Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera RBR

:good

 

Yup. Roy was correct. Barrera lacks the balance, footwork, and boxing ability. The upper tier Cuban boxers usually have at least two of the three.

There isn't a light heavyweight around today that would beat Ward with brute force. Barrera with his bad footwork, balance, and slow hands, was in too deep from the start. He didn't use his height or reach. He repeatedly smothered himself on the inside similar to what Velez did in the previous fight.

 

Hardly any jabs from Barrera also. No excuse for that other than lack of skills.

 

Chad Dawson. Excellent case in point!

 

The report didn't sound good for Ward:

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/03/ward-defeats-barrera-fails-impress/#more-207201

The scores seemed more impressive though?

 

hard to believe he is even really a Cuban defector, or that he has 200+ amateur wins.

 

The scores were too generous to Barrera. I didn't give him a round.

 

Barrera hardly landed any punches.

 

Beterbiev is the only one. But COULD..... Not would. I think he has a very good punchers chance against Kovalev and Ward, but would favor both to beat him.

 

1) There's a big difference between junior and senior levels
2) He didn't have much amateur success on an international level for years before going pro.

The only international success he really had was the 2000 junior world championships. After winning that (a fine accomplishment), he promptly got surpassed domestically- he could only pull off a Bronze in the Cuban championships in 2002 and 2003.

Those are the only notable results he had in amateur tournaments until turning pro in 2009. That's a long time to have elapsed between when he was a rising prospect in the Cuban system and actually turning pro.

 

He was more off balance than anything else if I remember correctly(similar to Kovalev/Caperrelo) I'd certainly favor both heavily against him in any case. Just saying that if there's anyone capable of beating Ward based solely on brute strength and nothing else that he's the guy.