Who was the better/more skilled fighter? Ward had better defense and accuracy while Crawford was the better finisher. Ward was also more athletic and the better mid-range and inside fighter. Tags: None
Crawford, and it's not close. If we stay inside the boxing rules, the difference is quite significant. Ward was good as a rulebender, like an older B-Hop, but Crawford actually is very good keeping it inside the boxing rules. Crawford would win most of his big fights overseas, in his opponent's backyard, I don't think Ward would manage that.
Why do I have to explain it to you? It should be quite obvious. Any true boxing fan with even a vague understanding of the sport gets the reason why. Ward is just as fast as Bud, he's just as accurate, his footwork is just as impressive and he's every bit as mean. But that's where the comparison ends. Ward has the far more advanced inside game, his defense is far more impenetrable, he's physically much stronger, he's a master rhythm breaker, he's much dirtier, he's far more malleable and versatile in the ring. His adjustments far more subtle and nuanced, but also more effective. Not only is Ward better than Crawford, he's also better than Hopkins and Mayweather. Kovalev is the only man to have a degree of success against Ward. Because Kovalev is also a master boxer. Crawford has dropped countless rounds to opponents he had no business dropping rounds to. He's bailed out by his power frequently.
No, I give that edge to Calzaghe, who doesn't get nearly enough credit for being the master boxer that he was. But it's close.
