Originally Posted by blegit

I'm not liking going against Kessler in the first round of the tournament but I think Ward is going to win in honest fashion. I think these two are the best of the bunch, although I'm with Youngblood on Abraham(he's capable of changing everything). Ward is one of those guys who just wins. I mean Andre Ward has never lost a boxing match ever, in the amateurs(at least not open class) or the pros. But somehow he is never the favorite(amateur continental tournaments, Olympics, Miranda...) It may not be prolific, fan favoring, or pretty but Ward just wins. He didn't exactly get a good draw but I think he will eke this one out somehow.

The jump from amateur to pro is huge. Yes natural talent can be spotted early in the ams but its also a common fixture that a future hall of famer could conceivably lose to a complete also ran!!!

Originally Posted by blegit

I'm not liking going against Kessler in the first round of the tournament but I think Ward is going to win in honest fashion. I think these two are the best of the bunch, although I'm with Youngblood on Abraham(he's capable of changing everything). Ward is one of those guys who just wins. I mean Andre Ward has never lost a boxing match ever, in the amateurs(at least not open class) or the pros. But somehow he is never the favorite(amateur continental tournaments, Olympics, Miranda...) It may not be prolific, fan favoring, or pretty but Ward just wins. He didn't exactly get a good draw but I think he will eke this one out somehow.

Yes, but other than Miranda, who has Andre beat amateur or professional of elite stature?

Originally Posted by jangeorg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmR_...layer_embedded

The difference in power is the key to victory

Sure Ward may switch hit, but despite having 'reasonably' fast hands, his feet are fairly static and he does not use distance very well and seems rooted to the spot when the going gets tough

Kessler by T/KO 9-10 round


Your Thoughts??

I think Kess will win and I would love to see him knockout Ward, but I don't think we know enough about Ward to predict a knockout. This fight is more about saying we know enough about Kessler to think he's not going to get outpointed or knocked out by Ward.

Originally Posted by RozzySean

This is going to be a better fight than some people think. Ward is fast and skilled. No offense to Andrade, but Ward will be his second best opponent, his second fastest opponent, and in he will be the best conventional style fighter he has faced. Andrade was pretty easy puzzle to solve for Kessler and Kessler was tough enough to stand up to the pressure. He's on the road, which won't phase him, but it will probably cost him 1-2 rounds, depending on the style of the fight. At 116-112 performance will leave him open to bad decision, and I think a fight that is accurately scored 116-112 is a real possibility.

Also, has Kessler ever had his chin really checked? He's been so dominant and fought so few quality fighters. Andrade barely touched him. That was a boxing clinic. Only Andrade's granite jaw kept him in the fight. Joe C can't punch. Mundine can't punch. Ward's not the biggest hitter, but he probably has the best chance of hurting Kessler of anybody he has fought.

I still pick Kessler, but it's not gonna be a cakewalk.

"Damn right Joe can't punch!"

-sincerely,

Roy Jones Jr's eye.

Originally Posted by hfahrenheit

Originally Posted by jangeorg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmR_...layer_embedded

The difference in power is the key to victory

Sure Ward may switch hit, but despite having 'reasonably' fast hands, his feet are fairly static and he does not use distance very well and seems rooted to the spot when the going gets tough

Kessler by T/KO 9-10 round


Your Thoughts??

I think Kess will win and I would love to see him knockout Ward, but I don't think we know enough about Ward to predict a knockout. This fight is more about saying we know enough about Kessler to think he's not going to get outpointed or knocked out by Ward.

I hope to see Kess catch Ward with a smart-ass low guard. When he has Ward hurt, on shaky legs, it's lights out for Ward.

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Originally Posted by blegit

I'm not liking going against Kessler in the first round of the tournament but I think Ward is going to win in honest fashion. I think these two are the best of the bunch, although I'm with Youngblood on Abraham(he's capable of changing everything). Ward is one of those guys who just wins. I mean Andre Ward has never lost a boxing match ever, in the amateurs(at least not open class) or the pros. But somehow he is never the favorite(amateur continental tournaments, Olympics, Miranda...) It may not be prolific, fan favoring, or pretty but Ward just wins. He didn't exactly get a good draw but I think he will eke this one out somehow.

Yes, but other than Miranda, who has Andre beat amateur or professional of elite stature?

Well, in the pros he is still on the rise so I can not debate that. Plus, you have to start somewhere. You don't come out beating the elite. But in amateurs Umm, Ward won the Olympics! (In a weight class above his own)Thats "the" all world class competition tournament. Thats the tournament of national champions. Also in his amateur run Ward beat most fighters of note from 165 to 178 in the U.S. He beat everybody he faced. Won every tournament he entered. You can question his pro resume but his amateur resume is undeniable.

Ward has a world of talent but I originally picked Kessler to win the whole thing & I'm sticking by that. Kessler in a very close fight!

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Ward has a world of talent but I originally picked Kessler to win the whole thing & I'm sticking by that. Kessler in a very close fight!

I agree with you, unlike most, that this fight will be very close. I am going with Ward but Kessler is the man of the division so its not wholehearted that I go with Ward. I actually wish this was the final. I guess that speaks volumes how great this Super Six tournament is...a first round fight like this.