Virgil Hunter responds to Steve Bunce (regarding Andre Ward vs Joe Calzaghe)

That Hopkins that fought Dawson still beats Froch, it would be a easy fight.

You cannot give Hopkins a advantage in speed, and technical skill.

All Froch has is workrate..? That's not enough.

 

Is he still with Conte?

 

At the same stage of their careers, I would say Ward.

 

Flea to be fair what Virgil Hill said was that Roy Jones himself said that of all the fighters out there Ward would have given him the toughest test. I think that is a different thing altogether. Doubtful anyone in recent era could have beaten Roy Jones at his best who was a freak of nature. I have seen better fundamental skills but Roy'S type of ability at his peak years is difficult for anyone to deal. He was every bit as dominant as the Young Ali.

 

I think Ward's great when he's in control, fighting a freak of nature. A special type of fighter like Jones i think he'd struggle. A guy who didn't fight with patterns and was a athlete and so quick.

Ward's only hope would be to get to inside and sit on Jones chest. Don't see him being able to do that with a prime Jones.

 

If he tries to get on the inside I see him getting knocked out.Probably by a left hook. From the outside RJJ is too quick and posts a near shut out.
Not a huge fan of Jones at LH but at 160-168lbs he was a beast very few could live with.

I don't mean to sound like a Ward hater though. He's a fine all rounder and we should appreciate him whilst he's active. Its just when people start throwing around phrases like atg, then you have to judge them against the highest possible standards.

 

Spot on Chris, I'm a fan of Ward but he's not invinceable. Sadly i don't think he'll ever face the stylistic problems we'd like him to face.

The Dawson win is good but the stuff i've heard (Sparked by Miranda in sparring) and also the weight knocks the gloss off a bit. Solid win but no more then that IMO.

 

Joe would have battered Ward down the stretch. Smarter, faster, better instincts and just worked when nothing else was going right.

Ward, good as he is, is just as flattered by poor opposition. And the stay at home comment was utterly priceless.

 

I take it Hunter was a screw?. I remember some reference to it in 24/7. If he was then he knows how to get to people. Wind them up, snide commens etc etc.

That's what i think he's trying to do, he seems a real nasty piece of work. The way he behaves is opposite to how Ward comes across or wants to be percieved.

He's had years to mold this kid, great job. But i'd like to see him in a different position with another fighter. See how good his guy really is.

DFT spot on, Opposition flatters him.

 

The Dawson win was impressive for how Ward found early answers and effectively shut the bigger man down. But, and it's a big one, Jean Pascal did the same thing until he tired, with less ability and poorer fundamentals.

Dawson was always susceptible to left hooks and to fast in and out movement. Soon as he was near a guy as fast as him, just as athletic and in his prime, he struggled.

 

I agree on kessler but Froch's approach apeared to be just to out tough him. I don't think he would approach it the same way. I think he would try to pressure more like he did in the Bute fight.

He would need the jab because he would need to keep away from the clinch.

I would have Froch favourite for sure right now.

 

I think poor is the wrong word, perhaps stylistically his opposition has flattered him?

 

Yep. Ward has a massive problem with stamina - he was gassing the last few rounds of the Froch fight after dominating it. It would've been a very interesting 15 rounder as amazingly Froch was looking the stronger man at the end. Do you really think Ward innocently sustained a vicious cut from the inside of a headguard in training??!?!? That caused the Super Six final fight to be delayed by at least 2 months. The Ward camp came out virtually straight away saying a long delay would be necessary, but if you remember Froch couldn't believe the length of the delay for a nick over the eye. The fight ended up happening a week before Christmas.

That fight was in Atlantic City so was his first significant fight outside California in some time, and so he could be subject to an outside testing regime and needed the extra time before the fight. You won't see any outright accusations because libel is particaularly big over there, but people just tiptoe around it like at the end of this article:

http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/andre-ward-chad-dawson-seeking-to-crash-pay-per-view-party/

 

Virgil Hunter wouldn't be biased would he?

 

No, I think "poor" is the right word. Allan Green, Bika, and Miranda were all very average even at their best. Kessler and Abraham are right in Ward's wheel house stylistically, I'll gladly admit that.

Froch had the awkwardness but not the speed to really trouble the Oaklander.

So, you need to take all that into account. He looks so rounded and tricky because he's largely facing mediocre and one-dimensional fighters. Against more cultured opposition, he would be less impressive - but there aren't many of those guys around right now. Not his fault, but a fact nonetheless.