Andre Ward vs The best light heavyweights of the 70's and 80's

look, he sbeat kovalev thats it. this is an excellent elite win, but you are talking ATGs.

 

I think Kov had the jab and power to beat those guys, Foster used to lean forwards when he jabbed bringing his head nearer to his opponent Kov would counter with the right and knock him out unless Foster caught him first Spinks would be harder to hit and since Kov gassed which depleted his ability to absorb the right hand that got him in trouble from Ward then the same thing could happen v Spinks who had more power than Ward, Kov beats the other two with great difficulty unless he gasses.

 

The Whole world competes now. The 70s and 80s Boxing was practically just an American domestic sport. Ward proved himself in a better era.

 

Look, those guys were great and all, but they never tasted the Ward headbutt-nutshot-takedown trinity. It would be an out-of-context problem for them.

 

I don't think Ward could beat any of the names you mentioned if they were at their best. Spinks, Qawi, and Foster all have a good chance of winning by stoppage. Mustafa Muhammad was very inconsistent, so, Ward has a small chance there. But, best vs best, I would go with Eddie on points.

 

No, American standards have slipped, I read something about aspiring young fighters don`t get grants like they used to and fighters don`t listen to their trainers a much anymore according to Pernell Whitaker who was Judah`s trainer at one point plus there are no Pernell Whitaker`s these days and very few Spinks etc.

 

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad > Andre Ward

 

He wins some and loses some but never sits at the top in these era's he was good in his time but outside the hype I don't think he ever did enough to convince me he had what it takes to hang with the toughest LtHeavyweight era in history...though I consider today's 160/168 the same size due to weigh ins a day prior he was just never that dominant in the type of way it would take in that era the fights were all brutal and any contender was good enough to beat the champ Muhammed, Braxton, Franklin, Spinks, Galindez, Conteh, Foster, Lopez the championship fights were always tough and with the injuries he had in his career his body wouldn't survive this level of competition very long.

 

Spinks,Foster, Big lightheavyweights Qwai would bring pressure. I thought Kovolav won the first fight so while Ward stepped up his game for the 2nd & had some good lightheavyweight wins he would be hard press against Foster & Spinks @ 175
Ward was one of the smartest guys I have seen in the ring and would make these fights interesting

 

Ring IQ makes me wonder as well.

Ward's era is a bit more concerned with making one miss, or ala school of Bhop Alumni- as stated above- the uh, headbutt-nutshot-takedown trinity?!
Ward nullifies an offense. fights back in the 70s-80s were guns a blazing. Albeit with precision.
Now the 40-50's fighters knew a bit about Ward's type of D ala the Fritzie Zivac tape-scrape-eye-gouge era!!

I say Ward's toughest battle against old timers would be Billy Conn. Conn UD Ward gets up off the canvas 3x.

 

I think he'd wipe his ass with Bob Foster.

 

I think you will find yourself in the minority view here.

 

I think Ward would force his way inside and Foster would get thrown off his game. Foster lost to almost all of his best opponents. Ward hasn't lost since he was a pre-teen.

 

Mate Parlov was from Eastern Europe (Yugolsavia) and a 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist - very decorated.

He was upset by Matthew Frankin (Saad Muhammad) in 1976. Saad had only 24 amateur fights.

He had as good an amateur pedigree as you could have - and it wasn't enough. The pro game has always been different.

Pierre Fourie - South AFrica
Parlov - Yugoslavia
Galindez - Argentina
Conteh - England

Then, you had quality US guys: Bob Foster, Eddie Gregory (Mustafa) Muhammad, Marvin Johnson (1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist), Richie Kates, Matthew Franklin (Saad Muhammnad), Yaqui Lopez, James Scott, Dwight Braxton (Qawi), Michael Spinks (1976 Gold Medalist)

No, Ward did not prove himself in a better era.