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Listened to Tarver try to make that comparison during the broadcast tonight. I don't see any similarities between the two. Then he took his shot as usual. "Andre Ward is dominating better competition than Roy Jones"..
I think Ward is a quicker/cleaner version of BHop, don't see any RJJ likeness..
yea i was thinking the same thing, i mean only thing i could say he does like Jones is that he's always in place to throw shots, and well uses all types of angles to get shots in, but agree he looks like a cleaner version of Hopkins rather than Jones Jr
Ward is much more like B-Hop which is good, its a more reliable style and better suited for anyone that doesn't have Roy's physical gifts. He's nothing like Roy anymore.
Bernard when he was younger also threw a lot of punches so its not like comparing him to the old Bernard so much. Ward even has that throw the right hand and come in with the head down move. He's watched a lot of Hopkins fight tapes.
I think these guys just grab names out of the air with rising stars.Jones was an impactive hitter,much faster and dramatic for lack of a better term...dont think hes anywhere near the thinker and boxing 101 type Ward is.Ward is suprisingly cagey and does the small subtle things like a vet fighter...uses feints great and spins into counters,cuffs gloves off jab and 'pulls' guys into shots....tonight he really worked ropes big time.even holding arm and cracking with other.Dude is wise.
Ward is definitely comparable to B Hop. Andre definitely wont be winning any fight of the year awards soon. I actly found myself pulling for green in the middle rounds and I hate Allan Green.
What a terrible fight.
Andre Dirrell is going to put a beating on Andre Ward......
Do you think he could have just meant in terms of being a dominant force and a league above his competition?
As someone who has fought Jones three times, arguably winning every time I think Tarver is capable of understanding that their fighting styles aren't the same.
A prime Jones Jr is synomyous with domination and being untouchable which I guess is why he used him
Hopkins, although clearly more appropriate when comparing fight style, has a name that is often used negatively amongst fight fans and to say he was like BHop might not be taken as a compliment.
I don't see a problem with the Jones analogy really even though I agree they don't fight alike. Ward is starting to develop that aura of untouchableness now though like Roy imo.
No need to get hung up on semantics.
I don't know man, Ward looks great but at the same time he still looks beatable...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilbo
Yea the Hopkins comparision is spot on, Jones, not so much. When he was younger he idolized Ward and in the amateurs and in his first dozen or so fights that showed, but it's not the style he's best at. Ward is going to be good for a very long time with this style of his, he was in Green's doghouse the whole fight and turned a pitbull (in his own mind) into a poodle. I was at the fight live and really enjoyed it, didn't think it was a bad fight at all Ward dominated every second after the first round.
I kind of agree with a but.Quote:
Originally Posted by JonesJrMayweatherI don't know man, Ward looks great but at the same time he still looks beatable...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilbo
He looks to me like a great adaptive fighter, meaning he changes based on the man in front of him. PBF is the greatest of this era( though I'm not a fan.)
BTW, Green is a complete flake. My brother and I were ready to see him fight a couple of years ago in Marksville and he pulled out the day before. I'm still pissed!
I like Ward, but let's not get carried away. He has beaten two slow plodders so far in the tournament. Let's see how he does with Dirrell. Frankly, I think Dirrell stinks him out for a clear points win. I also think Dirrell ought to be undefeated in the tournament as he CLEARLY should have won on points vs. Froch...don't misunderstand, Dirrell was boring in that fight, but the clean punches and defense win the day and Froch scarcely landed a clean punch even though he pressed the action. That's the thing that frustrates me about a lot of judges and fans...pressing the action and throwing punches (i.e. being more "active") doesn't win a fight. Landing clean punches and defense does. Dirrell beat Froch in a landside on that standard and I think he beats Ward, though I hope I'm wrong (I hope I'm wrong because I agree Dirrell is usually boring and frustrating to watch).Quote:
Originally Posted by DAWGSWINI kind of agree with a but.Quote:
Originally Posted by JonesJrMayweatherI don't know man, Ward looks great but at the same time he still looks beatable...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilbo
He looks to me like a great adaptive fighter, meaning he changes based on the man in front of him. PBF is the greatest of this era( though I'm not a fan.)
BTW, Green is a complete flake. My brother and I were ready to see him fight a couple of years ago in Marksville and he pulled out the day before. I'm still pissed!
I don't see how he's untouchable. Great win vs. Kessler, but Calzaghe beat him more comprehensively and frankly I think Kessler is a bit past it. Look at some of his early fights and compare them to the Ward and Froch fights and he simply is not as accurate or sharp with his punches. Don't misunderstand, Ward is very talented and top ten p4p worthy....but prime Jones-like untouchable? Not even close. A I said earlier, let's see him and Dirrell. I think Dirrell stink him out ot a victory.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilbo
OK Calzaghe did not beat Kessler more comprehensively. Ward won arguably every round in his fight versus Kessler and pretty much dominated start to finish, Calzaghe lost almost all the early rounds and then once he made an adjustment, stuck behind his jab and began moving did he takeover that fight. Fair enough you think Kessler was past it but no way you can make the argument that Calzaghe beat him by a wider margin.
I also don't think Dirrell will beat Ward but to me it's the most intriguing fight of the whole tournament. If Dirrell doesn't beat him then no one will. Also, if Dirrell has to fight in Oakland then we will see how he lets the crowd get to him. He was very nervous and England and fought very jittery, Ward gameplans better then anyone in boxing at this point besides maybe Pacquiao and Mayweather, he's on par with those two and he's got a much better mental makeup then Dirrell. I will bet on the guy who hasn't lost in over 10 years in that one.
Ward similar to Jones, sounds like an insult to Jones. Even negating the intentions of the style argument, it's still hard for me to see the validity of the dominance part of it. Jones used his speed to sting guys in the center of the ring to make them think they had no hope of even getting the idea of where the punches came from. He also had of way of staying in range and didn't get hit while landing clean combos on his opponents. This jab or stiff arming an opponent, and the leading with your head or shoulder till you can get an arm bar on him and sucker punch him with the other hand it just the latest tactic (along with volume punching to land 2 out of 5 in every combo, turning and running from an opponent, hurling yourself to the floor, faking injury and other stuff that cheapens the sport) by a bunch of kids that don't really like the idea of having to take a punch but like the money.
Ward was effective when he feinted from right on top of Green and got him to cover up so he could unload... and I can appreciate that part of his game... but the facewashing (putting your arm straight out and palm your opponents face in order to stave them off), Grabbing the left arm and pinning your head between his shoulder and neck in order to immobilize his his head so you can go for that rock em sock em uppercuts with the left hand was all bull$h*t. Pushing your opponent back to the ropes and keeping him pinned there for a half hour while your do you B-hop impersonation is rather weak. There were also one or two over the top punches that didn't have enough room and became more forearm than punch. While its a good way to sap your opponent of all his energy, I suppose... it's rather sad that he can't find another way to beat opponents. As much as I hate Dirrel, i'd rather watch him that watch this crap... (I had to switch off after the 7th round as ward's style, the nuthugging showtime commentators and the majority of fans in attendance (no offense to Amat or anyone else there) screaming for every glancing shot or flail on the inside was turning my stomach) . Sure Direll runs (and i can't believe I'm saying this but...), but at least when he's corner he can find one of his balls, stand his ground and punch back for a second before he takes off again. Sadly when the two meet, Ward will eek out a decision by jabbing or palming Direll off in a direction, throw a punch, go for the tackle and stymie any running Dirrel has planned... before smothering him on the ropes. That first punch will get him the points win.
I saw articles and journal posts across the web asking if Ward was the next Mayweather? Is this all this generation has to offer? Flail and bail, jab and grab and all the other methods of taking the action out of a fight. The fighters of yesteryear definitely had a penchant for taking more punches then they had to for the sake of bravado. Then somewhere in the middle, we had fighters like Roy and Floyd of immense talent accused of being too cautious and not using it enough to engage an opponent. Now we have kids that look like they have never seen a fight in their life trying to reinvent the game using these spoiler methods to master the art of fighting without fighting. Reminds of basketball decade ago before it became fouling for points. I see the logic..Why use develop your skills when you only need to do half the work and draw a foul and get 2 free unobstructed shots... but fail to see the merit in this.
Guess I'll just have to wait for the day someone gets tired of this smothering crap and intentionally misses on a punch on the inside and follows through with and elbow just above the eye or the bridge of Wards nose or maybe just under throat in the Adam's apple region. Maybe then we'll see if this kid can fight from the outside.
Ward is in no way similar to Roy Jones Jr. Like others have said, it is more like watching Bernard Hopkins, but not early fun to watch Hopkins, but more akin to the ageing spoiler we have all got rather tired of. It was repetitive seeing him do the same things over and over. Ward is tenacious, but really not all that skilled. I think someone like Calzaghe would have taken him to school easily enough.
Surprisingly enough, I agree with the previous poster who said that watching Dirrell is preferable to watching Ward. No doubt, I will be rooting for Dirrell against Ward when that fight comes about.
Well said as they did specify that like Roy then Ward comes out with something new all the time and surprises everyone with the added arsenol....Also they did make it clear Roy was more of a fighter who relied on strict athleticisim and Ward os more of an overall boxer....Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilbo
So not as if they were saying he is an image of Jones just ability wise he seems to be able to add things better then most in a short amount of time doing it well