Olympians

**The Fightfan** · 03-29-2008 02:34 AM

Just bare with me folks.I was watching Roy Jones vs James Toney and I noticed that fight took place 6 years since Roy was in the Seoul olympics.I noticed that when he turned pro he fought Bernard Hopkins 3 years later after the olympics for a title.Than another year later fought Toney for the super middleweight title.Which brings me to our gold medalist in the '04 games Andre Ward.My question being why hasn't this guy really been tested. Of course people will say he fought undefeated Roger Cantrell, but honestly who is he.It just aggravates me when fighters are protected this much and hype themselves up as being great,but we will never know because (they) not the promoters have balls.Andre Ward will not be a world champion in my book but damnit at least go out there and try for a title.I understand building yourself up slowly and then making your name but damn 4 years and who have you fought and how many have you fought.If I was Ward with four years in the pro's and no really big names I would have had about 48 fights.I mean even your running mate Jason Estrada at least faced a top ten contender in some type of sanctioning body in Charles Shufford.To Andre Ward man up and try to get a championship fight already.

**The Fightfan** · 03-29-2008 02:42 AM

Sorry got to write one more thing. If he is so good why won't he take on the recent fall through of either Miranda or Kessler.Hell they'll definately fight him and we will finally see were Ward stands.It all starts with the one big fight you don't have control of. Whatever the hell that means .

**Lance Uppercut** · 03-29-2008 03:02 PM

Ward has had some injurys that have given him set backs. Dan Rafael wrote a story about his subject a couple of weeks ago in his blog on ESPN.COM/Boxing

**amat** · 03-30-2008 01:51 AM

Ward is moving fine. He's 24 years old and he's doing the right thing, he's fighting all the different kinds of styles he can and getting as acclamated as possible to the pro game before challenging for a title.

To do otherwise would be stupid. I've talked to him more then a few times about this and it's very clear that he's going about things the smart way, he sees the bigger picture and isn't worried about right now, he's setting himself up to have a long career at the top instead of making it a sprint.

He often talks about Kelly Pavlik, how it took him 7 years before he took that step up and once he did, he was ready. It hasn't even been 4 years since the Olympics yet, and he tore a ligament in his right hand after his 9th fight that took him out of the ring for 10 months and out of training for half a year. So until recently, he's been making that time up.

Anyone who has seen Ward in his last 5 fights since coming back from that injury knows how good he looks. Excellent balance, the speed is still there and he switches back and forth between orthodox and southpaw better then anyone right now. He's just beat Rubin Williams who was a step up, how big of a step is debatable, now he's looking to take another step up in June. Until then, he's not rushing. There's no point too.

It's ridiculous how people will call and call for a fighter to rush themselves then when they find that fighter ill prepared for the challenges that fighting at the highest level faces, they'll be the first to ditch them. Ward isn't falling in that trap. Leave his career to him, he's one of the most well spoken, intelligent, hard working, goal oriented fighters there is and he has a very clear and concise plan for himself that involves him leaving the sport as one of the greats. It doesn't involve calendar dates for title shots or taking on challenges to great for him. IMO, I think with a couple more good fights this year, maybe taking on people like Jean Pascal or Edison Miranda later in the year that he'll be ready to really make his stamp next year.

No reason to rush. No other person from the 2004 amateur class has won a title yet, why does Ward get all the criticism? Not buying it. At least Ward knows that just because he has better hand speed then most guys doesn't mean he's going to have a cakewalk through his division. Andre Berto does and that's going to cost him no doubt imo, because he's taking the quickest route to a title shot and while he's winning, he looks far from the complete package and that's going to cost him no doubt imo.

**Violent Demise** · 03-30-2008 02:13 AM

I think Ward chin is weak. And his team knows it. There being careful in who they put him in with

**Spicoli** · 03-30-2008 02:45 AM

Why are we In such a rush to get guy's wrecked these days?Development is a process. Why do I have David Reid flashing through my head?

Oh yeh,Amat Pin point in Berto.He'll be fire and brimstone ,fun while he last's but style and hurry will catch up fast Imo.

**amat** · 03-30-2008 02:52 AM

What's the basis of him having a weak chin? Because he got knocked down in his 8th pro fight with a temple shot? And then came back to win the round?

They said the same thing about De La Hoya, he hit the canvas twice inside of his first 15 fights then didn't get knocked out until he fought Hopkins. While I'm not sure he has an excellent chin, just because it hasn't been tested, it's definitely an exaggerated question mark.

**Violent Demise** · 03-30-2008 03:03 AM

Originally Posted by amat

What's the basis of him having a weak chin? Because he got knocked down in his 8th pro fight with a temple shot? And then came back to win the round?

They said the same thing about De La Hoya, he hit the canvas twice inside of his first 15 fights then didn't get knocked out until he fought Hopkins. While I'm not sure he has an excellent chin, just because it hasn't been tested, it's definitely an exaggerated question mark.

I seen Ward wobbled about 5 times already in his young career. Not exactly signs of a great chin

**The Fightfan** · 03-31-2008 10:43 PM

All I'm saying is he could take a bigger step up into class.I mean everyone says well don't rush things it will come natural.That's a load of horse shit.He has something like what 150 amateur fights and now quite a few pro fights in four years.Granted he did have an injury but what up-n-comer didn't.How I see it is you say David Reid yeah that's one in a million.What about Roy Jones vs Benard Hokins,or someone different Oscar vs. Julio Cesar Chavez in four years after the olympics ,ok one more Floyd Mayweather fighting Diego Corrales shortly after he won he his gold medal.Wait I have to say one more EVANDER HOLYFIELD just two years after winning his gold medal fought Dwight Muhammed Qawi.You see so it is not rushing things.I don't see within even six years does Andre Ward fight for a title and if he does I will be very shocked.Again all I'm saying is at least he should crack the top ten this year and maybe he will make me a believer.

**amat** · 04-01-2008 04:13 AM

What's the point in making you a believer now if he feels it won't do him any good in the long run? There's no Gold star for accomplishing something early. Rather him not rush. He's 24, find a younger champion that wouldn't have been better served spending more time to develop?