Ward vs Anthony Dirrell is a VERY competitive fight

Yeah I hella wanted to watch that fight before that AA blow to the head it would have been cool to see I hope Dirrell gets his career in right path maybe we can see it in the future.

Stylistically its the hardest fight out there for Ward right now (unless you include Dawson at 175).I think he would beat Dirrell though,his edge in mental toughness and all round ability would earn him a close decision imo,intriguing fight,just maybe not an exciting one

Ward would beat any supermiddle right now but Dirrell and Bute with their southpaw styles would make it interesting.

You must be thinking of Andre Dirrell like everyone else. Anthony is busier than Ward and punches harder. And he's far from boring. no you are the one thats confused, two people have come in here and said the same thing and you came back with " OH YOU'RE THINKING OF HIS BROTHER. " no. we mean the little brother, the one who came back from the illness. the one who fought on espn2 not long ago. he has ok pop and is shifty, there are tons of guys just like this in gyms in every city that never become huge stars. guys like that always look ok against the right opponent, as another poster in this thread has backed me up on. i'm a gambling man and i say he definitely isn't garbage but he doesn't have "it" either. the first time he gets hits with a right hand over that left shoulder I say he falls like a house of cards

It is a very competitive fight but thats about ALL IT IS. Even if Ward did want to slug it out with Dirrel like he did with Froch, Dirrel wont let him and he'll just round around like a little girl. I think Ward wins a UD by at least 8-4 rounds just because he'll be busier than Dirrel. I just dont think Dirrel has the heart to sit there and slug it out, he cannot stand to get hit, and even though hes talented no doubt, boxing is the wrong sport for someone who cant stand to get hit so much that hes a very boring fighter. He does have all the tools though to be a good champ, just not sold on his warrior mentality yet. Even Floyd has a bigger heart and more warrior mentality than Dirrel. You must be thinking of Andre Dirrell like everyone else. Anthony is busier than Ward and punches harder. And he's far from boring.

I honestly think this is the fight that will show how good Ward really is. Hes going up against a fighter just as quick, if not quicker, a harder puncher and a guy who can box and brawl. He's never faced anyone like Dirrell. I believe his experience will play a big role, as Anthony hasn't faced anyone of name yet, but he is very capable of pulling the upset. I always liked Anthony more than Andre because of his style and versatility. I really don't know who I want to win. It is a very competitive fight but thats about ALL IT IS. Even if Ward did want to slug it out with Dirrel like he did with Froch, Dirrel wont let him and he'll just round around like a little girl. I think Ward wins a UD by at least 8-4 rounds just because he'll be busier than Dirrel. I just dont think Dirrel has the heart to sit there and slug it out, he cannot stand to get hit, and even though hes talented no doubt, boxing is the wrong sport for someone who cant stand to get hit so much that hes a very boring fighter. He does have all the tools though to be a good champ, just not sold on his warrior mentality yet. Even Floyd has a bigger heart and more warrior mentality than Dirrel.

Anthony Dirrell looks good against the no-hopers that I've seen him fight. He looks like he can fight, but it has to be measured vs the competition

I've spoken to Anthony on multiple occasions, and he always makes it clear that he wants someone in the top 10 next. If given the opportunity, he'd probably jump on it immediately. He seems like one of those big risk, low reward type fighters who struggle to get big fights. I can't see Kessler or Bute fighting him. Maybe Ward or Froch, but that's it. yea, just hope he doesnt end up like spadafora, all the skills in the world with nothing else on the table. pro boxing is a business not a sport, and if it dont make dollars it dont make sense. too many good boxers get ground into obscurity because they are simply too risky for people to fight...

no I know that man. the little brother, thats who I'm saying. I saw him fight on espn2 not that long ago

I don't hear either guy really pushing to make this fight happen right away. Dirrell is probably content to get in another fight or two to build experience, and Dirrell is certainly not going to be the first choice of Ward if he is looking for an "easy" defense as a means of taking a little break. Dirrell is ranked by the IBF as well. Maybe he will push for a Bute fight instead, and that is one that would be great for fans. I've spoken to Anthony on multiple occasions, and he always makes it clear that he wants someone in the top 10 next. If given the opportunity, he'd probably jump on it immediately. He seems like one of those big risk, low reward type fighters who struggle to get big fights. I can't see Kessler or Bute fighting him. Maybe Ward or Froch, but that's it.

I don't hear either guy really pushing to make this fight happen right away. Dirrell is probably content to get in another fight or two to build experience, and Dirrell is certainly not going to be the first choice of Ward if he is looking for an "easy" defense as a means of taking a little break. Dirrell is ranked by the IBF as well. Maybe he will push for a Bute fight instead, and that is one that would be great for fans.

Oh....Seems like a complete mismatch. Anthony has all the talent with none of the experience. If they fight right now. Ward schools him. Give Anthony 3 fights vs tough comp. He could very well beat Ward. That power and counter-punching ability will give anyone problems. Yeah, the experience definitely plays a big part. I want to see him face someone like Sakio Bika or Alejandro Berrio before going into this fight.

how does everyone feel about anthony dirrel's "chin" or overall ability to absorb damage? i think that is the main thing. he seems fragile compared to ward, after the way he handled froch even more so Thats Andre Dirrell, not Anthony. Anthony is his younger brother. He's similar to Andre, but throws more and probably punches slighter harder.

Wrong Dirrell brother. This is about his mandatory defense against Anthony, not Andre. But I do agree with you though. Oh....Seems like a complete mismatch. Anthony has all the talent with none of the experience. If they fight right now. Ward schools him. Give Anthony 3 fights vs tough comp. He could very well beat Ward. That power and counter-punching ability will give anyone problems.

Andre is a lot faster of hand and foot and has better D IMO.....but I think Anthony has the better pro type style because he simply does more damage in the ring....hes shown to be tough by overcoming cancer and coming back to his career, this will be a good fight hope it happens

how does everyone feel about anthony dirrel's "chin" or overall ability to absorb damage? i think that is the main thing. he seems fragile compared to ward, after the way he handled froch even more so

if ward is smart he will quickly retire and join the ranks of ottke/calzaghe as the greatest super middles of all time. why risk losing now? the more you fight the greater your chances of losing are. calzaghe knew this. if you retire undefeated you can become fantasy boxing champ and beat everyone! i dont even know you but you have been on this calzaghe for so long now what keeps you going

I favored Dirrell at the onset of the Tourney. I now favor Ward considerably. The experience of the tourney has pushed Ward to the next level. Dirrell has only taken steps back or at best, has stayed the same due to his injury and inactivity. Wrong Dirrell brother. This is about his mandatory defense against Anthony, not Andre. But I do agree with you though.

I favored Dirrell at the onset of the Tourney. I now favor Ward considerably. The experience of the tourney has pushed Ward to the next level. Dirrell has only taken steps back or at best, has stayed the same due to his injury and inactivity.

if ward is smart he will quickly retire and join the ranks of ottke/calzaghe as the greatest super middles of all time. why risk losing now? the more you fight the greater your chances of losing are. calzaghe knew this. if you retire undefeated you can become fantasy boxing champ and beat everyone!