Andre Ward vs Joe Calzaghe

Calzaghe and rather easily.

 

Why easily?

 

Key word MANDATORIES in which you fight to keep your belt. Perbian isn't even in the top 20 of any sanctioning body never mind the WBA. Hell Chaves has had a long lay off and he's fighting WBC ranked 4 or 5 Fonfara and he's levels below Ward. I get it Ward wants this fight as his come back fight ok but don't even compare it to fighters you HAVE to fight to keep your belts or fighting ranked fighters at least their ranked. Perbian has 3 losses in his last 5 fights including getting ktfo by Degale in 3 rounds , a draw, and 1 win.

Im not happy with this fight but I am trying to give Ward a pass and hopefully he does something better next like fighting a top 15 fighter. He better add to his resume next year too much talent to waste.

**** even Andre Dirrel has fought and has a win over a top 10 fighter recently and is fighting Degale next.

 

I agree with everything you've typed.

But I was just pointing out that just because Joe's opponents were ranked by the WBO, it didn't make them good fighters.

I would say that a number of Joe's WBO mandatories were probably no better than Periban.

 

wards worst ever defence, periban is on par with many of joes best defences pre Kessler.

 

easily, ? wow, bold statement..
i don't think anything about this match up could be seen as easy. i think they would be far and away their toughest opponents. not just because they are both great, they are great and their styles scream very tough close fight.

cant pick with a sliver on confidence

 

:good

 

I wouldn't say they were on par with his best defences, but definitely on par with his weak to average defences. It was a real shame IMO, that he defended the WBO so many times at SMW.

 

Joe himself said he wouldn't have beaten Ward easily.. You can throw that idea out with the weekly trash. Looking from a style and skill standpoint, that is one tough fight for both.

 

I agree it doesn't say a lot. But Wards opponent not being ranked among the top 20 does. This era of SMW isn't particulary strong, and Ward is the only A-level fighter around. If he won't fight the decent boxers available, such as the Dirrell brothers, it all seems kind of pointless.

 

I agree about this. I think the rounds would have been close. The biggest questionmark I see is how Ward would have done fighting someone who is competitive in the speed department, and doesn't fight with his feets in the mud.

 

I can live with him fighting a non ranked guy at this stage, due to his circumstances. But if he doesn't want to fight the best SMW's afterwards, and he doesn't want to move up to LHW, then I'll be extremely disappointed.

 

:good

 

I'm not very optimistic about Mr Wards future contribution, but he's most welcome to prove me wrong. At least we'll get to see Andre Dirrell vs James DeGale in May. I think that's a cool match up between two good and fresh fighters. I see DeGale trying to press Dirrell in the opening rounds, but losing heart after eating a few hard counters, and after that Direll is lilkey to take over the action :bbb

 

Dirrell and DeGale are two of my favourite fighters, but it has to be better for the division if DeGale wins. Don't you agree?

:good