Andre Ward vs Sullivan Barrera - Video Preview & Prediction

Let me know.

:smoke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e033d5kfVY
[yt]8e033d5kfVY[/yt]

 

Well, I guess we'll find out which one of us who DKSAB knows just a touch more than the other.

:good

I was serious in saying that, the first half of 2016, this is the fight I'm most interested in seeing that's scheduled so far (at least that I'm aware of, that's scheduled).

Can't wait!

:smoke

 

Thanks Robney. And yeah, I definitely think Ward staying close, Green style is one way that Ward will use in attempting to neutralize the jab. But I think there are a few other things he can do in conjunction with that, which could make it tricky for Barrera. I think he will play the game of varying ranges, where he often winds up close-up tight, but where he's sometimes side stepping from the outside, with lunging attacks and the occasional firing from outside when he can turn Barrera out of position.

What interests me most, as far as my prediction goes, is whether Ward has the speed advantage of hand and foot that I believe he has going into this. If I'm right, and Ward does have a clear advantage in these areas, I do think Ward may do a number on Barrera.

But Barrera reminds me of Golota (prime) in the sense that I think he has deceptively quick hands. He's also good at varying the speed, angle, and power on his delivery. So I concede that gap in that area could be closer than I'm anticipating.

It certainly was when I made my Floyd-Pac prediction!

:smoke

 

Thanks! :thumbsup

And yeah, the first few rounds should be interesting.

I remember after the Bika fight, when asked about the major adjustments he made in that one, Ward admitted that it took him around 6 or so rounds to adjust to Bika, and in my mind, Bika gave Ward the toughest fight he had since the start of the Super 6.

In some way Bika may have been a bit trickier to figure out, but I still think Barrera is probably more talented than Bika, and certainly bigger.

Will be interesting to see what approaches Ward uses, and what adjustments and counter adjustments he needs to make during the course of this one.

:smoke

 

How many from that list are officially scheduled?

 

I know this is a common talking point these days, and it may well be true.

But I, for one, remain unconvinced that Ward could no longer have made 175. That will likely change, and is changing now, as he's now decided to dive in to 175 with both feet.

However, if someone like Golovkin had ever expressed an eagerness to move up and challenge himself, I imagine Ward would have hung around 168, and I don't think he'd have had too many problems doing that, based on some interviews I'd heard at the time involving Virgil.

And additionally, for what it's worth, I was under the impression that Ward was frequently outweighed by as much as 10 pounds during some of the later spells of his amateur career.