Did Ward duck Bivol & Berbetiev?

[messi807]

I’m seeing this often nowadays from the so-called Andre Ward critics but don’t recall any media, professionals, trainers, coaches or analysts calling for Ward vs Bivol/Beterbiev around the time he retired.

Berbetiev was still fighting in Canada, active only once a year getting paid 100k a fight and Bivol was getting paid a little bit less fighting on undercards not even as the co-main event. Why would a guy on the verge of retirement that just beat the P4P #2 fighter in the world fight either guy that brings zero financial attraction to a fight at the end of his career?

It’s also telling that Berbetiev & Bivol haven’t fought each other after 7 years of Ward retiring. But Ward (according to Ward critics) ducked them both, Jesus.

This argument is as bad as Bud ‘ducking’ Boots, even if he were to retire right now.

Also Beterbiev turned down Kovalev fight twice, clearly his handlers weren’t confident. which pretty much defeats the entire argument.

[Teetotaler69]

There's no point of even asking knowing the kind of race cheering imbecile you are. Someone could put up a reasonable debate as to why he ducked them and it wouldn't change your mind. You'll still be defending him cause he has the same skin color as you

[daggum]

i dont think anyone called for those fights or any ward fights because no one ever wanted to see ward fight again after the kovalev fiascos. it was a great gift to the boxing world that he chose to hang them up. he could have gone on for years cheating and ducking people with his entitled attitude but he knew kovalev beat him and his mojo was gone and with it his fighting spirit. he could no longer maintain the charade of being some great boxer after being so thoroughly outboxed and having to resort to the most obvious of cheating tactics. the cracks were always there of course for people paying attention but the spotlight was just a lot brighter for those fights.

the kessler fight was a complete wrestling cheating farce, same with bika, second half of froch, first half of rodriguez(worst fight ever) his olympic fight where he wrestled the entire time after being rocked, etc...he just couldnt compete with top guys without blatantly cheating. if yuo watch when he fights bums like alexander brand or paul smith he doesnt do this at all, the only time he did his wrestling cheating tactics is the brief moment smitth rocked him and he immediately switched into it like second nature. him doing his cheating tactics the entire fight just tells you what he thinks about an opponent. oh they are too good for me i have to cheat. its actually pathetic if you think about it, but more pathetic that they actually let him get away with it.

as far as actualyl fighting those guys i doubt he would have. bad styles for him. beterbiev destroys him and is too strong to be wrestled around. bivol just way better boxer. I remember when ward won the super six(a tournament rigged in his favor) and they wanted him to fight bute...nope he wouldnt do it. bute had to earn it he said...just like dmitri sartison the guy he tried to fight...right. i bet a similar scenario would have played out where ward would have made excuses and said they dont deserve it im the champ because i robbed and lowblowed kovalev to victory go prove yourself guys!

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Nah he just retired. Ward’s body was breaking down.

Prime Ward would’ve beaten both IMO, shame they never fought, but it was never really realistic.

[SUBZER0ED]

I don't think Ward wanted to face the likes of Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Adonis Stevenson. They were the other boogie men of the LHW division at the time.

[messi807]

I don't think Ward wanted to face the likes of Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Adonis Stevenson. They were the other boogie men of the LHW division at the time.

Kinda makes no sense either. Stevenson ducked Kovalev for years and had a draw with Badou Jack 6 months after Ward retired. It’s vital we use logic here. Why would a guy that just fought the Krusher twice be fearful of a guy like Gvodyzk that hadn’t even fought any contenders or former champions (zero)? Help me understand.

[oscar9992]

No. He retired before they became relevent.

[messi807]

There's no point of even asking knowing the kind of race cheering imbecile you are. Someone could put up a reasonable debate as to why he ducked them and it wouldn't change your mind. You'll still be defending him cause he has the same skin color as you

You sound pretty angry and emotional, but I’ll wait for the reasonable debate…

[Cypocryphy]

Nah he just retired. Ward’s body was breaking down.

Prime Ward would’ve beaten both IMO, shame they never fought, but it was never really realistic.

He would have beaten both? lol Just like he beat Kovalev

[messi807]

i dont think anyone called for those fights or any ward fights because no one ever wanted to see ward fight again after the kovalev fiascos. it was a great gift to the boxing world that he chose to hang them up. he could have gone on for years cheating and ducking people with his entitled attitude but he knew kovalev beat him and his mojo was gone and with it his fighting spirit. he could no longer maintain the charade of being some great boxer after being so thoroughly outboxed and having to resort to the most obvious of cheating tactics. the cracks were always there of course for people paying attention but the spotlight was just a lot brighter for those fights.

the kessler fight was a complete wrestling cheating farce, same with bika, second half of froch, first half of rodriguez(worst fight ever) his olympic fight where he wrestled the entire time after being rocked, etc...he just couldnt compete with top guys without blatantly cheating. if yuo watch when he fights bums like alexander brand or paul smith he doesnt do this at all, the only time he did his wrestling cheating tactics is the brief moment smitth rocked him and he immediately switched into it like second nature. him doing his cheating tactics the entire fight just tells you what he thinks about an opponent. oh they are too good for me i have to cheat. its actually pathetic if you think about it, but more pathetic that they actually let him get away with it.

as far as actualyl fighting those guys i doubt he would have. bad styles for him. beterbiev destroys him and is too strong to be wrestled around. bivol just way better boxer. I remember when ward won the super six(a tournament rigged in his favor) and they wanted him to fight bute...nope he wouldnt do it. bute had to earn it he said...just like dmitri sartison the guy he tried to fight...right. i bet a similar scenario would have played out where ward would have made excuses and said they dont deserve it im the champ because i robbed and lowblowed kovalev to victory go prove yourself guys!

“Could’ve gone on years cheating and ducking people”

Care to explain the ‘people’ he ducked? And LMAO damn, it’s only a fight dude, I’m sorry you thought Ward cheated against Rodriguez, Kessler, Froch & Kovalev. LOL I’m so sorry you think the Super Six was rigged in Ward’s favour. I’m also sorry you think Ward ducked Bute LOL. I’m not sure why some guys on here get so worked up about Ward & Floyd, they’ve been retired for nearly a decade. But let’s try to stick to the point. How did Ward duck Bivol or Berbetiev? It seems like the people that actually believe this 9 times out of 10 have some personal or emotional outrage with Ward.