@@@ The Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell and Daniel Jacobs Discussion Thread @@@

Please use this thread to talk about the careers of these two up-and-coming prospects in the SMW division.:good

*It's easier to get everyone focussing on them with one thread than if there's a thread with 12-13 replies about each of them, every couple of weeks. I'll bump this thread from time to time; please do the same!:good

Any news, please keep us informed!:good

 

I don't think either of them will be involved in a title fight or an eliminator earlier than summer 2010. I know some of their fans were saying they'd be fighting for a title at the end of 2008 or early 2009, but it was clearly unrealistic.

Ward is the much better prospect, in my view. He might not have that much power, but he's got very good skills and there are no reasons to be worried about his chin, so far. It is time for him to step it up and take on Top 30 opposition on a regular basis, if he is to fight Top 15-20 opposition next year, with a view to getting a title fight late in 2010. If he won't step up to fight constantly good opposition, he'll start thinking it's all a bit too easy and might struggle against Top 10-15 opposition once he does step up.

Dirrell is very fast and slick, but he has no power and his chin doesn't look very solid at all. Time is catching up with him and if he's ever going to make it as a pro, he needs to step it up. He's fought enough punching bags already; now he needs to fight fighters with a bit of skill, speed and a bit of punch, or decent level pressure fighters who can make it a bit hot in there for him. The level of opposition he's currently fighting is not doing anything for his development. Yeah, we know he's fast and smooth already! Time for the lad to learn his craft against fighters who don't just take it. I'm not sure Dirrell is ever going to be a top fighter at SMW, but if he has it in him, it's time to start proving it.

What are your thoughts?:good

 

I don't think Dirrell is the future of the division. I think he's going to get knocked out by one of the heavy punchers in the Top 20.

Ward, there is no reason to assume he could not be the future of the division one day...and in fact I'd pick him to beat Dirrell 7/10...so, trilogy? I don't think so.:good

 

Of course it's likely he'd get beaten by the top fighters now, but he's only 25! Bute, Kessler, Balzsay...they became beltholders at 27-28...

In 2-3 years, once the current crop are competing at LHW, there's no reason to think Ward could not be one of the top names at SMW, if his hands, etc., don't let him down, of course.

 

They haven't been moved slow...not compared to the likes of Calzaghe, Kessler, Bute, etc...but Dirrell doesn't have much time left...he needs to step up. Ward is even more ready to step up, but he has time on his side.

With their current rate of progress, they're about where, say, Bute was before his fight against Tatevosyan, so one fight away from an eliminator for a title shot.

 

Not of his chin is not very good. At the top level, you need a very good chin to remain a champ, unless you are very, very skilled and have some power. He doesn't have power. He's not that young either...he's 26 and a half...unless he wins a title in the next year, he'll be considered a fairly old prospect, especially by American standards...