Ward: " I'm in it for fighter of the year not fight of the year"

I'm an Andre Ward fan, and I picked Kessler to win the tourney.

 

an ESB poll of who was going to win
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157489

 

here are the vegas odds from October 5th, 2009 . This was before the tournament began

Kessler 2/1

Abraham 5/2

Froch 13/4

Taylor 7/1

Ward 5/1

Dirrell 10/1

referenced from: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174053

 

What are you doing on this thread, I thought you lived on my Hopkins/Sturm thread

 

Most odds I saw had Taylor a huge underdog, then Dirrell, next was a tie between Ward, Froch, and Abraham, then Kessler was on top.

 

YEs it is. I said betting odds at bodog.com had him number 2.

 

Ward is exceptional. Some would say exceptionally dull or dirty, but there's no denying that this guy can do many things extraordinarily well in the ring. The degree that his jab is underrated on ESB is criminal. I've learned to never count Froch out of a fight, but he's got a real uphill battle against Ward. Ward is superior in most every category.

 

my bad, I saw you referenced them later

 

Andre Ward is quite a likeable guy when he's not in the boxing ring. Polished lad, dresses well, speaks well. But when he's in the ring he just makes me sleepy. I don't know how to describe his style (or the lack of it).
It's upto Carl Froch to make sure the Super Six final isn't a snooze fest.

 

Crazy how people can hate on Ward...he is well spoken, polite, humble, respects his opponents, has a passion and drive to be the best, but yet people still find negative stuff to say about him...he's a rough and tumble type of fighter who doesn't want to take unecessary punishment. He's a dirty fighter? Right, but when someone like Froch or Hopkins do dirty things it's 'veteran savvy'. Give me a break.

 

Froch will prevail & win :happy:happy:happy

 

When did Lewis stop/start koing guys? :think

 

Ward: " I'm in it for fighter of the year not fight of the year"

2011 :
- 2011-05-03 UD against Abraham
- 2011-10-29 Against Froch

No way he's going to be fighter of the year.
Ward vs Froch is HUGE!
But Abraham after his lost to Froch and Dirrel isn't a big enough name at SMW to get you a title of FOTY with only two fight in 2011

... and there's not enough time in 2011 to fight Kessler again, Bute or a Light Heavyweight

Ward is extremely talented. But if he only fight twice a year, after Froch, there's not enough opposition left at SMW to get a FOTY

 

Are the majority of people picking ward to beat froch convincingly?..... because im not! i'll admit im english and im from the midlands where froch is from, so i have an invested interest in him winning, but re watching the johnson, froch fight it just validates my hopes.

froch undoubtedly hits harder than ward (abraham said as much), he has more will power imo, has easily the better chin, is probably stronger than ward and has proven him self in wars against guys like pascal, abraham, taylor, kessler and johnson.

ward is a more skillfull fighter with better footwork, speed and head movement but none of that will matter if he doesn't get past frochs powerfull jab and doesn't avoid frochs hooks at mid range. im not saying froch will win these earlier exchanges but froch has the power to make the punches he does land have an effect.

theres no way wards stopping froch so he will have to with stand an onslaught from froch in the later rounds and wards ability to with stand it will be dependent on what punishment he has taken earlier in the fight.

if i had to bet my house on this fight id say ward by close UD, but i wouldn't be surprised at all if froch pulled off a UD or late stoppage win.

 

maybe ward can pick his "official" of the year, tough choice, he has so many :hey

Im waiting for the photo of andre down at his local government office checking if his passport is up to date for his journey to the east coast