When you have tuneups to get ready for big fights, aren't the tuneups supposed to get progressively "more" difficult? In the last three years, Ward has fought Edwin Rodriguez, Paul Smith and, next up, Alexander Brand. It would've made sense if he fought Brand, Smith and then Rodriguez ... but he's going the other direction. And wasn't choosing over-matched Paul Smith reconciled because Smith was the "tuneup" fight? Now he's fighting someone who isn't as good as Smith. And he wants "another" tuneup after this one? What's he need a tuneup for again? Was he in some horrific car accident. Or was he just arguing with his promoter? Since when does having an argument with a promoter require YEARS of "tuneup" fights to prepare for someone who can punch back? Hell, Vinnie Pazienza broke his neck, and came back faster and against better competition than Ward has. Ward is a joke.
NO, Lhws can weigh up to 175, theres a difference. A fw can challenge for a welterweight belt because he wont weigh over the division limit. There is no such thing as lower limit.
There's no difference. If I can weigh up to a max weight, I can be at that max weight. In other words, I can weigh less than or EQUAL TO the max weight. I never said there was a lower limit. In a C/W fight you cannot weigh over the agreed upon max weight...or there will be penalties. I am sure you know this.
Of course tune ups are supposed to get more difficult. But his fight with Rodriguez was 2 years ago. When he fought Smith, he'd been out for 19 months. So it's been 1 step forward, 2 steps back. I'm sure he'd have fought someone better than Smith after Rodriguez, if he'd have fought again within a few months. But due to his injuries and his contractual issues, he keeps having to reset himself. Yes, of course he wants another tune up after this one. Do you seriously expect him to go up and fight Kovalev at LHW, after only fighting 3 times in 4 years? It's baffling to me, how these tune ups have caused such an outrage. It was to be expected. Plenty of fighters have tune ups. And if he ends up fighting Kovalev next year off of the back of them, then who cares?
This guy gets it. It's not hate for Ward, it's common sense. How can anyone possibly say "it's cool that he fights no hopers, cuz he is fighting Kovalev in less than a year" Anyone who spouts that garbage is helping to destroy boxing. PERIOD.
He's basically in a no win situation with you. Are you telling me that if the fight happens next year, you won't be happy, because it won't be fair on the other LHW's?
Garbage? Look at the current state of boxing. It's already been destroyed. We've got guys like Canelo saying he's not ready for 160 and demanding CW's, even though he weighs 172 on fight night. We've got guys like Eubank Jr walking around with a belt. We have Super, Silver, Gold, Regular and Interim champions in each weight class, and there's 4 main Organisations. The only thing we can hope for is mega fights such as Ward-Kovalev. I don't care if Ward fights a librarian next. If it leads to a Kovalev fight, it's something to look forward to.