Ring Magazine: "To beat Ward,[Dirrell] will have to be perfect"

:dealOr if you don't like these guys then you didn't have to come to this thread. Go....BYE. lol I like both guys so I have a right to be here.

 

I think Kessler will absorb even more punishment in his next few fights trying to come back in the S6. Ward is getting better and better in every match, and he's approaching the crescendo of his career, not his twilight. You don't think Ward will grow even more, especially after fighting Dirrell? If the rematch comes down to an exchange of lefts i seriously doubt Ward will lose out.

 

I'm guessing I'm in the minority when I say I think dirrel wins this one and rather easy. I can't see ward pinning dirrel against the ropes like he did green or beating him from outside like he did kessler. I think ward will be forced to box from outside and only occasionally being able to make a dog fight. If that's the case dirrels speed and combo punching will win him a ud

 

Ward will grow and I expect he'll have a great career regardless of the Super Six. He's a superb fighter and has a chance to be an elite level talent with a strong amateur pedigree to back him up.

Like I say, it's a funny feeling I have. I think Kessler in a rematch would beat him - so long as it's within a year or two.

 

Exactly! What's the point anyway. I like them both too. I just wonder what kind of state of mind Direll will come in. Ward is consistent, Direll aint. And them being friends.. Another very interesting fight in the Super 6.

 

Indeed it is. Dirrell gets better every fight too but he still shows the same flaws time to time like slipping on the canvas and backing up with his hands high but "The Matrix" is not one to sleep on. To me it's a pick em fight that either guy can win. I see it being a chess match but no problems with me I love tactical fights & technical fighters.

 

I would make the fight 60-40 (minimum) in favor of Ward. Maybe more but I see the fight being competitive early then Ward taking control and pressuring Dirrell hard. Dirrell has the reach and speed advantage but Ward is stronger and more clever IMO. At 168 my money is on Ward! Let's see

 

Yeah I'm not betting on this fight(vcash of course). Ward also seems like the more relaxed fighter in the ring hopefully Dirrell becomes more relaxed & more consistent throughout the ring especially in the later rounds.

 

The intangibles, eh?

Well, if you feel they are there then by all means bet on it, I guess.

 

I don't know if I buy that about Ward's jab. I saw Ward as more of a messy boxer who is able to spoil the timing and routine of other fighters. In his prime, admittedly against much lesser competition - Kessler looked to have a very fast jab that he's stopped using since Calzaghe beat him from the outside.

Remember, it was only a few fights ago that people felt Kessler had the best jab in the business.

Definitely an intangible thing, also I just don't feel like Kessler gave a strong showing in that fight, he looked very rusty and the usual things you see in a Kessler fight, even in the Calzaghe fight just weren't there - he never really tried to establish the jab, he tried to go to the body more than I've ever seen him do it and it opened him up to be hit.

I think he'll also be a lot more active in clinches than he was against Ward in the first fight, it's just one of those things where I feel like Ward will feel he has the skillset to beat Kessler based on their current performance and won't adapt too much where as Kessler will adapt his entire style based around that first performance.

I will bet on it, not a big bet, but a decent amount.

 

Well, part of it was that Ward made him look that way. The guy is incredibly good at breaking a fighter's rhythm and turning the fight his way. The guy's ring generalship is arguably the best in the game besides PBF's, very good at shutting a fighter down and neutralizing their greatest strengths. I think you should watch the opening rounds of their first fight again. There was an exchange of lefts, and kessler lost.

 

Honestley, I think this is a even match-up, it will be very intresting.

 

froch and abraham.. yes...i agree.