward more issues, along with the fact he can fight better on the inside than Green.

[TFFP]

I think Dirrell is more likely to cause him problems. If anybodys going to land on Ward its going to be Dirrell, and if anybodys faster its Dirrell. Dirrell can use those factors to try and pepper Ward a bit and make Ward have to be the aggressor which he is not accustomed to.

Froch is simply way too much of a plodder, way too predictable and easy to see coming with his punches. He simply is not going to land a punch so its impossible to think he could win IMO.

[Will]

Originally Posted by TFFP

I think Dirrell is more likely to cause him problems. If anybodys going to land on Ward its going to be Dirrell, and if anybodys faster its Dirrell. Dirrell can use those factors to try and pepper Ward a bit and make Ward have to be the aggressor which he is not accustomed to.

Froch is simply way too much of a plodder, way too predictable and easy to see coming with his punches. He simply is not going to land a punch so its impossible to think he could win IMO.

Unless obviously if he were to try and fight an inside fight against Froch.

On the outside I think it would be tough for Froch. But as always right him off at your peril.