BoxRec

Not sure why people are rating degale so highly to be honest. I've not been that impressed with him, and I think the Dirrell performance possibly flatters to deceive.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Not sure why people are rating degale so highly to be honest. I've not been that impressed with him, and I think the Dirrell performance possibly flatters to deceive.

Agree with the above, though weirdly I still think he might well be the no.1 SMW atm. He's possibly hitting a bit harder but he still has to take 4/5 rounds off in a 12 rounder. It's something he's done since the Groves fight and at 29 I can't see him improving that side of things too much.

Lenny wrote:Ring, ring
Carl: Hello
Eddie: Hi Carl, I need a favour
Carl: Remember when I knocked out George Groves in front of 80,000 peo...
Eddie: Never mind that now, I could do with a bit of help selling Degale v Bute. Although it's a British world champion, Olympic gold medalist fighting a former champ none of the press seem to give a crap. Fancy teasing people with a little comeback suggestion to fight Degale if he wins? Get it talked about as one of the main sports stories on the BBC website?
Carl: Anything for you Eddie

This is what I thought but brilliantly written

Has Chunky ever gone down on the canvas as a pro, is his chin under rated? Can he be strong and skilful enough to avoid this with Froch (unlike GG)

His brother has a white collar coming up.

binipop wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Not sure why people are rating degale so highly to be honest. I've not been that impressed with him, and I think the Dirrell performance possibly flatters to deceive.

Agree with the above, though weirdly I still think he might well be the no.1 SMW atm. He's possibly hitting a bit harder but he still has to take 4/5 rounds off in a 12 rounder. It's something he's done since the Groves fight and at 29 I can't see him improving that side of things too much.

That says more about the state of the super middleweight division at the top level than James Degale, IMO. With Ward gone, Froch, Kessler et al all retired, there's a dearth of properly world class talent at 168lb in my opinion, which is why George Groves needs to pick his new trainer carefully, he really could be back at the top table by the end of next year.

MarkMcBurney wrote:

binipop wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Not sure why people are rating degale so highly to be honest. I've not been that impressed with him, and I think the Dirrell performance possibly flatters to deceive.

Agree with the above, though weirdly I still think he might well be the no.1 SMW atm. He's possibly hitting a bit harder but he still has to take 4/5 rounds off in a 12 rounder. It's something he's done since the Groves fight and at 29 I can't see him improving that side of things too much.

That says more about the state of the super middleweight division at the top level than James Degale, IMO. With Ward gone, Froch, Kessler et al all retired, there's a dearth of properly world class talent at 168lb in my opinion, which is why George Groves needs to pick his new trainer carefully, he really could be back at the top table by the end of next year.

Has ward now left the division for definite, or are people talking about his inactivity?

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Has ward now left the division for definite, or are people talking about his inactivity?

I think he's definitely gone. His team have gone on record to say that they've done a three fight deal with HBO to lead to an eventual clash with Kovalev at Light Heavy. He hasn't fought at Super Middle since 2013, the Smith fight was at a catchweight and his latest cancelled fight vs TBA was supposed to be at Light Heavy. The WBA still recognise him as their "Super" champion at SM.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Has ward now left the division for definite, or are people talking about his inactivity?

He was scheduled to fight at light heavy but that was called off due to injury, so not sure if he's coming back down or not, but either way he's been woefully inactive to be considered the top dog in the division in my opinion.

Edit: John beat me to it.

johnswan1 wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Has ward now left the division for definite, or are people talking about his inactivity?

I think he's definitely gone. His team have gone on record to say that they've done a three fight deal with HBO to lead to an eventual clash with Kovalev at Light Heavy. He hasn't fought at Super Middle since 2013, the Smith fight was at a catchweight and his latest cancelled fight vs TBA was supposed to be at Light Heavy. The WBA still recognise him as their "Super" champion at SM.

I'd just like to see him having some meaningful fights.

One thing is for sure, he'd better be getting some quality fights and sparring for him to get in there with Kovalev.

I always made ward slight favourite in that one, but he's got to be at his absolute best, as Kovalev is physically stronger and a real killer. If Ward is not tuned up, he's going to get beat.

It's a tantalising fight, and one ward needs if his career is to live up to it's undoubted potential.

Yep, Ward is now 31 and with no fights scheduled and will be turning 32 in February. From the age of 28 through until now his opponents have been Rodriguez and Smith.

Although it seems a waste of his prime years, Froch was already 31 when he began his run of Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham, Johnson, Ward, Bute, Mack, Kessler 2, Groves, Groves 2.

It's highly unlikely Ward will go on a similar run of quality opponents but he's probably a very well preserved 31 year old and should have at least another 4-5 years at the top if he has the heart for it.

Same day as the story went national Froch was announced as am 'ambassador' for PartyPoker.com

I remember thimking Ward was fading in last 2 rounds against Froch and thinking if it had been a 15 rounder Froch wouldve stopped him. I think Kovalev would cut him down

reggaereggae wrote:I remember thimking Ward was fading in last 2 rounds against Froch and thinking if it had been a 15 rounder Froch wouldve stopped him. I think Kovalev would cut him down

I lost a lot of respect for Ward when he refused to fight Froch at Wembley Stadium. He had every super six fight in america. Froch would have made adjustments from the first fight. Ward is an amazing talent but it feels like he has wasted his career. A real shame.

Froch was interviewed last week and said the comeback rumours are rubbish and he has no interest in fighting again. Also said he cannot make super middleweight anymore and would be a light-heavyweight. Interestingly he said he currently weighs 13 and a half stone and only has 8% body fat !!!

reggaereggae wrote:I remember thimking Ward was fading in last 2 rounds against Froch and thinking if it had been a 15 rounder Froch wouldve stopped him. I think Kovalev would cut him down

I agree with this. Of course it was only a 12 rounder and if scheduled for 15 you would pace it differently etc but I felt Ward seemed more pleased to hear the final bell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWXsp1Z8ewE

Froch talking more bollocks and making excuses.
Will he/wont he. Yawn.
Hope Golovkin just unites the Middleweight division in 2016 and ignores this buffoon...

If he ain't fighting GGG, I really don't care. Froch vs Degale...meh. I mean it's alright, but it's nothing all that special to me.

salaambrown wrote:

Lenny wrote:Ring, ring
Carl: Hello
Eddie: Hi Carl, I need a favour
Carl: Remember when I knocked out George Groves in front of 80,000 peo...
Eddie: Never mind that now, I could do with a bit of help selling Degale v Bute. Although it's a British world champion, Olympic gold medalist fighting a former champ none of the press seem to give a crap. Fancy teasing people with a little comeback suggestion to fight Degale if he wins? Get it talked about as one of the main sports stories on the BBC website?
Carl: Anything for you Eddie

As much as i'm laughing at this comment. The sad thing is he's probably not too far from the truth. DeGale is a very good boxer i dont know why he's not a ticket seller. Style of fighting isn't that boring.

It's his small nipples