Dirrell and Froch laid the blueprint for beating Abraham..

It involves using length, movement and keeping Abraham at distance among other things. Andre Ward, although undefeated thus far does not fight this way. He uses movement yes, but not the way Froch and Dirrell were capable of.. Froch fought tall, and Dirrell fought back peddaling + side to side. Ward fights in your chest mugging you. Working briefly outside of his opponents range then quickly jumping inside of it. Froch and Dirrell spent every round attempting to work outside of Abraham's range. The reason being AA's power is very real.. We still haven't seen anyone attempt to fight Abraham in a phone booth or in close. As talented as Ward is, he will not be capitalizing on the blue print that everyone uses to discredit Abraham as a Super Middleweight. I'm not necessarily picking an upset, but there is some stylistic intrigue to this matchup IMO. Please discuss!

Comments (13)

DrewWoodside

jermain taylor laid the bluprint on how to beat abraham throw the jab and score points dont be there when he loads up a huge shot and tries to kill you with it dude's always been a one trick pony if jt wasnt a completely spent force he would have decisioned abraham just like dirrell and froch if you dont fight abraham it's easy to pick him apart with a "western style (lol!) ask froch he's the slickest dude around I am a big JT fan, but even a prime JT was going to lose that fight. He was getting outboxed while doing his typical work. There was no major dropoff in workload or change in style. Not that beating JT or having close fights with him is a particularly exclusive club.

15y ago

DrewWoodside

Isn't that what you do to a guy with 1 punch KO power? That's what I said was the blue print laid out by Dirrell and Ward. We haven't seen Ward do that for 12 rounds, and if you read everything written it explains that Ward's skill-set may not lend itself to that sort of gameplan.

15y ago

New_England

15y ago

The_Gambler1981

Ward can do both as long as he doesn't bullshit in between he will be fine. If he is careless in his transitions he is playing with fire and even if Abraham doesn't take advantage someone down the line would..

15y ago

DrewWoodside

The phonebooth has been Ward's bread and butter in recent fights. I understand saying inside could be safe for him. But with the way he clinches, the ref will at times separate and there's no way he can just sit in AA's chest for 12 rounds. Without the referee himself passing out due to boredom. I think there will be in and out in this fight, which doesn't guarantee anything for AA. But it will give him opportunities. The safe way to fight AA is at distance from the outside. I don't think Ward's abilities really lend themselves to that sort of gameplan. Folks can undervalue what Froch did all they want, but the same way Froch can't do a lot of things Ward can do. Ward can't do a lot of things Froch can do. This fight could get interesting.

15y ago

The_Gambler1981

How you beat an inactive dude that is short with short arms that has power isn't rocket science. Stay all the way in or all the way out, going in and out gives him a shot since you will pass through his range. K.I.S.S.

15y ago

Steak

didn't ayala also get brutally ko'd in the inside by an uppercut? in the last round, and Ayala wasnt smothering him, he was backing up and in the corner. not really an infight, there was plenty of distance.

15y ago

Steak

I just think the moments in which Ward hops from outside of AA range to inside AA range is an opportunity for danger. Also, Ayala and Marquez are not as skilled as Ward. However, with that said there is still no one who has beaten Abraham by working inside. no one has yet beat Abe on the inside, but hes still very beatable on the inside. just hasnt faced the level of infighter that could expose it...Ayala wasnt good enough, and Marquez was past his prime. but I wholeheartedly agree that Ward needs to be careful about jumping in. hes reckless when he does that, and you simply cant be reckless against Abe, all he needs is a few shots. otherwises, I think Ward will be just fine fighting on the inside.

15y ago

aboustar

Ward laser left jab will kill AA all the dayy

15y ago

SplitSecond

15y ago

DrewWoodside

Raul Marquez and Ayala both were able to smother Abe on the inside. Marquez even broke his ribs I believe. Abe doesnt fight well at close range nor at long range. You get in his power punching range and thats when you have trouble, because thats essentially all he is. still a dangerous fight, the mans power is no joke. I just think the moments in which Ward hops from outside of AA range to inside AA range is an opportunity for danger. Also, Ayala and Marquez are not as skilled as Ward. However, with that said there is still no one who has beaten Abraham by working inside.

15y ago

Pullcounter7451

unfortunately for ward, he's a hold-n-hit fighter which will put him in harm's way.

15y ago

Steak

15y ago