That was a truly dreadful stoppage. Manfredo was a lousy opponent picked simply for his US name recognition, not his credentials.
Can you imagine if that fight was a genuinely meaningful fight and it got stopped like that? I don't blame any Americans for refusing to come over here to be honest.
Would be a great fight and Ward looked class on Saturday. However, he was able to spend a lot of time dominating on the inside in pushing Froch back seemingly at will as he was so sluggish in gettng any leverage on the inisde or outside. Trying to tie up Calzaghe on the inside is a different matter altogether. One slight worry for Ward was that even though he dictated the pace of the fight and took minimal punishment, he still looked gassed in the last couple of rounds. He would be fighting at a higher pace than he's ever fought at against Calzaghe and would not be spending 12 rounds dictating it and getting the breathers he had against Froch
Calzaghe by mile, never given the respect he deserves. What makes me laugh is I had money on ward by decision against froch it was obvious, yet when he wins people say oh he is next mayweather, get real he is good but by no means great, calzaghe would of taken him apart.
I think it's better on GIF than on video. It's slow enough to see O'Connor's facial expressions and then the spastic waving of the arms..... the fat rippling..... The brown envelope going into his back pocket :hey
Calzaghe UD. Ward nullifies him early and Joe comes on late. Calzages foot positioning makes him much harder to read than any of the straight up guys Wars has faced. Awkward on purpose, not out of poor placement like Frochy. Also, quick, adaptable and an incredible workrate. Great fight!
i think ward wins it with cleaner punching and that quick backstep he has, he'd never be in range for more than a jab imo. also what would calzaghe do if Ward just stepped into his chest and refused to leave it? Without a sympathetic ref i dont think he would have an answer for it