How good was Andre Ward?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Renaissance_man, Nov 26, 2021.



  1. cuchulain

    cuchulain VIP Member Full Member

    33,049
    8,010
    Jan 6, 2007
    That sums him up for me.
     
  2. dragon666

    dragon666 Active Member Full Member

    939
    1,029
    Apr 28, 2021
    He was simply more skilled. Ward is much more beatable as shown in the first Kovalev fight. Kovalev isn't as good as Calzaghe. Kovalev had no inside game.

    Calzaghe would beat him by his output and Ward resets often with his style and resorts to headbutting and clinching to slow the other fighter down.

    It's pretty obvious to see that. Ward is a great fighter but he's clearly beatable. He never fought outside of his hometown in the super six and had to resort to dirty tactics in his fights at times to get his opponents hurt.

    Kovalev can't fight on the inside. Elite fighters can fight on the inside and outside. Ward beat him because of his inside game and he knew how to smother his shots to take the zap off them. Calzaghe would do the same.

    The younger Calzaghe had more power than Ward, too. Ward is a wear you down, accumulative type puncher. His strength was how he could offset his opponent with his stance and footwork.

    I've always thought Calzaghe was better and i think he could land shots easier than Andre Ward. Ward often resets and has to clinch often to be effective where Calzaghe didn't have to do that until much later on in his career.

    He was just the more fluent operator.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2021
    gollumsluvslave and Joe-fist like this.
  3. CleneloAnavarez

    CleneloAnavarez Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,743
    1,390
    Nov 18, 2021
    Ward would probably beat Calzaghe but it isn't as if he beat any SMW that Calzaghe wouldn't beat.
     
    Aussie Invader likes this.
  4. cuchulain

    cuchulain VIP Member Full Member

    33,049
    8,010
    Jan 6, 2007

    The difference is, Calzaghe beat unbeaten Kessler, fair and square.

    And despite what the judges rendered, Ward clearly lost to Kovalev.
     
    gollumsluvslave and dragon666 like this.
  5. Joe-fist

    Joe-fist Wise men fear nothing Full Member

    277
    195
    Aug 24, 2021
    Your partly right,about:calzaghe beat kessler, and that was his best win against a prime fighter,but aleast at the end of his career he travel to america to fight B-hop and Jones.Ward not even one times! A true warrior for me is:someone who got the balls to beat you in your backyard with your fans against all odds.Like Usyk did.
     
    gollumsluvslave and dragon666 like this.
  6. Aussie Invader

    Aussie Invader Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    4,568
    3,727
    Jan 5, 2017
    calzaghe "beat undefeated kessler" because he was younger...
    doesn't change the fact that kessler was the best fighter calzaghe ever beat who was in his prime.
     
  7. Aussie Invader

    Aussie Invader Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    4,568
    3,727
    Jan 5, 2017
    when they were dethroned, past prime and losing as many as they were winning...
     
  8. Aussie Invader

    Aussie Invader Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    4,568
    3,727
    Jan 5, 2017
    agreed.
     
  9. Ted Stickles

    Ted Stickles Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,218
    2,136
    Jun 24, 2007
    Really good fighter and very intelligent with a high ring iq…. but imo very dirty

    Never reached his full potential because he seemed more interested in keeping his O then taking risks.
     
  10. cuchulain

    cuchulain VIP Member Full Member

    33,049
    8,010
    Jan 6, 2007
    How is it unfortunate for @C.J. ?

    It was a home-cooked decision that was unfortunate for Kovalev and for boxing.

    Again, you don't grasp the distinction between winning a fight and getting the decision.

    He lost the first fight pretty clearly, regardless of how the three American judges scored it.

    And in the second fight, as @FrankinDallas has pointed out, he used Kovalev's ball-sack as a heavy bag.
     
    C.J. likes this.
  11. Joe-fist

    Joe-fist Wise men fear nothing Full Member

    277
    195
    Aug 24, 2021
    Have to agree with you on this one...i know i won't be popular after this but anyway(because he is very like on this forum).Calzaghe was an opportunist like many others,That was a little cherry pick,have to admit if your honest.But who else could he beat at smw?
     
  12. cuchulain

    cuchulain VIP Member Full Member

    33,049
    8,010
    Jan 6, 2007
    No, lad, Joe was seven years older.

    Calzaghe beat him because he was better.
     
    Easyrhino likes this.
  13. Joe-fist

    Joe-fist Wise men fear nothing Full Member

    277
    195
    Aug 24, 2021
    As for Ward,Adonis Stevenson call him when he demolish Dawson in 1 round,just before Ward thought about the Kovalev fight,but at the time
    Stevenson was still a no name(some say he got lucky against Dawson) anyway the Kovalev fight happen and you know the rest.Beterbiev was his mando...stay retire Ward.
     
  14. CleneloAnavarez

    CleneloAnavarez Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,743
    1,390
    Nov 18, 2021
    You underrate Calzaghe a lot. I have seen you put Canelo over him.
    Hopkins dropped Calzaghe's output greatly. He simply couldn't keep up the pace in the second half so lost.

    Ward with his spoiling, holding and mauling would definitely win in the USA. In Wales it could be very different.
     
  15. seansanashee

    seansanashee Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,657
    563
    Nov 27, 2010
    The best smw of his era and possibly of any era.