Ward as a commentator.

I don't think he was guessing. I really liked when Ward answered Jim's question about effectiveness.

 

Ward is very biased and he shows it too. Ward really appears to hate Pac as well....................Ward believes he can easily knock out the Klitschkos, so why doesn't Ward fight Vlad? Stevenson called Ward out live on HBO, Ward refused to even answer his challenge, at 168 or 175..............

 

I love it when he laughs at his own jokes

 

Ward is a decent analyst but he's very dull. Foreman and RJJ were charismatic and passionate and their excitement was infectious for the viewer. I doubt Ward has ever been excited in his life.

 

Ward was golden Saturday, unfortunately for him he doesn't quite fit in with HBO commentators, where they dont know **** about boxing and is down talking the match if n dummy fighting aint going on

 

I did too, but he was guessing as far as what might happen. Eventually Jennings took control. Ward was saying this when both guys were still feeling each other out.

 

I hate the idea that if you're an offensive fighter you somehow have an "inferior" skillset to a more defensive-minded one. Saying one takes more "skill" than the other is a matter of opinion. It's possible for a fighter offensive yet skillful in applying effective pressure, timing combinations, feints, etc.

My issue with Ward is that not only does he give his lecture time in and time out, you can actually hear his disdain for action fights.

Let me ask you this, when did you ever hear Ward get excited in the commentary spot about some great action taking place in the ring? Answer: You don't.

 

Boxing knowledge obviously good. Not that entertaining to listen to.

 

I never claimed that, so not sure who that is dirceted towards.

I've never heard 'disdain' for action fights. Can you please provide a fight or example where he did this?

Couple of things here.

First, me personally, I don't need my boxing analyst to 'get excited'. That's the play-by-play guy who mostly provides that (and no one hs ever questioned Lampley's 'excitability'). I need him to provide ANALYSIS.

Secondly, the much 'beloved' Larry Merchant rarely got excited either. Neither did Manny Steward, for the most part. Yet both are loved here on ESB. Competent guys like when Antonio Tarver was at Showtime or even RJJ (other than the 'He's not getting up, Jim!!' call) get all overly exited about in-ring action either. So I not sure when 'getting excited' over in the ring action became a prerequisite for being a great color guy.

Lastly, I recommend you check out the Kirkland Tapia fight call again. Listen to Ward. Does he start frothing at the mouth over the fight like Kellerman and Lampley started to do? No. But his voice reflects an acknowledgment of the action in the ring. He manages to give great insight (Tapia looking for the early knockout, Tapia getting the fight wanted in the first couple of rounds, Kirkland's and Tapia's body work, explaining why Kirkland kept getting caught by not following Wolfe's advice of working behind the jab, Kirkland's improved punch resistance, defense and chin as he warmed up, Tapia's 'wrong body language' towards the end, etc.).

In other words, he gave CONTENT that explained what you were seeing.

For a 3 man booth, with 2 already excitable guys, how much hooting and hollering do you expect Ward to do?

Just my thoughts. YMMV.