Comments Thread For: Andre Ward: Edison Miranda Was Biggest Puncher I Ever Faced

ward definitely was wobbled several times in that fight but dont worry he used his patented grabby hands to get through it thats what a smart fighter does

Of course Kovalev has never been in against someone like Ward but Ward has never been in with a guy like Kovalev as well. Thats what makes this fight so intriguing.I think the former is more apt. I remember Kessler, a skilled puncher-boxer, being the favorite at the start of the Super 6 tournament; and IIRC he was favored to beat Ward. The way Ward won made me puke but ultimately he did neutralize any weapon Kessler might have had that night. I think this is what will happen on Saturday (hopefully without the clinching and head butting). I don't know if Kovalev is prepared to overcome the type of frustration he will have to endure when he fights Ward. John David Jackson will need to have several game plans and maybe change them up during the bout because Ward will be constantly re-adjusting. The question then becomes, can Kovalev make adjustments? Anyway, yes, a highly intriguing fight. I also hope it does decently on the business side.

I was a big fan of Miranda and Abraham back then and when they fought it was a bittersweet experience for me. Both these guys had tremendous power without a doubt and where animals at 160 in their prime. Miranda still had impressive power at 175 but he didnt have the skills, defense and chin to hang there and his best days where over anyway. Abraham lacks skill as well but his defense is solid and hard to crack. The guy has never been knocked out and he has been in some fights he had no chance at all. Having said all that i think Kovalev not only has more power than both of these guys as a naturall hard hitting 175 pounder, he is also faster and much more skilled. Of course Kovalev has never been in against someone like Ward but Ward has never been in with a guy like Kovalev as well. Thats what makes this fight so intriguing.

People are putting too much emphases on Kov power.. I have Ward winning this fight and could even be by knockout. When I look at both guys I see a lot of flaws in Kovalev. I'm not going to get specific but I see Kovalev having a very bad night if these flaws aren't fixed and I mean very bad night unless some how his power bails him out which I don't believe it will because he's not a one hitter quitter like Tyson and Ward doesn't really take massive punishment.

Yes Miranda is/was an absolute murderous puncher. Ive watched him work over sparring partners many many times. You can always tell how hard a fighter hits by the sound of their shots. His shots sound like a fastball hitting a catchers mitt even in the gym People tend to forget how Miranda busted up Abraham and broke his jaw.

This will be no chicken running affair . K is gonna come after Ward with great power and somewhere he will land the big shot. Not One of Wards previous opponents comes close to Kovalev. But I have to say the best advice is what we read "it ain't enough tonite" The ONE who has the key is Kovalev and this is what makes this a great fight ! You can forget Mayweather he was a chicken runner. These guys put may into the shame or sham basket along with the media who bought it ! Sat nite ain't gonna be skip to my Lou my darling so all you girly boys that dress up in pink that love runners and think that's real boxing better got the hell out da way This is life and Death Can the boxer ward off destruction?? He can win if he does but if he can't and Kov power is enough there will be an internal melt down til the final blow turns out da lights

Fantastic interview. “He hit me with some shots and I was like ‘wow’ but I was able to walk through it because Virgil, before camp started, looked me in the eye and said ‘taking a punch, some of it is physical but a lot of it is mental. Make up your mind right now that no matter what this man hits you with it is not going to be enough’." Pretty awesome stuff. :boxing::boxing:

ward definitely was wobbled several times in that fight but dont worry he used his patented grabby hands to get through it

I think that was the first Ward fight I ever saw. Miranda had a ton of problems as a fighter, but the man could punch.

Abraham - Miranda first fight was amazing! War of animals :)

Ward seems like he is in a happy place, that he has matured. I like it, don't like the old bitter ward. The mental bit is very important and ward and kovalev are both strong mental. Maybe the biggest reason of mcgregor's success is his mental belives, strenght and I know kovalev and ward likes this about mcgregor

Fantastic interview. “He hit me with some shots and I was like ‘wow’ but I was able to walk through it because Virgil, before camp started, looked me in the eye and said ‘taking a punch, some of it is physical but a lot of it is mental. Make up your mind right now that no matter what this man hits you with it is not going to be enough’." Pretty awesome stuff. Great post. Really awesome stuff indeed. The mental aspect is so underrated around here and it's also difficult to control under adversity.

Yes Miranda is/was an absolute murderous puncher. Ive watched him work over sparring partners many many times. You can always tell how hard a fighter hits by the sound of their shots. His shots sound like a fastball hitting a catchers mitt even in the gym

I've been thoroughly enjoying these interviews with Dre for the past few weeks. He's been candid and tremendously insightful all at once, and I love that shti. Ward's got a true champion's mentality and he knows what to do to win a fight against all styles, and that makes him a slight favorite on Saturday, IMO.

Let Stevenson or a good puncher catch him clean and them tell me it is mental. The brain disconnects you when it feels the trauma caused by a direct hit. Thats the whole point if you see them coming they dont pack near the punch as you take the power of it , its only takes fractions of movement at the right time and it can take 30% off the power , some fighters its very hard to hit really clean , extremely hard . The punches you dont see turn the lights out and can with less power but perfect timing , I think Andre is saying what its like for him mentality getting hit solid , it wont protect him from the one that overwhelms the senses but the right mindset can definitely strengthen your chin and wrong mindset get you KO , the mind that doesnt quit is very powerful and Ward is a very technical guy . And kov is a beast gee its a good fight .

this lot (including the writer) are on another planet! andre ward is very good BUT, far from great or a hall of famer for fack sake! he beat carl froch and kessler.........and....and...yep no other cunt worth a mention and all of a sudden hes the best this or pound for pound that! its perplexing when you have say, floyd mayweather who has beaten more than 15 world champions and had 49 undefeated bouts and people are STILL calling him all the various names!! none of it makes sense...oh hang on....everyone except kovalev are americans! i can see the mentality now...yeah...trump for president. stupid cunts.

Trevor Berbick had asked Virgil Hunter about the "mental" issue when you take a hard punch way back in November 1986, but unfortunately it didn't work.

Let Stevenson or a good puncher catch him clean and them tell me it is mental. The brain disconnects you when it feels the trauma caused by a direct hit.

Not Boone? I'm surprised... Even Kovalev would agree! Stevenson certainly would. :wnk1:

Fantastic interview. “He hit me with some shots and I was like ‘wow’ but I was able to walk through it because Virgil, before camp started, looked me in the eye and said ‘taking a punch, some of it is physical but a lot of it is mental. Make up your mind right now that no matter what this man hits you with it is not going to be enough’." Pretty awesome stuff.