Mickey Ward, I'm a big fan! Tell me where he sits with y'all.

What? I think you're quoting the wrong person. I was responding to TheyDontBoxNoMore. I like Ward too.

 

Sorry, that was meant for theydont boxnimore, not you junkhead

 

Fan. He has heart as did Gatti.

 

Exciting but seriously flawed C level fighter.

 

All heart and an entertaining fighter that gave the fans his all. Ignore the douchebags trying to drag this thread down.

 

Irish Thunder is up there in my list of favorite boxing bios. Ward was interesting to read about. The most interesting parts of the book to me were business parts discussing failed attempts to negotiate with Chavez and Tsyzu, he chased those fights. he would win a few then get an opportunity on tv vs an up and Comer and typically lost, normally with his hands high not letting them go. Though he did get his chance vs Vince Phillips in a very short fight cut short by an unfortunate cut. Phillips was winning and landing but it robbed a natural conclusion

I won't pick on the earlier post but I disagree with the attitude that greats are under appreciated and Ward shouldn't get praise. I respect the greats your Ali your Louis your Robinson, Moore whatever. but I also hold a great deal of appreciation for the guys not born with the physical gifts, not in the world class gyms with hall of fame trainers. I love to learn about the guys fighting for a roof or a meal not negotiating every advantage blessed with great management and tv exposure. these guys know they aren't supposed to win but they go out and give it hell anyway and sometimes they win and some times they lose. I think most people feel more at home with this guy as it resembles their experience.

as a boxing fan we should be awed by the greats but admire the grit of the under dogs...boxing needs both

 

Boxing isn't made up of just HOF, ATG, Mythological boxers. Most boxers have middle level overall skills:
it's their determination that lifts them above the great majority. This is true in life as well. You can overcome
everyone you are competing against in life as well as the ring by sheer determination and PRACTICE, because as
the Bushido Code explains "the Way is in Training".

Ward certainly had mid-level skills, aside from a monstrous left hook to the body. That hook and his determination,
heart, whatever you want to call it, made his fighting style a fan favorite. Sure Rigo has more boxing skills, and
exhibits knowledge of the Sweet Science more than Ward ever did. But would anyone here REALLY rather watch
Rigo run around the ring rather than see Ward fight anyone?

 

Great post, very well worded
Thank you

 

Never realized Ward and Kosta was a possible matchup in the making. That would've been total WAR!!

 

Mickey Ward is the manly man of manly men among manly men in the manliest of sports. The toughest of the tough. Put him in a uniform in the 40's and he's a Guadalcanal Marine defending Henderson Field or a Screaming Eagle holding it together at Bastogne. The dude is a ****ing superhero of will to keep putting out 110% to the final, bitter end. Whenever I have to put up with some little pain I shame myself with him.

 

I'd have to look back at the book but Ward was moving up the IBF ranks and was closer to a shot at Tyszu before Tyszu lost to Phillips who Ward wound up fighting

I believe his loss to leija blocked his possible Chavez fight

 

no doubt gatti and ward captured everyone's imagination during their time, but now i'm getting older and seeing how bad gatti's speech was at a still young age, there can often be a terrible price to pay for fighters who are tough, give the fans a barn-storming fight, but take no heed of defence

 

He did become a better fighter. He had a lot of early losses that helped him improve. By later in his career the way he opened guys up for the hook to the body was perfected like an art.

 

Because this is the entertainment business, nobody gives a **** about an undefeated record if it's full of cherry picks

 

Amen, brother. Big fan of Ward and Gatti. Both of them were limited fighters but tough as nails, willing to do whatever it takes, theydontbox-like that-nomore.