Should we legitimately assume that Ward is past of his prime ?

Please don't act like Kessler and Froch are on the same level as Toney and Hopkins.

Don't you dare compare Ward to RJJ. No, just no.

 

Ward is just not that great. No power, not the best reflexes and a suspect chin that will get banged on. Against Kovalev, a good crafty boxer with stupid power delivered at the right time, there is a real risk of Ward getting seriously injured here. Obviously Kova's a good guy but I hope that Kovalev stops with the giving of his purses to fighters when they die. It's NOT Kovs fault. He has to get over that. It's a brutal sport. I hope Ward is not too badly hurt.

 

I think it's hard to gauge given his level of comp over the last 4 or 5 years

I don't think he's as fast or as sharp and doesn't throw in combination all that well

He's now older heavier and less active. He definitely isn't the same fighter but still elite

 

Rjj ring work ??? U mean headbutting and clinching kind of spoiler tactics ? If u want to compare Ward to someone,then Hopkins is ur only choice then.

 

Physical prime yes, Mental prime i don't believe so, The great ones develop mental skills after their physical ability starts to deteriorate. Thats the biggest difference between floyd and many, many didn't continue to develop mentally once he started to decline physically, Floyd just gets smarter

 

I think most of the fighters are faster in their earlier career and tend to get slower latter part of their career. He might be a bit slower already. I think he is still in his prime. The difference might be his competition which is utter s...!

 

That's good stuff you're smoking up there in Wardttkeland.

 

he is about as past it as kovalev is... and by that i mean not at all. wards proven he has still got it after the contract dispute kept him inactive, he has done so against some pretty good fighters like barrera (not saying barrera is the elite of the division but he is def good enough to expose any wrinkles in wards game since coming out of hiatus)

and kovalev continues to reign supreme over his division the only one who stands a chance is WARD (stevenson i used to believe in but i just dont think so anymore)

 

No.

 

No, and hell no lol... Kov looked old if I had to pick who looked out of the two in their last fights. As far as Kov, I'll chalk it up as a lack of motivation and pleasing the home crowd. But Kov now knows that he is in a fight. To me I think that Kov saw how big Ward actually is. He doesn't know how strong Ward is yet.

 

yep Ward in his prime was as dirty a fighter as they come,I'm British and have no bias between Ward,Floyd or RJJ but resume wise Ward comes nowhere near those two and skills wise in his pomp all he did was win at any cost.
Mayweather also had deceptive power,against Canelo a bigger man he earned his respect by tagging him hard,Ward against a smaller 40 year old man couldn't even rock his opponent,if the judges are looking for the quality punches like they did with Frampton how can Ward be expected to catch the judges eyes?

 

Exactly.

Both guys are prime enough. 32 and 33 years old. Neither have been beat up. Ward has been a little inactive but whatever. His body hasn't been taking punishment and he has good personal discipline. (diet, exercise, etc) His body is rested.

It's a great fight. No excuses and the better man will win.

 

This. :deal

 

Sounds like you haven't followed Manny's career.