Andre Ward

[#1FightFan]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

LOL. well said!!!

[Beanflicker]

Hey, Boxing's entertainment, people pay to be entertained.
Ward ought to stop putting on boring @$$ fights. For $#!t's sake, even his personalty is boring.

Muhammad Ali was the master of self-promotion because he put himself out there to the public constantly. For almost 4 years, he didn't fight at all but still maintained a national and international presence, by the $#!t, because he constantly interacted with the public. Zilch self-promotion by Ward.

Kee-rist, Floyd's fights are craptastic borefests too, but at least his personality isn't boring, and he keeps his name in the press, even if it's cheap heat by pulling publicity stunts every time Pacquiao fights or by getting arrested, Floyd still keeps his name relevant.
Floyd tries to compensate for boring fights with personality and publicity stunts.
None of that from Ward.

To the mainstream public, Ward is invisible.
He shows up, he boxes a craptastic bore-fest, then goes home... back to being anonymous with the public. Most Boxing fans don't even like watching him, PPVs are the indicator.

Instead of focusing on a safety-first, risk-averse style, he ought to be more exciting in the ring, and also study the outside-the-ring antics by the Great draws, learn some promo tips from Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Tex Cobb, Mayweather, Ricardo Mayorga.




....but he won't!

The fact that it's no longer enough being a great boxer, and guys now have to fight with stupid, risk taking styles and also adopt a cheesy pro-wrestling persona is a sign that boxing is in a downward spiral into obscurity.

What that attitude says is "I could give a fuck about the sport of boxing, but I like seeing guys get fucked up and acting a fool on the mic, so if that happens I might tune in."

That's why boxing is going to go away.

[mrbig1]

People here don't like the way Ward fights. The truth is boxing is a art. Some people don't want to see boxing. They want a back ally brawl. have learned over the years that speed and power is not everything in boxing. Skill and ring smarts are very important. This is why Hopkins at his age still wins. Ward is a master in the ring and see no one who can beat him. To win the super six is a big deal to me. He has beaten the best in the world. He has damn near ran out of people to fight. Nobody wants to fight him. He's that good.

[J_Undisputed]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

You were correct in a few of his matches. I thought he beat up Rodriguez last time out though. I still think he needs to move up in weight where there are some fun fights. Even Pascal, who I know lost to Hopkins etc., but even Pascal-Ward would be fun at 175, as would Kov-Ward.

But why move up in weight when you're still comfortable at your current weight and still completely dominant? I don't understand this idiotic concept that many of you have that a fighter should always move up in weight if they're at the top of their natural weight division.

Most fans feel he needs to be pushed or challenged to unlock his potential. I think he's peaked and we've seen all there is. I don't think he necessarily has to move up, I think if he's that far above his competition he should put forth an effort to have his competition lose the fight on their backs, or be seriously broken down by the end. The thought that he can "hug & slug" someone for 12 rounds and much of those fighters don't seem the worse for wear afterwards is giving me john ruiz flashbacks. Couple that and his failed attempt at being a roy jones stylist, and you get the feeling that its not the fighter but the suffocating style that's his key to victory. He does just enough to win and expects to be showered in wealth and praise. Hes cheapened a sport of passion, fury, courage and heart by turning it into a math equation that allows him to win without much risk or effort.
A man can kill a 10ft grizzly bear with pork chop and cyanide, but it doesn't mean anyone would pay to see it or give him any credit for it.

[FinitoElDinamita]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

Lol the truth!!

Any objective fan should agree with this..

[erics44]

if andre ward never fights again it wont make any difference to me

yawn

This is one of the things that I can't get my head round. Everyone is entitled to an opinion , but in my book I reckon he's great because he's so skilful. It's happened loads of times before where fighters only get the true recognition they deserve when it's too late. I reckon with him it's more about his stubbornness where he feels he's getting shafted , but if played the long game, fought more regularly, beat a few more guys and got his rep up there, then the money would come flooding in.

hes very very good at hitting and holding

call it a skill if you want

I wouldn't put it in the same bracket as a skilful boxer

[FinitoElDinamita]

Lmfao @ ward being " so skillful "... anybody who says that forgot about the real technicians from the 80s-90s or they simply werent into boxing during that time..

Being crafty, savy, and skillful are three different things..

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Hey, Boxing's entertainment, people pay to be entertained.
Ward ought to stop putting on boring @$$ fights. For $#!t's sake, even his personalty is boring.

Muhammad Ali was the master of self-promotion because he put himself out there to the public constantly. For almost 4 years, he didn't fight at all but still maintained a national and international presence, by the $#!t, because he constantly interacted with the public. Zilch self-promotion by Ward.

Kee-rist, Floyd's fights are craptastic borefests too, but at least his personality isn't boring, and he keeps his name in the press, even if it's cheap heat by pulling publicity stunts every time Pacquiao fights or by getting arrested, Floyd still keeps his name relevant.
Floyd tries to compensate for boring fights with personality and publicity stunts.
None of that from Ward.

To the mainstream public, Ward is invisible.
He shows up, he boxes a craptastic bore-fest, then goes home... back to being anonymous with the public. Most Boxing fans don't even like watching him, PPVs are the indicator.

Instead of focusing on a safety-first, risk-averse style, he ought to be more exciting in the ring, and also study the outside-the-ring antics by the Great draws, learn some promo tips from Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Tex Cobb, Mayweather, Ricardo Mayorga.




....but he won't!

The fact that it's no longer enough being a great boxer, and guys now have to fight with stupid, risk taking styles and also adopt a cheesy pro-wrestling persona is a sign that boxing is in a downward spiral into obscurity.

What that attitude says is "I could give a fuck about the sport of boxing, but I like seeing guys get fucked up and acting a fool on the mic, so if that happens I might tune in."

That's why boxing is going to go away.

I'm starting to believe that boxing is only as popular as well as it's promotion can make it .

Right through history, from bare knuckle days, promoters worked their magic to cultivate and captivate an audience.

I think that without listening to the groans for uniform regulation and standardisation in boxing, you'll see it's still pretty much just an event. This guy v that guy. A ticket seller.

I appreciate Andre Ward as a fighter but will admit that he his bad for boxing in it's current form/ state. There are plenty of fighters who put bums on seats and those are the guys promoters should push to the top of they want boxing to thrive.

That's not to say I agree with myself but just starting a bit of a hard truth I guess

[Rantcatrat]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

You were correct in a few of his matches. I thought he beat up Rodriguez last time out though. I still think he needs to move up in weight where there are some fun fights. Even Pascal, who I know lost to Hopkins etc., but even Pascal-Ward would be fun at 175, as would Kov-Ward.

But why move up in weight when you're still comfortable at your current weight and still completely dominant? I don't understand this idiotic concept that many of you have that a fighter should always move up in weight if they're at the top of their natural weight division.

Let me make clear, I would not put him down for not moving up in weight if he can make 168 fine. Of course, he can defend his title against run-of-the-mill opponents at 168 for as long as he wants. I just don't see any good fights for him at 168 and there are a number of entertaining fights at 175.

[zhubin]

People here don't like the way Ward fights. The truth is boxing is a art. Some people don't want to see boxing. They want a back ally brawl. have learned over the years that speed and power is not everything in boxing. Skill and ring smarts are very important. This is why Hopkins at his age still wins. Ward is a master in the ring and see no one who can beat him. To win the super six is a big deal to me. He has beaten the best in the world. He has damn near ran out of people to fight. Nobody wants to fight him. He's that good.

I agree with your sentiment...BUT...it's not so much that Ward isn't skillful or smart...he clearly has both attributes in spades. It's that he also employs a lot of crafty (many could call them "dirty" ) tactics (use of head, constant holding, etc.) that turns people off. I appreciate his craft...but there are fighters (Floyd, Rigo, Marquez, etc.) who are master technicians but also possess a certain level of fluidity and cleanness to their style. Wards lack that IMO...add that to his pious personality and his refusal to SELL himself (makes almost no effort to promote himself outside of Oakland)...and you have a guy who just isn't going to be popular. But you are right...in general...casual fight fans will appreciate brawlers over guys who are technicians. For better or worse...Ward will need to adapt if he wants to get more recognition.

[bradlee180]

That's why boxing is going to go away.

Boxing currently puts on about 20 thousand pro fights per year, God only knows how many amateur matches as it's a worldwide international amateur boxing program.
79 countries sent Olympic teams to the 2012 Olympics. Womens' boxing is in the Olympics.

...and the money where a few top Draws make 46 million for a single fight?!


Boxing will NEVER go away...

[erics44]

Hey, Boxing's entertainment, people pay to be entertained.
Ward ought to stop putting on boring @$$ fights. For $#!t's sake, even his personalty is boring.

Muhammad Ali was the master of self-promotion because he put himself out there to the public constantly. For almost 4 years, he didn't fight at all but still maintained a national and international presence, by the $#!t, because he constantly interacted with the public. Zilch self-promotion by Ward.

Kee-rist, Floyd's fights are craptastic borefests too, but at least his personality isn't boring, and he keeps his name in the press, even if it's cheap heat by pulling publicity stunts every time Pacquiao fights or by getting arrested, Floyd still keeps his name relevant.
Floyd tries to compensate for boring fights with personality and publicity stunts.
None of that from Ward.

To the mainstream public, Ward is invisible.
He shows up, he boxes a craptastic bore-fest, then goes home... back to being anonymous with the public. Most Boxing fans don't even like watching him, PPVs are the indicator.

Instead of focusing on a safety-first, risk-averse style, he ought to be more exciting in the ring, and also study the outside-the-ring antics by the Great draws, learn some promo tips from Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Tex Cobb, Mayweather, Ricardo Mayorga.




....but he won't!

The fact that it's no longer enough being a great boxer, and guys now have to fight with stupid, risk taking styles and also adopt a cheesy pro-wrestling persona is a sign that boxing is in a downward spiral into obscurity.

What that attitude says is "I could give a fuck about the sport of boxing, but I like seeing guys get fucked up and acting a fool on the mic, so if that happens I might tune in."

That's why boxing is going to go away.

I'm starting to believe that boxing is only as popular as well as it's promotion can make it .

Right through history, from bare knuckle days, promoters worked their magic to cultivate and captivate an audience.

I think that without listening to the groans for uniform regulation and standardisation in boxing, you'll see it's still pretty much just an event. This guy v that guy. A ticket seller.

I appreciate Andre Ward as a fighter but will admit that he his bad for boxing in it's current form/ state. There are plenty of fighters who put bums on seats and those are the guys promoters should push to the top of they want boxing to thrive.

That's not to say I agree with myself but just starting a bit of a hard truth I guess

course promotion is everything, by the promoter and the boxer, always has been

the fab 4 wouldnt have been the fab 4 on their boxing alone, it was 4 massive charactors with such conflicting styles all around at the same time and at more or less the same weight with huge promotion outfits

andre ward is lb4lb one of the hardest to beat boxers of all time but nobody wants to watch him in this era as they wouldnt have in any because his style is boring and hes got a less than exciting personality, and he calls himself the son of god

thats the first thing id change by the way

and hes probably a very nice fella, someone id probly get on better with than the likes of mayweather and froch and whoever else sells fights with their personality

[erics44]

People here don't like the way Ward fights. The truth is boxing is a art. Some people don't want to see boxing. They want a back ally brawl. have learned over the years that speed and power is not everything in boxing. Skill and ring smarts are very important. This is why Hopkins at his age still wins. Ward is a master in the ring and see no one who can beat him. To win the super six is a big deal to me. He has beaten the best in the world. He has damn near ran out of people to fight. Nobody wants to fight him. He's that good.

I agree with your sentiment...BUT...it's not so much that Ward isn't skillful or smart...he clearly has both attributes in spades. It's that he also employs a lot of crafty (many could call them "dirty" ) tactics (use of head, constant holding, etc.) that turns people off. I appreciate his craft...but there are fighters (Floyd, Rigo, Marquez, etc.) who are master technicians but also possess a certain level of fluidity and cleanness to their style. Wards lack that IMO...add that to his pious personality and his refusal to SELL himself (makes almost no effort to promote himself outside of Oakland)...and you have a guy who just isn't going to be popular. But you are right...in general...casual fight fans will appreciate brawlers over guys who are technicians. For better or worse...Ward will need to adapt if he wants to get more recognition.

i think this is a very good point

i also appreciate his craft, he is extremely good at it, some people call him lb4lb number 2 and i wouldnt argue, id even say lb4lb he would give mayweather a very close night, put him in with anyone in history and he would probably be right at the very top

but id rather watch coronation street

[DavilaJones]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

Lol the truth!!

Any objective fan should agree with this..

Any objective fan of?

[La Cucaracha]

The only real fight left for Ward at 168 is the Froch-Groves II winner. In the interim who does he fight rematches with Abraham or Bika I think he needs to step up and face Kovalev at 175. That's a big HBO fight