Last time I saw Ward I thought he was good but not great. Very good handspeed though, and I'm sure he's improved.
Dirrell is talented but essentially set himself back a couple years after that dreadful performance on HBO. I have no idea what he could have been thinking.
We're on the same page here. I thought Ward was trying too hard as well and now seems to be hitting his stride. Good point about the style matchups he'll have at 168. He matches up good with a lot of the guys in the division. Now the Kessler thing, boy thats hard to tell yet. I think Kessler is a legite world class fighter and unlike a lot of supermiddles, he matches up well with Ward. He has the jab, range, and height, things you need against someone like Ward. Not ruling it out at all, Ward has tons of potential so he might just make for a future megafight with Kessler. But for now, I think the Williams fight is a decent, but none to extraordinary, step up. I'll take it.
Oh, I agree about Kessler. He's the one guy whose style would trouble Ward naturally. His jab could prove decisive. I mentioned that, though, as a potential mega-bout far down the road, as you say. Ward vs. Bute could be a nice one down the road as well. I like Andre's chances a little better in that one. First things first -- dispose of Williams.
With Kessler and Mundine still at their peak and Bute entering his prime mid 2009, Ward should not be pushed for a title so early. He will only be 25 with 18 or 19 fights and 168 lbs is a competitive division full of talent. More experience would be beneficial. Ward shouldn't make a title bid before mid 2010, I'd say.
I'm probably between you two, if all goes well. Let's say he gets by Williams next week, the fights a couple times against non-descript opponents to stay busy, then takes another step up in the fall on a B.A.D. I bet he could get Jeff Lacy in the ring, and at this point I'd favor Ward to win that fight comfortably. Then, another major fight in the spring of 2009, culminating in a title shot around the winter time. Regardless, he's an intriguing name at 168 because of both his obvious talent and the fact that his style is a problem-causer for a lot of the names already established.
He is not going to become mandatory challenger as quickly as you assume even if he goes for it big time. No champ will fight a talented, unbeaten up-and-coming guy like him who hasn't got a resume or a name in a voluntary defence either. Ward is too good to be thrown in at the deep end. His time will come and when he arrives, he stays for good.
Dreadful??? Wlad vs that other guy a few weeks ago was dreadful. Dirrell was fighting another good yound fighter. He looked pretty good. Dirrell is not ass as one poster stated the guy is more skilled then Ward but he isnt as talented.
I disagree. While the division is strong, there's always room for a fan-friendly American fighter with network support and Olympic gold pedigree. Ward's fight next week will be No. 15. Jeff Lacy fought Vanderpool for the IBF belt in his 18th bout. By the time we're talking late 2009/early 2010, Ward will have had plenty of time and exposure to attract a title shot. As long as he keeps winning.
It was a dreadful performance. Dirrell showed talent but had the crowd ready to run him out of town. He fought a very negative fight in a situation when he was on HBO and could have scintillated by outclassing Stevens. He chose to clown and avoid confrontation, and now he's a basically a forgotten man. I actually regarded Dirrell more highly than Ward at the Olympics, but Andre has proved to be the more disciplined pro and a quicker learner. Dirrell needs to get busy and win at least one decent fight this year.
Interesting fight. Not that Williams is a world class 168lbs or anything. But it should give us an idea of where Ward stands in his development.
Still think you were right? Against Williams he showed he still had a long way to go, which is just fine, seeing that he's still young and inexperienced and all. Yeah, he's heading for shot at a title, but no sense in rushing him just yet. We want him to get there in one piece, win and keep winning, right?
Apparently the crowd wasn't all that impressed again, but Ward is never going to be a blood and guts fighter. Dirrell is going to be back on Showtime in a few months, against Tony Hanshaw.
Well Ward totally dominated williams as expected, now I want to see him against a legit 168'er so all these esb'ers can shut the **** up about how ward aint ****. I say bring on ward vs bika or ward vs bute - in my opinion he trashes them both.