Anyone else not sold on Andre Ward?

That's Zab Judah and Jay Nady in Casa's avatar.

 

Ward was allowed to butt Kessler at will,the rest of the time he just seemed like a typical flash american fighter very much the same as Dirrell.I dont think Ward is as good as he is being made out to be.

 

Ward is a homer.Good job by Goosen to get Wards opening 3 bouts in his own backyard.Wait until he hits the road.

 

People carry on about Wards dirty tactics but really it wasn't as bad as people make out. Wards greatest strength is his mental focus and belief, I think the only way to beat him is to knock him out, he's too patient and tactically adept to lose a boxing match. Green is a good fighter but I only give him a 10-20% of winning.

 

Just for the sake of argument, try to imagine what might happen if Ward hit Abraham, Froch, Pavlik, Andrade, et, with nine head butts. All hell would break lose. Kessler just looked completely lost -- like the idea that someone might cheat in a boxing match was beyond comprehension.

If Ward beats Green, all he did was beat a guy Miranda out boxed. If Ward beats Dirrell with the same tactics he used on Kessler, all he did was beat up a guy who isn't exactly known for his mental toughness.

I'm not sold on Ward at all. However, I might have to lighten up on the guy depending on how the rest of the tourney plays out.

 

I'm not completely sold just yet. If he does well in the tourney I will be. But I wanna see how HE deals with adversity first.

 

He was beating Kessler from pillar to post. Same Kessler who was the consensus #1 before they fought, and who came right back to beat another undefeated titlist in the division.

There are still some question marks about Ward, especially his chin and his ability to deal with adversity (which he's never really faced as an amateur or a pro), but don't undervalue that Kessler win.

 

Ward seems to be the goods. This tourney will really test him though. He should get past Green. However, Dirrell may prove to be the toughest fight in this tourney for him. If Ward can handle Dirrell, he can beat anyone at SMW.

 

Brick, I saw Ward get knocked down in like his second or thrid fight. Besides that, have you seen him hurt in the ring?

 

I was unsure on Ward until I saw him dominate Kessler. Ward is World class in my eyes.

 

Ward has a good win over Kessler, but I think it is what happens in his career now that will tell us more about him, alot of fighters raise their game when first fighting for a world title, but its often said, its harder to hold onto a title than win one. I guess we will see as his career unfolds, but I dont think the Super 6 will tell us much as, as it stands, if Ward wins for example, he will not have faced an undefeated fighter in the tournament, probably have more home matches than the other fighters. His next 2 fights stand as
Green - A fighter who hasnt beaten anyone of real note and lost to Miranda
Dirrell - A fighter who lost his first world title fight (however you scored it) and is rated for his only big win (a DQ) over a small former MW champ whos big win was against who?And who has no real major SMW resume.
His big win from the super 6 could well end up being Kessler, a fighter who had previously been exposed.
Its not a great list, but if Bute and Dawson are still doing well, it could give him some fights to help enhance his career

 

Wait a minute, you're downplaying all of the guys in the Super Six, yet you're saying Ward needs to be Bute to prove himself? Please tell me all the big wins that Bute has on his resume?

 

No im not down playing all the super 6 guys. I think Kessler is very accomplished and said it was a good win, just it may more than likely end up as the big win, which isnt awful but not as strong as it all first sounds. I agree Bute hasnt done much yet (didnt rate his resume) and didnt say he has, I said if Bute is still doing well after the super 6, which would mean staying undefeated champ and beating other available competition outside the super 6 like Steiglitz for example, it would be a another big win for Ward like Kessler was, because I dont really think the other members besides Kessler really are

 

He got staggered badly by Kenny Kost in his second pro fight and put down by Darnell Boone in his 7th.

 

Just against Darnell Boone. But I haven't seen him get cleanly too much either.