WARD VS. DIRRELL - THE MAKINGS OF A CLASSIC
By Quinton Emerson | June 22, 2010
As we look forward to Group Stage 3 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, there are a lot of intersting storylines. Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch are coming off the first losses of their careers. Abraham and Froch will face each other next. Mikkel Kesler regained a world title, while Allen Green laid an egg. Kessler will face Green in the next stage as well. Arguably, the most interesting storyline, however, is the one involving Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, who also face off in the next stage. They were teammates on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing team and have a very strong friendship.
From the outside looking in, it seems as if Dirrell looks at Ward as sort of an "Older Brother" type of figure. They've been shown on Fight Camp 360 supporting each other durring their fights, although they have agreed to put their friendship aside for this fight. It's reminiscent of Oscar De La Hoya vs. Shane Mosley, two longtime friends who squared of on the big stage. We all know how those fights turned out.
Even if they wern't friends, this would still be a heck of a fight. Dirrell lost a very controversial descision to Froch in Stage 1. Many felt he won the fight, but was robbed by a hometown descision. I was in attendance for his next fight when he dominated King Arthur. He was cruising to a victory when Abraham was disqualified for hitting him while he was down. So, in essence, he goes into Stage 3 feeling like he hasn't really lost a fight.
Ward has turned out to be the star of the tournament so far. He dominated the favorite Kessler in Stage 1. That was followed by shutting out Allen Green. Not only has he not lost a fight in the tournament, he hasn't even lost a round. At this point, it's hard to not make him the favorite against anybody in the Super Six. He's a great all-around boxer and he's drawn comparisons to a young Bernard Hopkins.
Despite everything else, the old saying that "styles make fights" is perfect for this matchup. Dirrell is a big southpaw with reach and the fastest hands in the tourney. Ward is orthodox and the best defensive fighter in the tourney. Ward holds the edge in mental toughness because Dirrell can be frustrated. as he was in the Froch fight. A factor that also can't be ignored is location. So far, the home fighter has won every time. Dirrell fought once at home and once away. Ward has fought twice at home. The logical location of the fight would be Detroit, but that isn't a guarentee.
No matter where it's held, it has the potental to be a great fight. A win for Dirrell and he's in. A win for Ward and he stays undefeated because he's already secured a spot in the 2nd round. We'll have to wait until September to see how this one play out, but I, for one, can't wait.
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I still feel the exact same (assuming Dirrell is still the same guy), Ward can win but so can Dirrell and it would probably be a better fight than most think because Ward is good enough to force Dirrell to act.
The only way it is a terrible fight is if Dirrell is allowed to just do his thing but I don't think that is a huge risk.
Ward has skills but lacks a defense...His defense is clinching and pawing his lead hands. Dirrell's defense is better but he'll get caught one night backpedaling and pull that head back. When throwing punches, Ward is out position alot more than Dirrell is.
They'll either come in and actually fight each other or it's going to be boring.
Ward's defense is pretty solid Toda.
Ward has skills but lacks a defense...His defense is clinching and pawing his lead hands. Dirrell's defense is better but he'll get caught one night backpedaling and pull that head back. When throwing punches, Ward is out position alot more than Dirrell is.
They'll either come in and actually fight each other or it's going to be boring.
they both employ tactics that are safety-based...IMO, infighting and smothering is not as bad as blatantly running
because ward has not blatantly ran before?
the potential is there...one is a safety first fighter that likes to use his legs...the other is one that likes to smother his opponents
and you know, that's what trips me out about Ward...as he is coming into his professional identity, style-wise, he's using grappling techniques quite a bit
i can understand if a fighter is slightly limited with short arms, say like Hatton that needs to implement those tactics
but for Ward, this dude is straight up gifted...he HAS the skills to put on spectacular, fan-making performances
i like the guy...he's a west coast fighter...but i really hope someone tells him how good he can really be without using that 'style'
you got it mixed up, the safety fighter here, is ward
also ward has always had that punch and jump inside so not to get clogged, just against green, he could stay there cuz green was hardly pushing him off or using his legs
Jim: Andre Dirrell, is there anything that surprised you about Ward?
Dirrell: Yeah, tbh, I wasn't expecting his balls to be so salty Jim.
Jim: Really? What did you expect?
Dirrell: Well, back when we sparred before they tasted kinda like joo joo bees...
Jim: I see..
(turns to Ward)
Jim: Andre? Is there anything that surprised you about Dirrell?
Ward: Well as a matter of fact Jim, I was surprised when I started bleeding from my butt. Usually I can take just about anything, but he's much bigger than I expected.
Jim(looking shocked): Gus!!! Back to you!!!
Classic Jack....
Why would I let 2 turds take away my Showtime? Fuck that.
I say Ward gets Dirrell pregnant by the 8th round.
No way you can do that much hugging and faggot shit without impregnating the other guy.
No fucking way.
:haha:
Maybe they will just start making out and oil wrestle and forget the boxing.
Depends on what he means by "classic"
If he means FOTY type of fight. Then no I have to disagree. If any fight in round 3 has FOTY material it will be Froch-AA. I don't think it will be a "classic" but FOTY type of fight I could see.
And, IMO is a interesting fight cuz of Froch strength and chin against AA power.
If he is talking about the sweet science kind of classic. Then might be...
But, it also has the potential to be a stinker and more so cuz of Dirrell style and confidence level then anything else.
Webb, dont front..you know that this fight also has the potential to be a stinker
I ain't fronting, Mak. I like both of these guys and I'm very interested in seeing how it all plays out. There is alot at stake, I doubt it will be "boring".