"To Hit and Not Be Hit Boxers" - Steve Kim

[Rantcatrat]

I think more people line up to see car wrecks than to see good driving.

I couldn't care less what most people do.

Ward is efficient and effective as hell. People who believe themselves to be dedicated boxing fans and yet cannot appreciate it need to do a better job of understanding boxing and what they are seeing.

The worship of men like Arturo Gatti sets the sport back in my view.

Fight fans love to hate on Ward. He doesn't knock people out, he fights ugly, blah blah blah. He is a joy to watch because he is one smart motherfucker. He changes styles for fights and often within fights. If plan A isn't working he has plan B and C.
His fight against Allan Green was a thing of beauty? How so? He just mauled the man. He mauled him with some very smart moves. There was times that he would get Green to the ropes. Ward would then position his body so that his left side pinned Green's arms against his body (without holding) and Ward could still get his right hand off without Green being able to throw either hand. Good ring IQ.

Against Kessler he stayed just out of distance. If Kessler took a step forward, he'd counter. If not he'd wait until Kessler had been moving laterally, then step in quickly, and get off. And out. Kessler doesn't move badly but after moving he has to reset.

I agree! I suspect the reason folks find Ward boring is he offers little reason to think something sudden and shocking is possible. He dominates tactically and so doesn't seem vulnerable and he lacks the power to stop a fight suddenly. So I suspect what people do is watch 5-6 rounds and think, there is close to zero chance the next 6-7 are different. I get that. He's not a wolf or a tiger, he's a python who slowly wraps his guy up and increases the squeeze until the end. Me? I admire his tactical skill.

I admire his tactical skill too a lot and I enjoy watching him, but I'm not sure I qualify as the casual fan. I stream Felix Sturm fights ffs! I also routinely attend boxing events and pay for ppv's. I'm not who Steve Kim was referring to.

Ward is not a python because a python finish by crushing the prey's diaghram and then killing and eating it, when was the last time Ward stopped anyone? I mean say what you want about Floyd but he stopped Hatton in a recent fight and stopped Chico. Same goes for Ali. Ward couldn't even stop Edison Miranda. His style is more of a wet blanket than a Python. I kid, I kid.

[marbleheadmaui]

I think more people line up to see car wrecks than to see good driving.

I couldn't care less what most people do.

Ward is efficient and effective as hell. People who believe themselves to be dedicated boxing fans and yet cannot appreciate it need to do a better job of understanding boxing and what they are seeing.

The worship of men like Arturo Gatti sets the sport back in my view.

Fight fans love to hate on Ward. He doesn't knock people out, he fights ugly, blah blah blah. He is a joy to watch because he is one smart motherfucker. He changes styles for fights and often within fights. If plan A isn't working he has plan B and C.
His fight against Allan Green was a thing of beauty? How so? He just mauled the man. He mauled him with some very smart moves. There was times that he would get Green to the ropes. Ward would then position his body so that his left side pinned Green's arms against his body (without holding) and Ward could still get his right hand off without Green being able to throw either hand. Good ring IQ.

Against Kessler he stayed just out of distance. If Kessler took a step forward, he'd counter. If not he'd wait until Kessler had been moving laterally, then step in quickly, and get off. And out. Kessler doesn't move badly but after moving he has to reset.

I agree! I suspect the reason folks find Ward boring is he offers little reason to think something sudden and shocking is possible. He dominates tactically and so doesn't seem vulnerable and he lacks the power to stop a fight suddenly. So I suspect what people do is watch 5-6 rounds and think, there is close to zero chance the next 6-7 are different. I get that. He's not a wolf or a tiger, he's a python who slowly wraps his guy up and increases the squeeze until the end. Me? I admire his tactical skill.

I admire his tactical skill too a lot and I enjoy watching him, but I'm not sure I qualify as the casual fan. I stream Felix Sturm fights ffs! I also routinely attend boxing events and pay for ppv's. I'm not who Steve Kim was referring to.

Ward is not a python because a python finish by crushing the prey's diaghram and then killing and eating it, when was the last time Ward stopped anyone? I mean say what you want about Floyd but he stopped Hatton in a recent fight and stopped Chico. Same goes for Ali. Ward couldn't even stop Edison Miranda. His style is more of a wet blanket than a Python. I kid, I kid.

The bold is the line of the morning!