Ward - Brand seems to be on

I usually agree with your posts Dubblechin, and have agreed with most of your posts for years, but I think you're way off the mark on this one.

In fact, this post kind of reminds me of an old post of yours from way back in the Boxing Wise days - where I remember you being critical of David Tua, who sat on his mandatory ranking waiting for the dust to settle with Lewis and Holyfield. You duly noted that Tua should have been preparing to face Lennox by continuing to face high quality opposition - something he had abandoned after his late and perhaps controversial win over Rahman. In fact I believe you were advocating a Tua-Rahman rematch, among other things.

Tua was under 225 against Rahman, and a couple of fights later, he was up to a whopping 253 against Obed Sullivan in one of those fights that did absolutely nothing to prepare him for a force like Lennox.

So I get that angle, that Ward, like Tua before him, needs to be facing ace competition to prepare for a juggernaut like Kovalev.

But I think there are some key differences, stemming largely from Ward's previous promotional issues along with the facts that he is NOT sitting on a mandatory, and is also preparing to move up in weight and is involved in a completely different contractual situation that is designed to culminate with a showdown against Kovalv.

In context of the 3-fight deal, the moving up in weight, coming off contractual issues, and a would-be showdown against Kovalev for alll the marbles, I think the progression Ward has made since signing with Roc Nation makes a good deal of sense.

Follow the sequence and follow the gradations. There is a clear step-by-step sequence here.

He had a fight after a long layoff at 172, the first time he's weighed that much since prior to the Super 6.

Now he's apparently planning to have a fight at 175 against an opponent his size who's also moving up.

And logically from there, I would assume the plan is to face a legit 175'er in his final prep before a would-be showdown with Kovalev, and if everything goes according to HBO's plan, it would probably then be a battle of undefeated titans, both at or very near prime, who are battling for the highly coveted title of universally recognized P4P King.

Neither Ward nor Kovalev are likely to be involved in any super risky fights prior to their would-be showdown so as to minimize risk and build momentum. Of course, this might not go to plan (Jones losing to Green and Pac being KTFO in JMM4 jump to mind).

But the "plan", for better or worse, and however it plays out, as to minimize risk along the way.

I personally don't believe it's as imperative for Ward as it was for Tua to prepare for Kovalev-Lewis respectively.

And Ward is certainly no joke.

I, in fact, believe he is taking a smart approach to what may ultimately lead to his toughest challenge to date against the monster which is Kovalev.

:smoke

 

May the Ward be with you!

:smoke

 

Given that we've known the last few weeks that Ward would likely be included on this card as the co-feature, I'm surprised that anyone seriously thought otherwise. Especially in the context of a 3 fight deal.

:smoke

 

May the Ward be with you!

:smoke

 

Kindly refer to post #136.

And may the Ward be with you!

:smoke