Ward: define true skills

Rewatched Ward-Miranda and his chin & ability to overcome were superb. He toke flush right hands from a power puncher and the rest of the fight he avoided them by usually weaving and in the last few rounds he used lateral movement to give him fits and really didn't press the action too much because he had the fight in the bag. I even noticed he was against the ropes so he turned Miranda around to throw a combo and backed up towards the center to avoid being cornered. I know he was facing Miranda but he really showed chin in that fight and got hit less in the second half of the fight than he did in the first half. I'm a Ward & Dirrell fan BTW. Also, Dirrell made Frcoh look pretty bad and if he came forward more he probably would've got hit more so I can't blame him because overall he outboxed Froch. No way in hell was he getting that decision in Froch's hometown anyways.

 

Total Punches

Jabs

Power Punches

Kessler

125 / 431

78 / 280

47 / 151

29%

28%

31%

Ward

Headbutts and Low Blows.

225 / 667

93 / 337

132 / 330

34%

28%

40%

 

Skill can be defined in a number of ways. Ward has displayed skill as both an outboxer and an infighter.

Lumping Ward in with Hatton and Ruiz needs to stop. He fights nothing like either.

Also, Dirrell and Alexander have a style that's effective up to a point. Granted, neither has been decisively beaten with that style yet - but when they run into the smarter and more adaptable Ward and Bradley, they will. :deal

 

Also with Dirrell he fights based on mostly natural skill. What happens when he's not as fast as he used to be? That's why smarts & technique are more sufficient than just alone natural abilities.

 

100%

well, Dirrell is still plenty young. But like all fighters who uses their superior athleticism to compensate for fundamental usage, they all.... well you know what happens, they get outclassed by fundamentalists in their later years...

 

Yep.

There are three things that make up a great fighter.

Skill: this is acquired and applied knowledge. To be skilled you must have a good coach and training environment, lots of discipline, a student mentality, be a quick learner, and smarter than the average bear. A good amateur background doesn't hurt.

Talent: this is what you're born with. Things like speed, power, chin, reflexes, etc.

Intangibles: this comprises anything that doesn't fall under "Skill" or "Talent". Things like the will to win, the ability to adapt to new situations and not buckle under adversity, etc.

You need to fire on ALL three cylinders to be great. Some get by pretending to be great with just one or two of the above, but in the final analysis there's no sugar-coating it - you need to have them all in order to prove yourself time and again in the big moments.

 

In the Kessler fight Ward threw nine head butts, but only landed five. He has a long way to go before he catches up with Hopkins and Holyfield.

 

That's true but he needs to be aware of consequences though especially in this tournament. He fought well against Abraham and that fight ultimately made me a fan of his but he needs to fight smarter. Abraham was the most dangerous fighter and he outclassed him for the most part, Ward(another fighter I'm a fan of) is the most technically-skilled and he can outhink Dirrell. Dirrell will have his moments most likely if not win. It'll be a battle of the Andre's.

Good message. I also think appreciation of older fighters is a must too because I learn a few tricks from the older fighters and get inspired by them. Current fighters influence me too but there's nothing like the crafty fighters of the older times. Even Toney & Hopkins study older fighters. I do too and pick up things from current fighters aswell.

 

This was well-covered. Skill & Talent being covered - alot of fighter do have those. Ward does have the "Intangibles", which very few fighters do have....

 

I know where your coming from, and agree to an extent but I would say he is great at positioning himself so he can land his blows without getting caught with much himself. But except for the low blow part, I do agee he holds and hits and uses the head and is a dirty fighter

 

lol, d00d your hater comment needs to have better content - just makes you sound silly and immature

PLUS - you've used this SAME post in another Ward thread lol

-5 points for being a hater w/o substance
-5 points for lack of imagination and cut&paste previous hater posts

 

Decent Observation

That is skill... So called boxing fans don't see what Ward does as skill.. The ones who appreicate the Sweet Science do..

There would be no debate about Ward being #1 at SMW because.. Froch would have been undressed in a fight with Ward.. Abrahamn would have been boxed similar to Miranda.. reduced to a home run hitter.. I think the Dan Goossen felt Ward should get some respet based on his Gold Medal status.. Hence the no signing unless 3 fights in the States.. He deserves it based on the Gold Medal.. Lenoard, De la Hoya.. other Gold Medalist have gotten a good boost by winning the Gold and their pro carrers started well off of that satus.. Ward shouldn't have to go Germany or England to prove himself right away..

 

I think Kotelnik-Alexander will be a good fight. Not just to see them go at it but I think we'll really be able to properly gauge Devon's future as a fighter with this on.