Andre Ward

[Ian1973]

Serious question here. Ward has been out of action for so long, do people think he will be the same fighter when he returns? Is it possible he will return to 80 - 90% of his former self?

[ikorolev]

I think that after a couple of tuneups, he will be about 950 miliWards

[Evander]

Can't say this hasn't crossed my mind either Ian.
From what I know about Andre Ward I'd say it's unlikely but not altogether impossible because its happened before to other boxers.
Nevertheless Ward strikes me a hard core professional who doesn't miss a trick and keeps himself sharp both mentally and physically all year around.
I certainly wouldn't go as far as to in any way underestimate the man, even when he's doing commentary on HBO he's on the ball, lucid and clear in his head almost every time I see him and although he's wearing a suit appears in prime physical condition and healthy.

[5burowz]

The guy is boring

[crusader]

He's not old, he hasn't taken much damage in the ring, and he last fought 16 months--not 5 years--ago. I won't be surprised if he returns rusty but I suspect that he'll be close to 100 percent after a bout or two.

[Luckybattles]

Only willing to fights and impose his will against fighters with zero power and no chance of testing that glass jaw. The rest of the time he is running, headbutting, holding, and pot shotting. Stay out as far as im concerned.

[forcefraser]

Only willing to fights and impose his will against fighters with zero power and no chance of testing that glass jaw. The rest of the time he is running, headbutting, holding, and pot shotting. Stay out as far as im concerned.

Froch, Kessler and Abraham? Some decent power there.

He did hold and headbutt, but he fought them and won easy.

[Pigeons]

Ward lives in the gym like Mayweather. He hasn't been drinking, using drugs, or gorging himself during this layoff.

He needs to fight though. He had the longest layoff of his career after the Super Six going into the Dawson fight (9 months). After that fight he had the longest layoff of his career going into the Rodriguez fight (14 months). And now after that fight he's mired in the longest layoff of his career again (16 months and counting).

[koolkc107]

If he has been in the gym, a tune up should be enough.

We are talking arguably about the best boxer in the world.

The last top P4P guy to take a long vacation came back and did pretty well...

[ReggieDiggs]

He'll likely have to be a lil rusty at least, but I don't see his skills diminishing or anything once the rust is gone.