Wow! Andre Ward retires!

[Master]

Joe could have fought Ottke but the fight never happened. Both are to blame for that

Joe was at the end of his career and fought 2 legends which looks better on his record than Froch. If Joe beat him people like you would have said he was "green" and too early in Carl's career.

[imp]

Joe could have fought Ottke but the fight never happened. Both are to blame for that

Joe was at the end of his career and fought 2 legends which looks better on his record than Froch. If Joe beat him people like you would have said he was "green" and too early in Carl's career.

Hopkins fight was very close.
Hopkins would have got the nod if it wasn't for the white boy comment..then again, that comment made the fight.

Jones was done in the game and picking up pay checks...

Put the same Jones that fought Clinton woods against JC and you really think he would have lost?!

Triple jabs, double uppercuts, jumping uppercuts and hooks, stance switching and did we mention his counterpunch skills?!

Jones in his prime was a cartoon superhero with so many different attributes.

JC had fast hands and a heart full of Duracell but "timing" beats speed.

JC has to be one of the best at 168 (ever!) but lets really breakdown the facts before we put him above a prime Jones Jr.

[mikeeod]

Again, people on here are confusing their opinions regarding mythical match ups with historical ranking and who accomplished more. Roy may have been able to beat anyone who ever fought at 168, as may Joe C. That being said, Ward was more impressive and beat better competition at 168, completely cleaning out the division prior to moving up, which neither Joe nor Roy ever did (Joe partially unified at least). I will miss Andre Ward, and you can see how great of a fighter, and good of a man he is by how so many of his peers are reacting/speaking out after his retirement.

[imp]

Again, people on here are confusing their opinions regarding mythical match ups with historical ranking and who accomplished more. Roy may have been able to beat anyone who ever fought at 168, as may Joe C. That being said, Ward was more impressive and beat better competition at 168, completely cleaning out the division prior to moving up, which neither Joe nor Roy ever did (Joe partially unified at least). I will miss Andre Ward, and you can see how great of a fighter, and good of a man he is by how so many of his peers are reacting/speaking out after his retirement.

Well said.

Andre was so well rounded and physically/mentally strong.

No outstanding skill in one area but very good in all.

[powerpuncher]

Again, people on here are confusing their opinions regarding mythical match ups with historical ranking and who accomplished more. Roy may have been able to beat anyone who ever fought at 168, as may Joe C. That being said, Ward was more impressive and beat better competition at 168, completely cleaning out the division prior to moving up, which neither Joe nor Roy ever did (Joe partially unified at least). I will miss Andre Ward, and you can see how great of a fighter, and good of a man he is by how so many of his peers are reacting/speaking out after his retirement.

Well said.

Andre was so well rounded and physically/mentally strong.

No outstanding skill in one area but very good in all.

He may not have had any outstanding physical skill but he did have outstanding ring IQ and adaptability

[GaMo]

I get the feeling that most of the people posting here are white British which is why Calzaghe is being ranked so highly. If he was African American he'd be getting just as much shit as Ward and Floyd (do on here) but people are bias. Anyone with any sense knows a prime Jones completely embarrasses any version of Calzaghe.

[mikeeod]

I get the feeling that most of the people posting here are white British which is why Calzaghe is being ranked so highly. If he was African American he'd be getting just as much shit as Ward and Floyd (do on here) but people are bias. Anyone with any sense knows a prime Jones completely embarrasses any version of Calzaghe.

How do you KNOW Roy completely embarrasses a prime Joe C.? You THINK Roy would definitely win, but you don't KNOW that he would since they never fought each other (during their primes). A week before the fight people KNEW Tyson would beat Douglas. They KNEW he would beat Evander. A week before the fight people KNEW Tito, Pavilik, and Tarver would beat Hop. People KNEW Jeff Lacy would beat Joe C.

The point is, you're opinion is that Roy would definitely win, and you MAY be correct. It isn't a given, by any stretch of the imagination though. Joe was an elite fighter, and other than a weight drained, ill prepared Toney, Roy didn't fight, let alone dominate elite fighters. He looked invincible vs Glenn Kelleys, Bryant Brannon, Vinny Paz (former lightweight by the way), Antoine Byrd...etc.

[X]

I get the feeling that most of the people posting here are white British which is why Calzaghe is being ranked so highly. If he was African American he'd be getting just as much shit as Ward and Floyd (do on here) but people are bias.

Nope

[Beanz]

I get the feeling that most of the people posting here are white British which is why Calzaghe is being ranked so highly. If he was African American he'd be getting just as much shit as Ward and Floyd (do on here) but people are bias. Anyone with any sense knows a prime Jones completely embarrasses any version of Calzaghe.

Don't go trusting your feelings then. If Joe Calzaghe was African American he would not be Joe Calzaghe would he? Ward and Floyd don't get shit because they are American or because they are black, there are scores of Black and American fighters whom people love. Floyd was great but he along with Ward is a bit of a dick. You can be born anywhere and still be a dick, which is how you mange despite being British.

[El Kabong]

Again, people on here are confusing their opinions regarding mythical match ups with historical ranking and who accomplished more. Roy may have been able to beat anyone who ever fought at 168, as may Joe C. That being said, Ward was more impressive and beat better competition at 168, completely cleaning out the division prior to moving up, which neither Joe nor Roy ever did (Joe partially unified at least). I will miss Andre Ward, and you can see how great of a fighter, and good of a man he is by how so many of his peers are reacting/speaking out after his retirement.

Good post, and I only brought up the greats in those divisions because at the end of a top fighter's career you want to think about obviously what was, but also the what if's the imagine if ______ scenarios....it just adds another level to discuss. I certainly didn't mean to side track conversation and just gloss over Andre Ward's achievements of which there are many.


I think as much as Andre Ward accomplished, as talented as he showed himself to be, I think he could conceivably hang with anyone of those fighters. I don't think he'd get blasted out early by anybody for certain, he had RJJ type skill, but a B-Hop mindset and fighting style. His hands were fast, he's very athletic, he's got a bit of pop not so much that it's really eye catching, but it was certainly enough to take out an opponent.



So what next for Andre Ward? Does he become a commentator or does he do something different?

[mikeeod]

Again, people on here are confusing their opinions regarding mythical match ups with historical ranking and who accomplished more. Roy may have been able to beat anyone who ever fought at 168, as may Joe C. That being said, Ward was more impressive and beat better competition at 168, completely cleaning out the division prior to moving up, which neither Joe nor Roy ever did (Joe partially unified at least). I will miss Andre Ward, and you can see how great of a fighter, and good of a man he is by how so many of his peers are reacting/speaking out after his retirement.

Good post, and I only brought up the greats in those divisions because at the end of a top fighter's career you want to think about obviously what was, but also the what if's the imagine if ______ scenarios....it just adds another level to discuss. I certainly didn't mean to side track conversation and just gloss over Andre Ward's achievements of which there are many.


I think as much as Andre Ward accomplished, as talented as he showed himself to be, I think he could conceivably hang with anyone of those fighters. I don't think he'd get blasted out early by anybody for certain, he had RJJ type skill, but a B-Hop mindset and fighting style. His hands were fast, he's very athletic, he's got a bit of pop not so much that it's really eye catching, but it was certainly enough to take out an opponent.



So what next for Andre Ward? Does he become a commentator or does he do something different?

Wasn't addressing you with that post, more just a generic/non-specific post. I like hypothetical match ups, was just distinguishing that people shouldn't get wrapped around the "who would win" argument and forget about the "who accomplished more" argument. I agree with your observations about the RJJ/BHOP blend of skill/mindset.

Andre is VERY talented, intelligent, and articulate, so really the sky is the limit for him. With his mindset and will to succeed, anything he sets his mind to is possible and he will be successful in whatever he chooses. I see him commentating and acting initially, and think he will go on to be a great steward of the sport. BHOP has been my favorite fighter since his draw with Segundo Mercado, but for some reason, I'm more affected watching Ward retire than I was watching Hop retire.

[El Kabong]

Again, people on here are confusing their opinions regarding mythical match ups with historical ranking and who accomplished more. Roy may have been able to beat anyone who ever fought at 168, as may Joe C. That being said, Ward was more impressive and beat better competition at 168, completely cleaning out the division prior to moving up, which neither Joe nor Roy ever did (Joe partially unified at least). I will miss Andre Ward, and you can see how great of a fighter, and good of a man he is by how so many of his peers are reacting/speaking out after his retirement.

Good post, and I only brought up the greats in those divisions because at the end of a top fighter's career you want to think about obviously what was, but also the what if's the imagine if ______ scenarios....it just adds another level to discuss. I certainly didn't mean to side track conversation and just gloss over Andre Ward's achievements of which there are many.


I think as much as Andre Ward accomplished, as talented as he showed himself to be, I think he could conceivably hang with anyone of those fighters. I don't think he'd get blasted out early by anybody for certain, he had RJJ type skill, but a B-Hop mindset and fighting style. His hands were fast, he's very athletic, he's got a bit of pop not so much that it's really eye catching, but it was certainly enough to take out an opponent.



So what next for Andre Ward? Does he become a commentator or does he do something different?

Wasn't addressing you with that post, more just a generic/non-specific post. I like hypothetical match ups, was just distinguishing that people shouldn't get wrapped around the "who would win" argument and forget about the "who accomplished more" argument. I agree with your observations about the RJJ/BHOP blend of skill/mindset.

Andre is VERY talented, intelligent, and articulate, so really the sky is the limit for him. With his mindset and will to succeed, anything he sets his mind to is possible and he will be successful in whatever he chooses. I see him commentating and acting initially, and think he will go on to be a great steward of the sport. BHOP has been my favorite fighter since his draw with Segundo Mercado, but for some reason, I'm more affected watching Ward retire than I was watching Hop retire.

I was just posting to clarify no worries man

[GaMo]

Joe could have fought Ottke but the fight never happened. Both are to blame for that

Joe was at the end of his career and fought 2 legends which looks better on his record than Froch. If Joe beat him people like you would have said he was "green" and too early in Carl's career.

Hopkins fight was very close.
Hopkins would have got the nod if it wasn't for the white boy comment..then again, that comment made the fight.

Jones was done in the game and picking up pay checks...

Put the same Jones that fought Clinton woods against JC and you really think he would have lost?!

Triple jabs, double uppercuts, jumping uppercuts and hooks, stance switching and did we mention his counterpunch skills?!

Jones in his prime was a cartoon superhero with so many different attributes.

JC had fast hands and a heart full of Duracell but "timing" beats speed.

JC has to be one of the best at 168 (ever!) but lets really breakdown the facts before we put him above a prime Jones Jr.

Exactly! An old washed up Jones put Calzaghe down so imagine what he would've done to him in his prime.

[Master]

Joe could have fought Ottke but the fight never happened. Both are to blame for that

Joe was at the end of his career and fought 2 legends which looks better on his record than Froch. If Joe beat him people like you would have said he was "green" and too early in Carl's career.

Hopkins fight was very close.
Hopkins would have got the nod if it wasn't for the white boy comment..then again, that comment made the fight.

Jones was done in the game and picking up pay checks...

Put the same Jones that fought Clinton woods against JC and you really think he would have lost?!

Triple jabs, double uppercuts, jumping uppercuts and hooks, stance switching and did we mention his counterpunch skills?!

Jones in his prime was a cartoon superhero with so many different attributes.

JC had fast hands and a heart full of Duracell but "timing" beats speed.

JC has to be one of the best at 168 (ever!) but lets really breakdown the facts before we put him above a prime Jones Jr.

Exactly! An old washed up Jones put Calzaghe down so imagine what he would've done to him in his prime.

Roy is a great and prime Jones beats Joe but Jones put him down with a forearm and was completely outclassed in the fight.