Dont compare Wards style to Hopkins!

They're similar in the sense that they're both intelligent fighters. Never that physically gifted, but always relied on pure boxing, footwork, spacing, and overall IQ / ring generalship to get the job done. Excellent infighting as well. They have multiple dimensions to their game and I've never found either to be boring personally.

Young Bhop on the other hand was an absolute monster..

 

Andre SOB Ward is not fit to carry B Hop's jockstrap. He's the dirtiest fighter & biggest hypocrite in boxing. He has NEVER legitimately beaten Sergey Kovalev blatant corruption earned the ?wins? for him

 

Segundo Mercado and Robert Allen might not think young Hopkins was a monster

 

Dirtiest and most hypocritical is Saline Jr., but yeah, Ward is right up there.

 

Hopkins fought Mercado a significant height above sea level in Quito, in an Arena that was 100 plus degrees, allegedly. Mercado being native to the altitude as well. With fair judging Hopkins would have gotten the decision, instead of a draw. Under normal conditions in the States, Hopkins whooped that arse. Robert Allen was giving Hopkins some problems in the first three rounds and change, before Mills Lane shoved Hopkins through the ropes. Hopkins wasn't getting his arse whooped by any means, but Allen may have been edging the rounds that I recall. Hopkins likely would have started catching his rhythm as the fight went on. Allen was on point that night though. Hopkins took care of business in the rematch. What current middleweight wouldn't have had a problem with that Mercado, fighting at altitude in a sweltering arena? What current middleweight would have won those first three rounds and change against that Allen?

 

SOB was a cheater, he is a liar, always owned the judges, referee and boxing commission, has the best testicle blows, wrestles, elbows, headbutts, etc., the dirtiest fighter I have ever seen. Kovalev beat him, but SOB owned the officials...................should have been disqualified, if the rules of boxing had been followed.............Tony Weeks is a dirty crook!

 

Weeks has been stinking up the MMA world as a judge lately as well. At least weeks UFC he put out two disgraceful cards in favor of the home Brazilian fighters.

Robbed this guy Tim Means blind

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Who fans, media all thought won the fight.

Then put out a disgraceful score in the main event giving Machida a score of 49-46(4 rounds to 1) when in reality it was a close fight that Anders could have easily won.

 

Bhop fought mandatories & subpar fighters at 160 continuesly a few 2 to 3 times stop it its a reason he went 20 title defenses

Glen johnson was subpar as hell at 160 & 168

The best fighters he fought after losing to rjj was 2 welterweights

Ward fought killers that can punch & we're physically strong at their peaks where you had to be tactical & stink it out a little

Kov, dawson, froch & Kessler all p4p level fighters & some of best in the world in the last 25 yrs

Even guys like muranda, auther & allen green were extremely hard punchers that you had be very carful against

 

It looks similiar but Bhop was just a freak of nature in regards to defying father time.. Dirty tactics though.. Both masters at it!

 

Ward had the benefit of a tournament like the Super 6 to help build him up as a champion. Hopkins didn't have that luxury he fought in obscurity for years trying to unify with either Holmes or Joppy but King ensured Hopkins never got his shot until Tito moved up and Hopkins was 35 years old and many thought ready to be taken.

Without the Super 6 Ward would of course won a title eventually, but not as soon as he did. He might of even unified as guys like Kessler and Froch were not afraid to fight anyone. But it would of been harder to arrange as Ward isn't a draw and the money would of likely been an issue as would of been the location of the fights due to Ward's clear dislike of travelling.

But no denying what Ward actually did was impressive. One of the best fighters of his generation, but in terms of legacy Hopkins has him beat.

 

Prime for prime, Hopkins beats Ward.

 

The yanks could take a lot of lessons from Ward and Hopkins They are really struggling at Olympic level and Im sure some direction from the older fighters would help . I dont think they have the program /funding we have here as well