Are we discussing Ward or Canelo, I’m extremely confused. Not once did anyone think, comment or believe the P4P #2 Kovalev was declining.. that’s revisionist history at best, so I’ll just laugh. Everyone thought Kov was going to obliterate Ward, before BOTH fights.
Regarding Beterbiev.. that’s just fantasy. Great fighter.. but extremely flawed, like we saw against very decent B - level Anthony Yarde. 7 years since Ward retired & Beterbiev & Bivol still haven’t fought. Ward had accomplished more than both fighters put together at 32 years of age.
Do you think the Kovalev that fought Ward was the same Kovalev who was "krushing" virtually all of his opponents earlier in his career? Later, it came out that he was an alcoholic. Fighters know of each other's strengths and weaknesses. And what about Gvozdyk and Stevenson? Ward wanted nothing to do with either of them. He was a good fighter, but he knew he wouldn't last in the LHW division. Hence, the retirement.
He could have fought him but didn’t. He sparred with him. I personally could give a sheeit. These older boxers are looking for only big paydays at the end of their careers. I can’t blame them. It’s hard to do a camp when you’re over 30. It’s hard to get motivated. They have so many aches and pains from previous injuries. They’re breaking down so they aren’t going to go through all that crap to get in shape and make weight for no reason.
Also keep in mind, Ward was on his way out and just wanted big fights like Froch, Kessler rematches, JCC Jr, and GGG. He was no longer into proving himself for the fans.
In fact, i’m pretty sure no one would’ve mind a 3rd Kovalev fight just because of the “controversy” of the first two.
Ward convincingly stopped Kovalev in the rematch. Quit whining.
I was rooting for Kovalev too, never been a Ward fan but have to give credit where it’s due.
Prime Ward schools Bivol, faster, sharper, better technician, more dimensions to his game etc.
I've never understood why some people call "telling the truth" "whining." Very very strange ....
Give some examples of some other fights where an entire fight is stopped with ONE BODY BLOW. No 10 count? Really? Tell me one other fight where it was immediately stopped after someone landed a body shot.
I'll wait .....
(And I'm not exactly a big fan of either fighter.)
Maybe you'll enjoy taking a trip down memory lane by watching this:
WAIT a 160 5’8 pounder Canelo & a padded Ramirez who struggled against Jesse Hart twice.. this is what leads you to thinking Ward wouldn’t stand a chance, better yet this is 5-6 years after Ward retired - Bivol would’ve been very inexperienced, barely even been 12 rounds at the time. Would’ve been a HUGE underdog against Ward.
Ward had been out for a couple years due to surgery. He had a torn rotator cuff. That's why he came up to light heavy, so he was fading. He knew it. But that's not why I have Bivol and Beterbiev beating Ward. Ward needs to fight in that mid-range zone. He's a mid-range to inside fighter. Bivol's footwork might be the best in the sport. He'd never let Ward get to where he needed. Plus, Ward would have faded.
With Beterbiev, Ward would have been mauled by Beterbiev. Beterbiev's mid to inside game is superior to Ward's Ward was a super-middle guy who moved up while Beterbiev is a natural light heavy. Kovalev can't fight in that mid to inside range.
It would have been a mauling by Beterbiev or a clear points victory by Bivol.
Actually everyone back then thought he was ducking Bivol. He did an interview of Bivol for HBO and brought up the issue of ducking, so that was a topic that went back all the way to then.
Ward had been out for a couple years due to surgery. He had a torn rotator cuff. That's why he came up to light heavy, so he was fading. He knew it. But that's not why I have Bivol and Beterbiev beating Ward. Ward needs to fight in that mid-range zone. He's a mid-range to inside fighter. Bivol's footwork might be the best in the sport. He'd never let Ward get to where he needed. Plus, Ward would have faded.
With Beterbiev, Ward would have been mauled by Beterbiev. Beterbiev's mid to inside game is superior to Ward's Ward was a super-middle guy who moved up while Beterbiev is a natural light heavy. Kovalev can't fight in that mid to inside range.
It would have been a mauling by Beterbiev or a clear points victory by Bivol.
Actually everyone back then thought he was ducking Bivol. He did an interview of Bivol for HBO and brought up the issue of ducking, so that was a topic that went back all the way to then.
Yeah you’ve gotta be smoking rocks. Clear win for Bivol? LOL did you see the Craig Richards fight? Bivol couldn’t cope with the pressure. Plus he hasn’t had a knockdown or stoppage in nearly 10 fights.. Just doesn’t hit hard enough to fend Ward off. Everyone thought he was ducking? Can you show me one pro fighter, coach, analyst, historian.. SOMEBODY that said he was ducking? LOL, cmon now that’s fabricated.
Do you think the Kovalev that fought Ward was the same Kovalev who was "krushing" virtually all of his opponents earlier in his career? Later, it came out that he was an alcoholic. Fighters know of each other's strengths and weaknesses. And what about Gvozdyk and Stevenson? Ward wanted nothing to do with either of them. He was a good fighter, but he knew he wouldn't last in the LHW division. Hence, the retirement.
Stop making excuses LOL, you’re the first dude in the entire universe to say Ward didn’t fight a prime Kovalev.
Who is talking about in that moment? Do you think he didn't realise a couple of years down the line it may be a different story. That's the point isn't it?
Bivol dealt with Barrera easier than ward and stopped him.
to be honest, all these guys knew Bivol was a problem. Kovalev used to dismiss fighting Bivol all the time, even when Bivol had a belt.
Beterbiev ran away from DAZN as soon as Bivol joined, and has been hiding his new promoter since and letting Arum say Bivol is boring etc to avoid the fight for a few years. Arum and Beterbiev have only started getting interested in the fight since its been talking about as a Saudi fight.
The Russians already knew what the Mexicans found out the hard way, Bivol is a very hard man to beat stylistically and Ward probably sensed it too.
Bivol looked HORRIBLE against Craig Richards and never really adapted great in that. I’ve never seen Ward lose that many rounds with a C level dude. Bivol’s a very good fighter.. But Ward was GREAT.
Let's be honest, Kovalev is much better than either of them and regardless of how you thought Ward-Kov 1 went(Yes, Kov wont that fight) Ward has proven is worth over the 2 fights.
I've never understood why some people call "telling the truth" "whining." Very very strange ....
Give some examples of some other fights where an entire fight is stopped with ONE BODY BLOW. No 10 count? Really? Tell me one other fight where it was immediately stopped after someone landed a body shot.
I'll wait .....
(And I'm not exactly a big fan of either fighter.)
Maybe you'll enjoy taking a trip down memory lane by watching this:
Ward won, officially, legitimately, whichever way you wanna spin it. Stop crying like a b**** , you do this whenever one of your guys lose. You need to let things go dude.
Comment