Dmitry Bivol vs Andre Ward: Who would have won?

Bivol would do pretty much what Kovalev did but cleaner. He would get robbed though no doubt about it. Ward is horrendously over rated and very dirty

 

With an honest, fair referee and judges, Bivol would win easily.

Ward was an average fighter without his dirty, illegal tactics and dodgy officials.

 

Bivol doesn't have to cheat

 

Andre Ward went at it in a close fight with a prime Kovalev. Stop this nonsense.

 

First of all Bivol won't have the Power to keep Ward honest like Kovalev obviously had. Best believe Ward was indeed a talented fighter and not just an average fighter. He is easily top 3 Super middles of all time Top 5 at the worst. He was cagey fighter, some can argue dirty at times but that does not negate his overall skill and ability. People have said similar things about B-Hop and Holyfield, but no one can deny their All Time Status as two of the best fighters in their weight class.

 

Bivol UD but in a more competitive fight IMO.

 

Ward, wouldn't have to rob him like he did Kovalev.

 

The problem with ANY Andre Ward hypothetical is separating the fighter from the blatant nonsense that dogs his legacy...

In this fight does Ward get away with low blows, elbows and every other trick plus corrupt judging? Then Ward wins a battle similar to his fight against Kovalev.

If the referee doesn't allow that and the judges are fair, then it's 60/40 or even 70/30 Bivol.

 

Ward is a higher level of fighter from Bivol. He'd win more clearly than Bivol beat Canelo.

 

Ward would be favored but I would give Bivol a decent shot. Bivol did just as good against Barrera as Ward did. Ward doesn't have great power. Very few in the boxing world gave Bivol a shot except Bradly, Diaz and Atlas against Canelo. Mayweather put 10k on him.

 

Notwithstanding the rough-house stuff, Ward was mentally tough, adaptable, deceptively strong, and highly intuitive. He was also a high IQ boxer and a better athlete than he often gets credit for.

Ward blueprints Bivol and outpoints him down the stretch for a competitive decision win.

 

Ward didn't seem interested in facing boxer movers
He didn't face Andre Dirrell, didnt seem interested in Bute, decided against Degale.
With that it is difficult to assess how the fight may have gone
I would favour Bivol with the feeling he would keep the fight at range a bit more

 

Yes, I always thought Ward gets overhyped. As much as I do not like him or his style, he is a very good fighter with all the skills and dirty tricks. The only B level slick boxer mover he faced was Dawson who he drained down. For me he clearly needed to face Dirrell, Degale or Bute in the short windows in which they were relevant and would have caused problems for Ward we never really saw answered. Kovalev is a great boxer and he was ramming his jab into Wards face in both fights consistently

 

Great fantasy fight. I always go with Ward because he always found a way. He could box and move and then also dog it out and show serious grit if need be. He’d drag Bivol into a rough fight and have the edge. However, Bivol has ice in his veins sort of discipline and it’s hard to see him getting sucked in to somebody else’s type of fight as we saw against Canelo the other night