Andre Ward vs. Alexander Brand

[Freedom]

According to Dan Rafael, Alexander Brand has been accepted by HBO as Andre Ward's Nov 21 opponent.

Super middleweight Alexander Brand Monsalve of Columbia is age 38 and has fought one good opponent in his career: Badou Jack, who he lost to a few years ago.

Andre Ward will have him go up from 168 to 175 for this fight.

Does Brand have a chance? Is this a mismatch? Why didn't Ward choose a light heavyweight, why make Brand move up in weight?

[TitoFan]

Ward is compounding his crass inactivity with now picking absurd opposition for his fights.
As far as I'm concerned, he's fast fading from boxing's consciousness.

F*ck Andre Ward.

[Primo Carnera]

Wow! where to start. I've gone on record many times to say how I admire Ward as a commentator and he seems like a really nice bloke.
I also admire Ward's ability and that he's potentially the best Boxer on the planet post Floyd. But the very fact that we have to use the word "Potential" for a guy in his mid 30's who has been hands down the best in his division for years and years tells us everything we need to know .
I though that the Paul Smith fight was the one to "Blow off the cobwebs", do they need blowing off again? why are his people chasing meaningless mismatches forcing guys to go up in weight at 3 weeks notice? Why does he have to piggy back onto the Cotto - Canelo fight ? can he not make a card off his own back?
I really want the guys on this forum who slag GGG off just because they are Ward lovers to explain exactly what the fuck is going on here.
please do not use the old "it's his management, or promoters Blah,Blah," because he's changed that team and it's still the same old shit so you have to go to the common denominator.
I get really angry with this guy because I really can't think of anyone who is completely wasting his talent as much as he is.
Still , I suppose he's slowly building to the Kovalev fight in 12 months time that's taking place in Never, Never Land!

[Tam Seddon]

Andre Ward-Alexander Brand on Cotto-Canelo PPV - Boxing News

[erics44]

whats does it achieve?

no fan will be happy, nobody in the boxing business will take anything from it, ward will not gain anything in the ring by in skill or experience

counter productive more than anything

[Tam Seddon]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

[Primo Carnera]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

Again! "And the new shake off the ring rust and blow off the cobweb champion is............"

[erics44]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

what was the paul smith fight for?

[Tam Seddon]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

what was the paul smith fight for?

To start to shake of the ring rust

[p4pking]

Sadness. For all his inactivity, Ward has never actually looked "rusty". He's also not the type of fighter who looks that much better against journeymen than he does against elite fighters, so he won't benefit from this type of gimme any way I can see.

[Tam Seddon]

Sadness. For all his inactivity, Ward has never actually looked "rusty". He's also not the type of fighter who looks that much better against journeymen than he does against elite fighters, so he won't benefit from this type of gimme any way I can see.

He just might have some insecurities, he could of taken a few hits in the gym and doesn't want it to happen on the main stage.

[beenKOed]

Wow! where to start. I've gone on record many times to say how I admire Ward as a commentator and he seems like a really nice bloke.
I also admire Ward's ability and that he's potentially the best Boxer on the planet post Floyd. But the very fact that we have to use the word "Potential" for a guy in his mid 30's who has been hands down the best in his division for years and years tells us everything we need to know .
I though that the Paul Smith fight was the one to "Blow off the cobwebs", do they need blowing off again? why are his people chasing meaningless mismatches forcing guys to go up in weight at 3 weeks notice? Why does he have to piggy back onto the Cotto - Canelo fight ? can he not make a card off his own back?
I really want the guys on this forum who slag GGG off just because they are Ward lovers to explain exactly what the fuck is going on here.
please do not use the old "it's his management, or promoters Blah,Blah," because he's changed that team and it's still the same old shit so you have to go to the common denominator.
I get really angry with this guy because I really can't think of anyone who is completely wasting his talent as much as he is.
Still , I suppose he's slowly building to the Kovalev fight in 12 months time that's taking place in Never, Never Land!

I agree!

[ross]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

what was the paul smith fight for?

To start to shake of the ring rust

That was the ring rust on his left leg. This is for his right leg.

[Tam Seddon]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

what was the paul smith fight for?

To start to shake of the ring rust

That was the ring rust on his left leg. This is for his right leg.

Its sounding like a Kovalev showdown in 2016, so they wont put him in any risky fights till then.

[beenKOed]

Can only think its to shake off any ring rust...That's about it.

what was the paul smith fight for?

To start to shake of the ring rust

That was the ring rust on his left leg. This is for his right leg.

Its sounding like a Kovalev showdown in 2016, so they wont put him in any risky fights till then.

I agree with this too. He's between a rock and a hard spot. No matter what he does, it looks wrong to somebody. The thing is, it's mostly his fault!