Re: Andre ward PPV
The problem with ward is he doesnt do anything that translates to he casual fans. He didn't same like an unlikable person (till he started this "little G" taunting which sounds stupid and immature-- he couldn't come up with something better than that?). He's Obviously observant and eloquent enough to get a commentating position. but in the ring, He has no gimmick...
Is he one of the fastest?
Does he have one of the best (left hook/ straight right hand/ defense) in the business?
Is he one of the biggest bangers?
Is he taking out guys in 4 rounds or less?
Is he throwing hard punches every minute of every round start to finish?
Wards strength is in his method. He tried to be roy jones early and got dropped for it. He decided for longevity's sake, he'd change his approach. So now he nullifies his opponents with his chess game, infighting and running out the clock on most fighters. Most of the casual fans have no idea why hes winning rounds or fights. To them he probably looks like an average fighter winning fighting an average fight because they dont know infighting, ring generalship or the finer details of what hes doing. But they do know that hitting on the break and headbutts are probably sh*tty things to do and against the rules. Not to mention he limits his own exposure to oakland.
He's got 2 options:
Do what he does but do it quicker, step up with some malice, and starting wearing guys down and knocking them out early to show hes a force.
or
Proclaim himself the smartest fighter that can out think anyone in the ring and start taking on the tasks with bigger risks and bigger rewards. This ones unidirectional. Go up challenge guys the light heavies, and cruisers ... slay some giants. You cant go after smaller guys, with commentators saying the old adage that a good bigger fighter always beats a good smaller fighter, every broadcast. Its definitely a buzzkill. Only reason GGG would get away with it because they (winner of cotto/alvarez) would hold a title in his division. Ward could fight triple G, rock him to sleep and beat him decisively and Triple G would still be the bigger sell afterward, because of the way he fights. The fact that he went balls to the all on moroe and skimped on his defense to make the fight more fan friendly, already shows hes got more business sense than ward, who never strained himself to make a fight or decisively ko someone except Dawson (who people can argue was weight drained and punchy at the time)
Floyd was one of the fastest? He was a d0uche too (but so was mayorga). He had a defense that was considered the best in the game. That created mystery for people. What would happen when he fought a guy that that finally landed a punch on him? Mosely did that and floyd hung on for dear life? So what would happen when he found someone who could land more than one? or was too fast for him to block all the punches or bullied him around the ring (maidana) , there were all these what if scenarios and unanswerable questions. When it was obvious floyd was cherry picking his opponents regardless of rank, the people turned on him a little. Most of the casual fans, if they couldnt be entertained for the fight, still hung around to see if he would say pacquiaos name. After he fought him, they all said .. the mystery was gone and the questions have been answered so unless he can create another mystery, hes done... He said BERTO! and every went WTF? he's done....
They want your @$$ beat because upsets make news. News brings about excitement, excitement brings about ratings. The objective is to bring you up to the tower and tear your @$$ down. And if you don't believe that, you're crazy.
Roy Jones, Jr. "What I've Learned," Esquire 2003
Bookmarks