Educate Me On Andre Ward!

[Pretty Boy1]

I've never seen him fight apart from a couple of small clips on Youtube. I know he's undefeated and won gold at the 2004 Olympics. To those of you that have seen a lot of his fights: What do you like about him? What's his style of boxing? Has he any weaknesses?

I would appreciate any feedback anyone can offer. Thanks.

[Shadows]

I think he is highly skilled--very good footwork, quick hands, the movement, etc.

His weaknesses are that he he doesn't have a lot of power and that there are some questions about his chin. Plus, people don't like the fact that he seems to hug a lot.

You can find his fight with Miranda on youtube btw.

[Sam D. Menace]

dont like him, ever see what happens when he lands a hard punch? it's not your head that goes snapping it's his arm

[Ben_London]

Has he been down yet in his career?

[IMDAZED]

Ward was considered a Roy Jones clone out of the Olympics but I think, like Roy, he has many styles. He's a well-schooled technician whose speed and reflexes allow him to pull off unorthodox moves in the ring. He suffered a knockdown to a journeyman early in his career and was rocked a couple times as well. His handlers wisely moved him off TV and built him up the right way. His level of competition has steadily increased and he's performed well as he's stepped up. He has great poise to be so young.

However, the move to face Kessler isn't a step up in class, it's a whole flight of stairs. That said, it should be noted that Ward probably belongs at 175. He was a middleweight prior to the Olympics but moved up to light heavy so his friend (Dirrell?) could try and win a title at 160. When he turned pro he moved back to 160 and I think that may be why he was getting rocked so often. I still think he's better suited at 175 but 168 isn't so bad either.

[Bushidō]

I've never seen him fight apart from a couple of small clips on Youtube. I know he's undefeated and won gold at the 2004 Olympics. To those of you that have seen a lot of his fights: What do you like about him? What's his style of boxing? Has he any weaknesses?

I would appreciate any feedback anyone can offer. Thanks.

He's somewhat of a poor man's Roy Jones. He is incredibly quick but he doesn't seem to have the power that RJJ had. His defense is a bit leaky and I don't really think he can take a punch. I guess we'll find out. Even though he won a clear victory over Miranda there were times in the fight where it looked like the pressure was getting to him. I hope I'm wrong as I'd like to see someone from around my area succeed but he has not impressed me.

[Shadows]

Has he been down yet in his career?

Yes he has, against Darnell Boone. I want to say it was either his sixth or seventh fight, but don't quote me on that.

[fightfan_79]

I've never seen him fight apart from a couple of small clips on Youtube. I know he's undefeated and won gold at the 2004 Olympics. To those of you that have seen a lot of his fights: What do you like about him? What's his style of boxing? Has he any weaknesses?

I would appreciate any feedback anyone can offer. Thanks.

IMHO.....He is a complete fighter....ranked 2nd only behind Floyd JR.

Strengths - Footwork, great defense, solid combinations, can fight at a distance (solid jab) or fight inside (uppercuts), ability to adapt to opponents "style" as fight progreses.

Weaknesses - Chin has not been "tested", looks to have "gassed out" in the 12th round against Edison Miranda (his last and most challenging fight).

Give him more elite competition to fight against, and he'll get better.

[alb829]

IMHO.....He is a complete fighter....ranked 2nd only behind Floyd JR.

Strengths - Footwork, great defense, solid combinations, can fight at a distance (solid jab) or fight inside (uppercuts), ability to adapt to opponents "style" as fight progreses.

Weaknesses - Chin has not been "tested", looks to have "gassed out" in the 12th round against Edison Miranda (his last and most challenging fight).

Give him more elite competition to fight against, and he'll get better.

I totally agree. And I think people make too big of a deal of fighters that have been down once or twice. IMO There are only 2 types of fighters: those that have been down and those that are going down. The true question is can they get up and how do they react to being knocked down or taking a big shot.

Aside from a lack of punching power I think Ward is an excellent boxer and a tactician. I like his ability to switch from orthodox to southpaw. IMO he's going to give Kessler a really tough fight. He may not win but will be in the thick of things at the end of the tourney.

[bojangles1987]

Everyone else has pretty much covered it. Good technical skills, fast, will probably hug a lot. He's never fought anything like Kessler obviously, we'll see how he handles it.