Andre Ward Is Totally Past His Prime

[bnovelist]

Those 2yrs out of the ring hurt him really bad....is it just me? It seems like everytime he fights now he's trying to get the feel for boxing again....

Kovalev wins a close dec I'm going with the more active fighter.

[boxing_rocks]

That is probably the first time I am agreeing with this troll , but yes, current Ward is definitely not as sharp/fast/etc. as his version from Super 6.

I do disagree about a close decision. It will either be a stoppage or a wide decision for Kovalev.

[Portz]

He's not the Andre Ward that played with Kessler and Froch, but he's still one of the elite, and I'd almost always back a skillful fighter against a puncher.

I can only see Ward winning on points.

[Killer Blow]

Simple answer: we'll find out.

[Noxy]

This fight may bring out the best in him

[Portz]

This fight may bring out the best in him

Could be career defining for both of them

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Ward is already a first ballot HOF fighter.
His entire career is amazing.
This is not a career defining fight for Ward.

Ward isn't Ward from Kessler.

[Portz]

It is, but if he beats Kovalev he'll prove a few of the doubters wrong.

And he'll be the man at LH (as well as the man at SM)

[BAD INTENTIONS]

It is, but if he beats Kovalev he'll prove a few of the doubters wrong.

And he'll be the man at LH (as well as the man at SM)

If you still doubt Ward, you are not a doubter,
you are a hater.

Haters will never be silenced.

[Portz]

I agree with you. Andre Ward is in my top five P4P list at the moment.

His inactivity over the past few years hasn't really done him any favours though has it?

[SFW]

Inactivity can be a killer, but we've seen it help fighters as well. Name one fight where Ward looked unprepared or out of his depth... there are none. He's dominated the best fighters he's fought, every time out. I think the only hope the Kovalev sniffers have is Andre being less than his best, because that is the only chance they have.

[boxing_rocks]

It is, but if he beats Kovalev he'll prove a few of the doubters wrong.

And he'll be the man at LH (as well as the man at SM)

If you still doubt Ward, you are not a doubter,
you are a hater.

Haters will never be silenced.

Still ? I guess he did a lot to keep proving himself in the last 5 years

Also, how did he manage to become such a God based on two-three good wins 5+ years ago ?

[davie]

It is, but if he beats Kovalev he'll prove a few of the doubters wrong.

And he'll be the man at LH (as well as the man at SM)

If you still doubt Ward, you are not a doubter,
you are a hater.

Haters will never be silenced.

There is nothing hateful about thinking someone might lose to Kovalev.
Kovalev is p4p top 5 fighter, with terrifying power, good boxing skill and is naturally a weight class above Ward.
I rate Ward very very highly but I give Kovalev the slight edge in this fight.
A Ward points win wouldn't shock me but I'm leaning towards Kovalevs power making the difference. I'm probably 55/45 split.

It is also not hating, as with the OP, to suggest Ward may not be at his very best or at his physical peak, it's a rational assumption to make based on the fact the man is 32, hasn't faced a top level opponent since he was 27 and has had a degree of inactivity.

I'm not saying he is done by any stretch but I also have no evidence to argue against anyone who thinks he may possibly have declined in that time.

What I will say is, if he has declined, as bnovelist suggests and still gets the win against Kovalev, you could actually take it as a back handed compliment from his doubters. Because how good must they think he was in his prime, if he can grow older and slower and step up in weight to beat one of the most dangerous men in the sport, whilst shaking off ring-rust?

Let me offer a counter argument to your point
Ward's a great fighter but anyone that doesn't have at least a shred of doubt ahead of the Kovalev fight in a totally balls out, Andre fanboy nut-hugger!

[Monte Fisto]

Ward will be as sharp as a razor for this and befuddle kovalev with his skills. Ward points.

[gilgamesh]

He hasn't faced anyone of note since his comeback for us to know if he's past it or not. We'll see how he looks against Kovalev.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

It is, but if he beats Kovalev he'll prove a few of the doubters wrong.

And he'll be the man at LH (as well as the man at SM)

If you still doubt Ward, you are not a doubter,
you are a hater.

Haters will never be silenced.

Still ? I guess he did a lot to keep proving himself in the last 5 years

Also, how did he manage to become such a God based on two-three good wins 5+ years ago ?

What I was saying is that Ward has nothing left to prove.

How do you tell a gold medalist, unified champion, p4p #1 and 1st ballot HOF fighter
he still has something to prove?

[boxing_rocks]

If you still doubt Ward, you are not a doubter,
you are a hater.

Haters will never be silenced.

Still ? I guess he did a lot to keep proving himself in the last 5 years

Also, how did he manage to become such a God based on two-three good wins 5+ years ago ?

What I was saying is that Ward has nothing left to prove.

How do you tell a gold medalist, unified champion, p4p #1 and 1st ballot HOF fighter
he still has something to prove?

First of all, he has never been p4p #1. Second of all, champions, especially HOF candidates, are expected to defend against top opposition, and he hasn't done so in 5 years.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

When are we going to stop blaming boxers for boxing politics?

As I said ...
Gold Medal Winner
Undisputed Champion
1st Ballot HOF

You can't tell someone with that resume they have something to prove.
It simply doesn't make sense.
What you are really saying is, please keep going until you lose.

PS - I think Ward was p4p #1 during one of Floyd's mini retirements.
Between Cotto and Guerrero I think.
Manny got laid out and Ward just destroyed Dawson ...
If my memory is right?

[Deadendgeneration]

Still ? I guess he did a lot to keep proving himself in the last 5 years

Also, how did he manage to become such a God based on two-three good wins 5+ years ago ?

What I was saying is that Ward has nothing left to prove.

How do you tell a gold medalist, unified champion, p4p #1 and 1st ballot HOF fighter
he still has something to prove?

First of all, he has never been p4p #1. Second of all, champions, especially HOF candidates, are expected to defend against top opposition, and he hasn't done so in 5 years.

Ward has proved plenty, but going up in weight and beating Kovalev will be the biggest win of his pro career, will make him p4p number 1 in most peoples' eyes and does loads for him in a historical context.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Ward has proved plenty, but going up in weight and beating Kovalev will be the biggest win of his pro career, will make him p4p number 1 in most peoples' eyes and does loads for him in a historical context.

Gold Medalist
Undisputed Champion
1st Ballot HOF

What more historical context does someone doing something need?

This fight, and the rest of Ward's career is about money to him,
and the hope that he will lose to his large contingent of haters.

[Deadendgeneration]

Ward has proved plenty, but going up in weight and beating Kovalev will be the biggest win of his pro career, will make him p4p number 1 in most peoples' eyes and does loads for him in a historical context.

Gold Medalist
Undisputed Champion
1st Ballot HOF

What more historical context does someone doing something need?

This fight, and the rest of Ward's career is about money to him,
and the hope that he will lose to his large contingent of haters.

For me it's about where he ranks among other HOF super-middles/light-heavies. For him it's about money sure.

[Wales]

Barely Lost a round in his "comeback" fights or done anything to suggest he's way past prime if anything Kovalev has looked more shaky. This is the acid test though. And what a test.

[crusader]

I doubt that Kov would look shaky against Paul Smith, Barrera, or Brand. Two of those guys probably arent even top 30 at 168.

Ward has looked fine to me. It's not like was out for years, he hasn't taken much punishment, and he's only 32, so I wouldn't expect him to be significantly faded.

[Wales]

Couldn't see ward losing many rounds against chimbela, pascal or Mohammidi (sp) either.

Pascal may nick a few on work rate and effort I guess. But Ward would always be in control.

Really is a good fight

[Wales]

Complete clash of styles .
How ward reacts to the power and strength of Kovalev determines the outcome