This content is protected What’s with everyone thinking they can beat AJ? First Jake now Andre? Maybe my senior neighbour has a shot too.
Ward did not beat Kovalev in their first fight. Ward is talking nonsense. A small heavyweight can beat a big heavyweight if they have above average power combined with excellent skills. Usyk has a very good (7 or 8 out of 10) backhand. Ward is a natural southpaw fighting as an orthodox. His right hand, even at 175 lbs, is average at best (6/10 for a light heavyweight). At heavyweight, Wards backhand would not even be a 5/10. With below average power in his right hand at heavyweight, how is he going to deter AJ from coming forward? Yes, skill matters but you actually need power to keep the bigger guy honest. No one believes that Terrence Crawford can beat Artur Beterbiev just because Crawford has skills. Crawford has nothing to hurt Beterbiev with, hence skill would be irrelevant. Ward was never a great puncher and his boxing skills, while good, were never on the level of an Usyk or Crawford. Ward always relied on rough tactics and favourable refereeing. Good luck in trying to bully the 240 lb Joshua physically. Lol. I actually wouldn't mind seeing this. Let AJ knock Ward out of the ring.
Dre actually broke Smith's nose in their fight and Smith never had his nose broken before that. I doubt AJ's nose is much stronger than Smith's nose. And that was Dre around 170. At 200-210 Dre would have more power.
AJ would murder Ward. Faceplant, not getting up for many minutes type KO. Ward was obviously way better than Joshua in a P4P sense, but AJ's size and power would totally overwhelm Dre. Ward has absolutely nothing on his shots to make AJ respect him. It would have been over inside of a round. Only light heavyweights I would pick to beat AJ are Spinks and Charles. Roy from the Ruiz might might have beaten AJ, but I'd be less confident of that. He'd have a chance though. Andre Ward beat AJ? F**ccckkk no!!!
Hasn't he said this a million times? If you are not actually attempting it, shut the **** up. I hope he tries to and gets flattened for talking so much.
He's got one of the biggest mouths and egos in boxing, was a nice change of pace when he stopped commentating on Top Rank shows (him + Tim Bradley were unbearable to listen to at times). Sure, he's a much better technical boxer than AJ but nowhere near as marketable (how can you be with those dirty tactics and boring fights?) and not nearly skilled enough to pull off an Usyk-esque performance. He'd get knocked out early by the first right hand that connects. Size difference is enormous and he's no Leon Spinks or RJJ. Ward was an Olympic gold medalist and all, excellent skills, but he never got over his failure to break into the mainstream. The Kovalev fights generated pathetic PPV buys (for a matchup between top P4P talents!) and just goes to show how you can't headbutt and low blow your way into superstardom. The worst part is that he's been an inspiration for younger American talents like Shakur. It's no wonder why American pro boxing is going down the drain when you've got people like Andre Ward influencing newer generations of potential stars...
So a 41yr old 6ft tall light heavy with mediocre power wants to get in there with a 35yr old 6'6", 245lbs former unified hw champ who has big power? What's the deal with guys who have no business being in a ring with AJ wanting to challenge him? He's not shot. He's had two embarrassing losses, yes, but the losses to Usyk aged very well, and AJ was looking good before Dubois got him.
Well Ward does have his finely honed nutcracker punch which could ko most HWs. Would just need one of his ref pals like Tony Weeks to look the other way whilst he connects with AJs crown jewels.
Man everyone thinks they can beat AJ. I'm waiting for a Fighting Harada video of him saying with one good camp he could beat AJ next year
Ward would school AJ. Huge difference in skill level. Although age might be a deciding factor here as ive just realised hes 41