More deserving of P4P top 10: Ward or Froch?

I have to agree with this 100%. Froch started to believe that he had so much power all he had to do was land a good right hand and it was good night for any opponent.

He's not the first to fall into the theory that all it takes is one shot. Naz had the same misconception when he stepped into the ring with Barrera.


What was good to see was Froch showed he got himself sorted out for the Abraham fight and fought to a game plan. He put his ego to one side. I was very impressed by that and how much he learned from defeat and came back better. That's what the great champions have always done.


Ward v Kessler is an intriging match-up. Ward will no doubt start the favourite but I wouldn't bet on this fight. Its going to be scrappy and very close.

 

:huh He hadn't stopped anyone with one shot for yonks. Rybacki (who? I think he was a last minute replacement for Denis Inkin) and Taylor were the only people he'd stopped as of late, both on accumulation.

Kessler forced him into that situation, and did the much better work. Simple as.

 

Taylor was hardly accumulation. Although Froch had worked his way back into the fight he pulled that one out of the bag with a power shot.

If you watch any of the interviews of Froch before the Dirrell and Kessler fights you will see him continually talking about his power.


In my previous post I was talking about Froch's mindset in the Kessler fight not about the reality of his previous KO's. I have watched the Kessler fight several times and Froch was trying to take Kessler out with one punch. Froch didn't work hard enough as he thought he had the equaliser in his right hand. Hence he just didn't let his punches go.

Kessler took advantage, bullied Froch and deservedly won the fight. What was most noticeable was that Froch did not have a Plan B. He wasn't fighting to a strategy. He was too arrogant and thought he would have too much power for Kessler.


Froch in contrast was very disciplined and controlled against Abraham. He was like a totally different fighter. I respect the personal growth Froch showed between those two fights.

 

Nah, I think Froch is probably one of the best (if not the best) example of an accumulation puncher in their prime currently.

He landed plenty on Taylor over the 2nd half of the fight, and made him work hard to compete in those rounds.

He's definitely not a puncher in the strictest sense, though that said there aren't many knocking around in boxing today. Either that or the ''modern conditioning'' has helped to improve the durability of what would ordinarily be your vulnerable fighter.

I'd say Carl certainly has enough to get your attention, he busted Kessler and Abraham up quite a bit over the 12 rounds.... but against the more durable guys he'll have a job on getting them out of there.

Until before the AA fight he seriously overrated his power and chin.... and neglected his excellent jab that has a lot of variety, and also the body work that got rid of domestic foes such as Dodson and Magee.

In fairness it took some performance from Kessler to beat him. Sure, he was past his best but he fought his ass off and deserved the win. Not many fighters have their best win after their best days, but he'll go down as one of those unless he knocks over someone special before he retires.

Any advance on Kessler having his best win beyond his prime? Hearns maybe?

 

Maybe so but that didn't stop Froch believing single shots were going to win the fight for him. My point was Froch was arrogant and didn't realise how good Kessler was. Kessler's career was also on the line after the Ward defeat and he came to fight, was in top shape and was mentally ready.

Froch had poor strategy, lacked aggression, was too cocky and didn't work hard enough. He has already rectified some of those mistakes in the Abraham fight and I would expect further improvements for the Ward fight.

Eder Jofre's comeback is hard to beat. 26-0 regaining the featherweight title at 37.

 

Gotcha, in that case I agree.

There's nothing quite like a fight between an unbeaten man full of confidence and a bruised warrior with his career on the line.

I think Froch's strategy was alright, in a tear up he'd have come second because he can't brawl to save his life, Kessler just took the play away from him with the body work that sapped him and forced him to plant his feet and have a rumble.

Can't wait for the Ward fight, hopefully it doesn't clash with Marquez vs Pacquiao III.

 

:roflatsch

 

Toney with Jirov and Holyfield and Ruiz (sort of)

 

Yep. You could say Jofre, and to a lesser extent Ray Robinson, had 2 careers rather than a "comeback".

 

Kessler really wasn't too hot against Froch either. His accuracy was pretty appauling and he is a step or three slower than he was when he was beating the breaks off Andrade or even in his loss to Calzaghe he was very sharp and landing stinging accurate shots. Slower handspeed and footspeed. It was basically great strategy that won him the fight by investing to the body.

 

Nah, Toneys best win was Nunn. Hearns/Cuevas>>>Hearns/Hill IMO, though I can certainly see a case being built for that one.

Best win being past prime?? That's a good one...

 

Hi Teddy!!:hi:

 

Great saying that. It makes a ton of sense. Ya can't invest to that head, only downstairs :bbb

 

"Made himself availiable" is the next one you;ll see getting mentioned...:deal

 

You think Cuevas was a better fighter than Hill..... or just a better styles matchup?

Obviously Hill's best weapon was his jab, Tommy could more than match that and still had enough of a dig to get Hill's attention despite having a very good chin. Plus I think Hill was expecting Tommy to bring it to him like he did to Hagler and Barkley :-( but instead the tables were turned.

Would be an interesting topic.... can't think of many fighters who had their best win whilst past it. Obviously there's heaps of fighters that had very good ones.