Andre Ward - Alexander Brand confirmed

[Tam Seddon]

Andre Ward vs. Alexander Brand Officially Revealed By Roc Nation - Boxing News

Don't know Brand, is this a good fight before Kovalev?

[p4pking]

Haven't seen him either, at a guess no He's 39 and Badou Jack is the only name I recognize on his record, SD loss 4 years ago. I'm sure he's solid, as is Chilemba (Kovalevs next opponent), but it's hardly doing anything to make Kovalev-Ward any bigger or more prepared for each other. If they had been on the same bill on a free cable fight or something that's another story, but oh well at least they are signed to fight.

[Spicoli]

Step up to Lt hvy and fight a 40 yr old super middleweight? Brilliant Mr. Ward! This is pretty weak honestly. I saw the Jack fight and Brand resembled a bigger more crude Mayorga, but it was close and he's won a latino trinket since. If that counts .

[J_Undisputed]

Holy crap... i just looked this guy up online.. This should be a 3 round slaughter at most. Some of his jabs can be called backhands, his punch mechanics are unorthodox to say the least and sometimes shorten his punches...

https://youtu.be/6IDpo3l0r1A

Here he is making a double end ball look like mayweather jr.
https://youtu.be/asvTtYe9ZYg

Look at those happy feet...
https://youtu.be/JnQBWDBUGW4

Have at it, Gents...

[Fenster]

Step up to Lt hvy and fight a 40 yr old super middleweight? Brilliant Mr. Ward! This is pretty weak honestly. I saw the Jack fight and Brand resembled a bigger more crude Mayorga, but it was close and he's won a latino trinket since. If that counts .

I watched a couple of rounds of the Jack fight and the first thing I thought was he's a big Mayorga.

[Master]

I get the feeling that Ward is not going to turn up for the Kovalev fight, hope I am wrong but if he was serious then he would have fought a better opponent to give him the confidence of beating someone like Kov.

[Freedom]

I get the feeling that Ward is not going to turn up for the Kovalev fight, hope I am wrong but if he was serious then he would have fought a better opponent to give him the confidence of beating someone like Kov.

I'm thinking the same.

Alexander Brand is nearly age 40, he's an old super-middleweight journeyman with a predictable style. Ward didn't want to fight Shabranskyy (who just wanted the same pay as Barrera received) or any other legit top ten LHW.

Crafty top ten light heavyweight Isaac Chilemba is a much better fighter than Brand (bigger and much younger too), and his defensive skills will help Kovalev prepare for Ward.

[SlimTrae]

I get the feeling that Ward is not going to turn up for the Kovalev fight, hope I am wrong but if he was serious then he would have fought a better opponent to give him the confidence of beating someone like Kov.

I'm thinking the same.

Alexander Brand is nearly age 40, he's an old super-middleweight journeyman with a predictable style. Ward didn't want to fight Shabranskyy (who just wanted the same pay as Barrera received) or any other legit top ten LHW.

Crafty top ten light heavyweight Isaac Chilemba is a much better fighter than Brand (bigger and much younger too), and his defensive skills will help Kovalev prepare for Ward.

Perfect example. Ward has becone his worst enemy.

[Hulk]

I get the feeling that Ward is not going to turn up for the Kovalev fight, hope I am wrong but if he was serious then he would have fought a better opponent to give him the confidence of beating someone like Kov.

I'm thinking the same.

Alexander Brand is nearly age 40, he's an old super-middleweight journeyman with a predictable style. Ward didn't want to fight Shabranskyy (who just wanted the same pay as Barrera received) or any other legit top ten LHW.

Crafty top ten light heavyweight Isaac Chilemba is a much better fighter than Brand (bigger and much younger too), and his defensive skills will help Kovalev prepare for Ward.

This doesn't seem like a good opponent other than he only has 1 loss and looks to be a puncher.

Ward is no coward though and has continually surprised boxing fans with wins over guys like Kessler and Dawson.

I believe he fully intends to fight Kovalev and will. I can't say who will win though.

[Gandalf]

It's a silly fight to make. I can understand an active fighter having tune ups, but Ward hasn't really proven he is back yet and Kovalev is an active destroyer. Ward should be fighting someone he can learn from, but instead he is seemingly looking to fill time. I think he is in for a rude awakening when he finally gets in there with Kovalev. He is going to get Lacy'ed.

[Ron Swanson]

Pathetic. I didn't like Ward when he came on the scene and I allowed my dislike to make me underrate him. I learned from that, to separate my opinion from my estimation. And because I was initially harsh about him I've given him the benefit of the doubt as I watched him waste years of his career. But this does nothing to prepare him for the big fight which I finally have to question if he is even interested in the big fight or if he just wants to collect a few more checks(this being the last)and walk away before November.

It's a shame because a healthy and active, well prepared Ward beats Kovalev. But this version, I'm not sure he is even competitive.

[J_Undisputed]

As strange as it might seem from me. I give ward the smallest amount of credit for this choice only because, he was supposed to fight brand in the november fight he pulled out of with the knee swelling (cotto/can-yellow undercard- if what im reading is correct). Still he tried to pick two other fighters before him this time (skoglund being one and cleverly being the other-- if what im reading is correct).

It nice to keep a promise, but we all know this more likely a case of ward trying to secure the highest percentage he could with the opponent who was willing to take scraps. The other 2 were probably priced out or made zero hour proposals and then priced out. This doesn't do anything to prepare him for kovalev (especially considering brand its a looper with poor punch mechanics and kovalev is a straight puncher with better than average punch mechanics/form )

[Kirkland Laing]

It's better than David Haye level of opposition but still not what he needs to prepare for Kovalev. Ward had been out a hell of a long time and looked eminently hittable in his last fight. He's going to win but will he look beatable in this fight?

[Spicoli]

HBO just practically fumigated the building before this went to air. Back in the day this would be on USA Tuesday night fights. No undercard

[Spicoli]

Really. The 7th round. HBO trying best to make Brand look like Jimmy Young.