Ward's trainer: Froch lacks respect for predecessors

Ward is like a big, black poor mans version of Chang.

 

I agree.

I think Ward is very good at adapting to his opponent, in much the same way as Hopkins does. Although I'd love for Froch to do it, I can't see him pulling this one off because he's a bit one dimensional for Ward and he doesn't have Wards inside game.

 

The reason Ward is justifiably the favourite in this fight is that he can win it in a number of different ways IMO. Froch on the other hand doesn't have the luxury of cahnging it up much in the middle of the fight if it's going wrong and pretty much needs the fight to go exactly to his original plan if he's going to do enough to get the W IMO.

The adaptability of Ward was clear in the wins over Kessler and Green. Whereas he seemed to outhink and outskill Kessler (something I didn't envisage him doing at all) to win the fight comfortably at mid range, he cut off the ring brilliantly vs Green and kept him inside where he bullied and outworked him for an easy 120-108 win on my card. Before that, people rightly only gave Green a puncher's chance with his relatively heavy hands and questionmmarls over Ward's chin but he just removed any possibilty of that by taking away the room Green needed to get full extension on his punches. It was a very dull fight IMO but a good sign of Ward knowing what he had to do to win and doing it in an effective manner, regardless of whether it looked pretty.

Even against Abraham where he wasn't particularly at his best, he showed a nice balance to his attack as he used raiding tactics and employed his better foot and hand speed to pull away from AA as the fight progressed. In my opinion, repeating them tactics could be the best form of attck vs Froch. I don't think Carl is comfortable when fighting on the front foot, particularly vs. an opponent showing a lot of lateral movement as witnessed in the Dirrell fight. In the rare moments where he chose to engage, Dirrell was able to quite easily land his shots and move away to safety again with Froch left off balanced and swinging wildly. Ward is arguably as quick as Dirrell with a better repertoire of punches IMO and obviously a higher output so if he employed similar tactics to Dirrell's and made Carl come to him, I'd see him taking a wide UD.

Likewise, if he can get inside and smother Froch I could also see him taking the win easily enough. His head movement is good and he can vary his lead shots well with either the jab, straight right or body punches. Once inside, as others have said he should be able to dominate Froch who is just nowhere as effective when not fighting at longer range. Again as has been pointed out, Ward could be vulnerable to the uppercut but I don't see Froch having the necessary speed or timing at close quarters to do much damage with it.

The only concern I can see with Ward trying to press the action and get inside is that it could play into Froch's hands slightly by giving him the chance to implement his own preferred gameplan of recent fights; that of fighting on the back foot and using the accuracy of his jab to control the range and tempo of the fight. The only way I can see Froch winning is if he again manages to establish his jab in the fight and is able to work off it to throw combinations. Clearly, the height and reach advantages he possesses are key for him if he's going to beat Ward and using them in the right way may be pivotal. Just because he has the superior jab, in my opinion, and physical attributes, it doesn't mean he should try and dominate on the front foot. The jab he has really is only effectively used when off the back foot as he seems to reach in and leave himself open when he tries to use it coming forward. However, though it's not the quickest of punches, it is very accurate and I can see it being good enough to penetrate Ward's high guard and giving himself the chance to throw combinations if he throws it well from the outside. That could offset Ward's rhythm and give him a good chance to win the fight.

To be honest, I see this fight going 12 rounds either way. Some people are saying Froch's only chance is by KO but I don't see that. I find his punching at world level to be solid at best and I just can't see him getting the chance to land enough power punches consecutively to stop Ward. Likewise Ward may be able to land a lot more clean punches but Froch obviously has a great chin which I can't see him denting. Ward is rightly favourite and stylistically holds the advantages but there is just something about Froch which never rules him out IMO. He is a warrior, showcased by the fact that he seems to answer any clean power punches he's hit by with 2 of his own. He's up against it in this one but the odds on him do tempt me because I don't think it's a foregone conclusion at all that Ward will win. He should do but I can see Froch having his moments in it and if he does fight the perfect fight, I wouldn't be surprised to see him emerge victorious.

 

The only chance Froch has in this fight is a punchers chance.... Froch has not got the skills to outbox, outhit Ward, but if he lands a few big bombs then there's a chance..... But I just can't see it and expect Ward to take Froch to school.

 

FFFS Flea no chance does Ward stop Froch! His tactics will be to spoil and not get involved.

Froch will put it on Ward every second of every round and stop him late IMO.

 

Ward lacks respect for people who have to watch him in the ring....

 

It all depends all Ward's punch really. No matter if he is to dominate in the fight, he won't come close to stopping Froch if he doesn't respect your power. And thats what makes Froch very dangerous and an out and out hard *******. If he doesn't respect your punch, he will go through you to hurt you and he will get to you and put it on you at some point, like he did in particular with Pascal and Taylor. Its laughable that people think Froch might be hit so often and so clean that Ward will stop him on punch accumulation. FFS Froch is in the super six final, he is criminally underated,he has beating supposed better purer boxers. Kessler was out on his feet, physically had nothing left to beat an under prepared Froch ( im sticking by that ) . No matter who Froch beats people have difficulty in labelling him a world class fighter just because his technique isn't easy on the eye. All set up perfectly for Froch, i hope Ward is massive favourite going in.

 

I haven't seen enough of Ward to make a confident pick, but based on what I have seen I think Ward will be too sharp, too fast, and too crafty (read: spoiler) for Froch to get the stoppage that I expect him to require. Ward by fairly wide UD, which is unfortunate since I think Froch is great for the sport and should get so much more respect from the general public, and boxing fans alike.

 

Cant belive how many people think Froch is going to hand his arse out on a plate, is this a really easy points win for Ward... I dont think so.

 

Froch is smart enough not to walk into where Ward's most effective. I see this turning into an ugly, negative clinch-filled fight.

 

Must admit i thought same as i posted last night, A right ****ing mess .

 

Ward is a superb fighter.

Right up there with the P4P best.

 

Billygoat ward couldn't stop the skin forming on gravy for ****s sake how is he going to stop a granite jawed behemoth such as the cobra?

 

Nail on the head. Good post, mate. :good

 

hit the nail on the head.froch gets no respect because his lack of respect towards super joe and others