I've never understood this argument, to be honest. Ward, while more skilled size-for-size, is just too small. AJ is the heavy favourite for me.
I never gave Ward a chance but after last night I am reconsidering my position. If a clown like Paul can last six rounds with Joshua then a pro like Ward is definitely a live dog. Joshua is pretty slow and has to be set before he punches. I can see Ward turning Joshua all night with his footwork. Joshua may stop Ward but he wouldn’t win a decision.
Ward hops on bandwagons and tries to be something he's not. He's not a slick fighter even when he wanted to be. His ONLY strength was infighting and fortitude and he was among the dirtiest fighters ever. He constantly threw lowblows, leg punches, holds/clinches, punching off the hold, etc. Extremely dirty fighter who was allowed to be dirty just like BHop. I wont go into reasons why but I'm sure you can do the math. I like Ward as a person but he tries hard to fit in. For some reason, American blacks distance themselves specifically from AJ. They do NOT like AJ. People can speculate as to why, but it was predictable as day and night that Ward would take verbal jabs at AJ despite never any actual/legitimate interest in fighting him. He "fits in" with that position. Ward comes off as forced during interviews like hes playing a role in a tv show. And, just like Floyd, I cant stand how his simple ass thinks he's someone special and "Son of God." Dude LOST Kovalev 1 - not really debatable - and shouldve gotten a DQ in Kovalev 2. I liked spots in his career, wished the GGG fight happened, wished one of Bivol or Beterbiev happened, and couldnt help but laugh how he missed out on Bute because he wanted Lucian to "earn it." Missed opportunity out the ass
none of this addresses the weaknesses of AJ that Ward would exploit, ruthelessly, without passion. With emotionless execution based upon similarly emotionless calculation. You could be correct, but to dismiss my opinion as "clueless" indicates that you have some other consideration here. I won't press further.
I would assume the TS means prime for prime. If it would be today's Joshua against today's Ward, no one thinks Ward has a chance right? This would be more be them facing off in 2017, I suppose. I have a lot more time for Ward than most here, but that seems like a mighty tall order.
I think this thread is about current Ward and Joshua, not that I see that much difference in the current version of Joshua.
It's about Ward coming out of an almost decade long retirement at 40+ and facing Joshua? Nothing about that in the OP and it sounds kind of strange. Anyhow, in that case Joshua destroys Ward.
I absolutely do. AJ is a headcase and is not improving this aspect of his game. Ward beats him well before they enter the ring.
I don't think people realize how shot AJ is. In the last 3 years he's fought Jermain Franklin Robert Helenius Otto Wallin Francis Ngannou Daniel Dubois Jake Paul Obviously 1 of those opponents stands far away from the rest and AJ got smoked. Otto Wallin is his best win and performance lol.... People saying Ward has no shot are like people saying Canelo would be too big for Bud ignoring how shot Canelo is. And AJ isn't the super heavyweight physique he was against Wlad and generally pre Ruiz. He'd still obviously be the bigger man but Ward is live.
Ward wasnt "RUTHLESS" at 175 yet somehow, 8ish years after retirement, he's going to "exploit" one of the largest HWs in modern era. Prime Ward couldnt exploit Prime Kovalev...yeesh. Great logic