After Kovalev beats B-Hop this Saturday, Andre Ward needs to

[diddy]

Ward is so much better than Hopkins is right now that its ridiculous. Hopkins would win the same number of rounds against Ward as he did against Kovalev. 0.

[diddy]

I don't think Ward is physically strong enought to clinch Kovalev like he does his usual opponents who are his size.

Hopkins would clinch too if he could, but Kovalev kept the distance. He would do the same with Ward.

Except Ward doesnt mind fighting on the outside and using his hand and foot speed. Sure, he likes to fight inside also but he's plenty comfortable on the outside as well.

[Blodhemn]

Ward doesn't have Hopkins chin or defense. There a good chance any of those shots landed on Hopkins would completely flatten Dre. He's staying at 168.

[lefty]

I don't think Ward is physically strong enought to clinch Kovalev like he does his usual opponents who are his size.

Hopkins would clinch too if he could, but Kovalev kept the distance. He would do the same with Ward.

He would cover the distance a lot quicker than Hopkins did though to be fair. Hopkins looked pretty slow tonight.

[lefty]

Ward doesn't have Hopkins chin or defense. There a good chance any of those shots landed on Hopkins would completely flatten Dre. He's staying at 168.

You dont think he has the defense? I agree on the chin statement for sure but Ward's not easy to land on either.

[diddy]

Ward doesn't have Hopkins chin or defense. There a good chance any of those shots landed on Hopkins would completely flatten Dre. He's staying at 168.

You dont think he has the defense? I agree on the chin statement for sure but Ward's not easy to land on either.

Ward doesnt have Hopkins' defense? Ya serious? Ward has unbelievable defense. Right up there with Hopkins. And has something major that Bernard doesnt...speed. Foot speed to get out of the way. Hand speed to make a fighter think twice about being too aggressive.

Chin? Remains to be seen. Kovalev is obv a bigger hitter than anyone he'll ever face.

[diddy]

I don't think Ward is physically strong enought to clinch Kovalev like he does his usual opponents who are his size.

Hopkins would clinch too if he could, but Kovalev kept the distance. He would do the same with Ward.

He would cover the distance a lot quicker than Hopkins did though to be fair. Hopkins looked pretty slow tonight.

THIS.

[Blodhemn]

Ward doesn't have Hopkins chin or defense. There a good chance any of those shots landed on Hopkins would completely flatten Dre. He's staying at 168.

You dont think he has the defense? I agree on the chin statement for sure but Ward's not easy to land on either.

Ward's best defense against Kovalev would be sticking to his chest. The clumsy oafs in Froch and Abraham were finding Ward a little too much to say he's got Hopkins' level of guile. Ward is all speed and positioning, he sometimes leaves his chin straight up when he throws, whereas Hopkins has his chin virtually cemented to his shoulder.

[lefty]

Ward doesn't have Hopkins chin or defense. There a good chance any of those shots landed on Hopkins would completely flatten Dre. He's staying at 168.

You dont think he has the defense? I agree on the chin statement for sure but Ward's not easy to land on either.

Ward's best defense against Kovalev would be sticking to his chest. The clumsy oafs in Froch and Abraham were finding Ward a little too much to say he's got Hopkins' level of guile. Ward is all speed and positioning, he sometimes leaves his chin straight up when he throws, whereas Hopkins has his chin virtually cemented to his shoulder.

I think that's what he would try and do actually. Not give Kovalev space to let his big shots go. Whether it would work is another story but anyway.

[ikorolev]

He would cover the distance a lot quicker than Hopkins did though to be fair. Hopkins looked pretty slow tonight.

THIS.

I guess people will never accept that Kovalev or Golovkin are fast WHEN THEY NEED TO BE. Hopkins looked pretty slow, because Kovalev made him look so.

[lefty]

He would cover the distance a lot quicker than Hopkins did though to be fair. Hopkins looked pretty slow tonight.

THIS.

I guess people will never accept that Kovalev or Golovkin are fast WHEN THEY NEED TO BE. Hopkins looked pretty slow, because Kovalev made him look so.

Not saying Kovalev is slow but i dont think he has Ward type speed.

[Blodhemn]

He would cover the distance a lot quicker than Hopkins did though to be fair. Hopkins looked pretty slow tonight.

THIS.

I guess people will never accept that Kovalev or Golovkin are fast WHEN THEY NEED TO BE. Hopkins looked pretty slow, because Kovalev made him look so.

Yeah. That's what I was saying before the fight. People call Kovalev slow... nah, he's always working to time opponents and he did it perfectly with that first round KD. The accuracy there is pretty crazy, considering hardly anyone can land clean on Hopkins when he's got his head positioned like that.

[crusader]

I agree. He can put the shots together quickly when he decides to.

[stevedoc]

i'd still go with ward but it would be interesting to see how ward dealt with kovalevs power and how krusher dealt with wards leaping jab and being pushed back

[diddy]

He would cover the distance a lot quicker than Hopkins did though to be fair. Hopkins looked pretty slow tonight.

THIS.

I guess people will never accept that Kovalev or Golovkin are fast WHEN THEY NEED TO BE. Hopkins looked pretty slow, because Kovalev made him look so.

I dont foresee either GGG or Kovalev losing to ANYONE any time soon. However, thats only if they dont face Ward, who I would pick to beat both of them. GGG for sure. Kovalev would be much dicier proposition.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

The worst thing Ward can do is to fight Kovalev in his first fight at 175. That's the best fight for Ward right now. It would prove more than a win over GGG because there would be no size excuses,

[NateJR]

I dont foresee either GGG or Kovalev losing to ANYONE any time soon. However, thats only if they dont face Ward, who I would pick to beat both of them. GGG for sure. Kovalev would be much dicier proposition.

I agree with this.

[diddy]

The worst thing Ward can do is to fight Kovalev in his first fight at 175. That's the best fight for Ward right now. It would prove more than a win over GGG because there would be no size excuses,

Agreed. If Ward is going to 175 to fight Kovalev he will need to have acclimated himself to the division and the weight first. Would be the prudent thing to do.

[Ian1973]

Ward will not fight Golovkin or Kovalev they are a level above and Ward is far from stupid. I expect people to counter my argument but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just watch and see, those fights will NOT happen.

[lefty]

Ward will not fight Golovkin or Kovalev they are a level above and Ward is far from stupid. I expect people to counter my argument but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just watch and see, those fights will NOT happen.

A level above? I dunno about that.

[NateJR]

Ward will not fight Golovkin or Kovalev they are a level above and Ward is far from stupid. I expect people to counter my argument but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just watch and see, those fights will NOT happen.

Well first GGG has to move up to 168 for that fight to have any chance of happening in which GGG has said he's not ready to move up to 168 yet. Also, if GGG can't be criticized for not moving up to 168, why should Ward be criticized for not moving up to 175 to fight Kovalev? I agree that Kovalev and GGG are the 2 best opponents out there right now for Ward, but you're taking it a bit too far there fella lol.

[Ian1973]

Ward will not fight Golovkin or Kovalev they are a level above and Ward is far from stupid. I expect people to counter my argument but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just watch and see, those fights will NOT happen.

Well first GGG has to move up to 168 for that fight to have any chance of happening in which GGG has said he's not ready to move up to 168 yet. Also, if GGG can't be criticized for not moving up to 168, why should Ward be criticized for not moving up to 175 to fight Kovalev? I agree that Kovalev and GGG are the 2 best opponents out there right now for Ward, but you're taking it a bit too far there fella lol.

I don't criticise Ward at all apart from his inactivity and i accept there are contractual reasons for that, certainly in part. Ward is clearly number one in his division and i would not expect him to move up or down if he doesn't want to. i wouldn't if i were him. As far as I'm concerned Ward is champion in his division it's up to someone to take that away from him. From Ward's point of view why should he move up or down (unless it's a natural / relatively simple thing to do)?

Golovkin would have to move up in weight. He's good enough naturally to do thta but I'll be honest again, If i were him I wouldn't, I'd rule the roost in my division and make anyone else sacrifice their natural advantage if they so wish to challenge me.

PS! When I mention ME, I'm too old, too fat and too lazy to be a challenge for anyone.

[Lackeos]

Ward is better than Hopkins. There is a reason why the Ring has Ward at #2 p4p and Hopkins nowhere in the top 10. There are multiple reasons why Ward tore Dawson a new one, whereas Hopkins got clearly schooled by him. Ward would have dominated Jean Pascal as well. If anyone in this thread tries to claim that Ward has a worse chance against Kovalev than Hopkins did, then they don't know sh*t about boxing. You might as well claim that Mayweather is not as good as Erislandy Lara and/or doesn't have as good of defense, or would have less of a chance of beating Alvarez.

[Blodhemn]

Ward has to be better than he ever has in order to beat Kovalev and that's going to be a tall order considering his injuries, reluctance to get in the ring and father time. He relies much more on athleticism than Hopkins, so he can't afford any slip ups vs Kovalev, and that's assuming that his chin could actually hold up.

[diddy]

Ward will not fight Golovkin or Kovalev they are a level above and Ward is far from stupid. I expect people to counter my argument but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just watch and see, those fights will NOT happen.

You're kidding right? You think Ward is scared of a smaller man? You must be high.

Kovalev? Well, that remains to be seen. He is a monster.