I wouldn't be surprised if Ward won a controversial decision over Kessler

It's been Ward for some of us. It isn't surprising some seem to be having certain doubts starting to creep after this last Saturday. Kessler is every bit that fighter and always has been. Prepare yourselves.

 

Ward's relative lack of experience is not that much of a big deal, its brought up a lot. For all the experience Kessler has he's still bringing the same thing. He's not modified his game, the 'robot' has not been updated lately.

In that respect you either have the variety, speed and skill to confuse him and give him different problems or you don't. If he lines you up and you can't find a way to combat him, its goodnight because he's relentlessly consistent.

Ward has to go in there and fight his natural fight and see how things play out over the first 3 rounds. If it works he's in business, if not he'll have to go through his entire armoury until he finds a way to get something done. That is the only question mark for his experience, whether he has the tactical knowledge to change things for the better, which all indications show he has. It comes naturally to him to different things in the ring.

 

Ward still hasn't been tested, don't be fooled by his recent win against Shelby Pudwill who is ranked #215 internationally, a boxer who isn't even in the top 200. Meanwhile Kessler beat a much live more opponent Gusmyr Perdomo who is ranked #38 internationally.

 

I liked Ward's performance and I really like him beating Kessler. Especially, since he will be the underdog. It's tough to go against the "Son of God" who has looked great in his last two, three fights. Like what Steve Farhood said (or may'be it was tarver I forget), but Ward is peaking at right time and I believe he is in his peak/prime and should beat Kessler and go to the finals.

 

I just don't see it happening.I like Ward and think he's a very good young fighter,deserving of his shot in the tournament.But I believe that Kessler will win this tourney outright as I believe that he's the best 168 pounder out there.As far as Tarver is concerned,I hate his big ****ing mouth when he's fighting,but he did a pretty good job with Farhood and Bernstein-the best in the business in my opinion.They weren't tripping over each other and were insightful and professional.

 

Posting right outta' Oakland 6 miles from the Oracle Arena...we all cheerin' for Ward but also worried he's in over his head a little bit at this point in his career. But we've heard this before when Ward was supposed to lose in the Olympics to the Russian and he won and Edison Miranda was supposed to school Ward and look what happened and it had nothin' to do with a "hometown victory". Ward hasn't "learned how to lose" but Kessler had the Holy **** boxed out of him by Calzaghe...I'm bettin' on a Ward upset.

Hope Kessler enjoys Oakland hospitality while he's here :fire

 

Back at ya. Done and done.

 

If you wanted to bash Kessler more just make a thread matching him up w/ Qawi or Foster that usually gets the job done

 

Wrong forum. No one will have ever seen Braxton or Foster over here.

 

"(Ward) is gonna actually be taking it to Kessler and may shut him down with his own offensive capabilities

The Dane is strong (prime) but he suffers from the usual slight Euro deficiencies in the aggregate (feet too slow, handspeed okay but unexceptional, technique too 1-2 & unvaried, too square and rigid, not particularly agile, not hard to hit, etc.).

Ward is gonna land, touch often and repeatedly. While Mikkel has sufficient strength/power to possibly hurt Ward and win the fight he has only fought one or two guys with anything close to Ward's talent over 43 fights so he may just get straight-out out boxed, frustrated, and beaten again"

Like f**k I was ... atsch If they had let MK continue there is a high probability he would have been STOPPED under the distance. Ward would have closed the show one way or the other.

 

Yeah, I've glanced at some of your comments .. no, Kessler wasn't winning ANY rounds .. he had a couple landed punches, there were periods when Ward wasn't as effective, but at no time was Kessler doing anything sustained that allowed for giving him the entire round.

There was ample indication that Ward would have been able to turn up the heat especially when you consider that Kessler was complaining about his vision as his "explanation" for why he was getting punched so regularly and easily by the comparative new comer. If you believe that Kessler wouldn't have just laid down and had to go for broke as he needed a KO that means opening up his attack and being open to getting dropped by the quicker, cleaner, more competent and confident fighter. Ward had approximately 1:20 of the 11th and a full 12th. That is an adequate amount of time when the momentum is at your back.

Of course, if you believe MK was just going to try and survive the distance then perhaps. Just perhaps. I suspect though, in that circumstance, Ward would have went for the kill just as Pac went after Cotto. There was an extra point of motivation beyond the championship as well.