Comments Thread For: Andre Ward: The Best At 168 And Looking To Get Better

[Bhopreign]

That's spin, it's not a direct quote of anything he said. What he actually said in an interview in The Ring was that he wanted to rematch Andrade and if he was forced to choose between that and the Super 6, his priority was the rematch with Andrade. And if he hadn't given Andrade a rematch, after what happened in their first fight, he'd have been called a ducker. But Showtime shouldn't have forced him to choose - they should have reserved a place for the Bute-Andrade winner.

Basically what I said before, if he wanted to be in the tournament I think he could have been, but Im sure he is happy amassing a growing number of fans in Canada, making alot of money, and keeping his belt intact while not having to fight the best, Im not mad at him.

[Dave Rado]

Basically what I said before, if he wanted to be in the tournament I think he could have been, but Im sure he is happy amassing a growing number of fans in Canada, making alot of money, and keeping his belt intact while not having to fight the best, Im not mad at him.

My point is that there's no evidence that he wouldn't have joined the Super 6 if he had been allowed to fight Andrade first and if a place had been reserved for the Bute-Andrade winner, as it should have been; and that the tournament lacks credibility if it's to determine who's the undisputed champion. because of the fact that he wasn't invited.

It's very significant that Showtime stated explicitly that they didn't invite him. If your theory was right, it would have been in Showtime's interests to claim that they invited him and that he wasn't interested. But that's not what they said. They said they didn't invite him.

[Bhopreign]

Maybe its was intentional on Showtime's part also, Bute being on HBO and Showtime having a super middle competition with the best around. Cant wait to see if he ever fights one of these guys.

[LeadUppercut]

Both fighters will need to make the fight at that point, in order for there to be a clear world champion - unless Bute loses or looks bad in the meantime.

As long as Bute doesn't slip below #2 in The Ring's rankings, no fight not involving him can be for The Ring title.

It's a bit analogous to the Mayweather-Pac situation now - Mayweather has moved to #1 in the rankings, but boxing needs them to fight each other, and there will be no clear Welterweight champion (or Ring champion) unless they fight - and the onus is on both fighters to make the fight happen.

I see things a little differently here.....

Immediately after the Super-6 competition was announced, it was obvious to me because of Bute's exclusion, that he was automatically relegated to second place..... simply because the competition would leave him behind, seeing that all the top super-middleweight's would be unavailable for the next two years.

The one thing in his favor..... is that when the Super-6 has finished, Bute will only need to fight once, in order to take the number 1 spot.

Is it "fair" that Bute was not included in the Super-6?

No, it is an unfortunate situation. But life is not fair, and Bute certainly does not get to hold onto his position without fighting the best, while the other top guys are taking all of the risks.

If Ward wins, is it fair that he be denied the number 1 spot after walking the gauntlet against 5 of the 6 best fighters at 168? It aint his fault that Bute wasn't included.

Right now Bute gets to sit back and control his own destiny, but that path will not lead to the number 1 spot at 168. The Super-6 participants take all of the risks, and the winner will be far ahead of Bute in terms of accomplishment.

Bute will hopefully get a chance to fight for that spot, and he will only have to fight one champion to do it..... but until then, the Super-6 winner will be recognised as the man at 168lb.

[ShoulderRoll]

If Ward wins the Super Six he will have a far better resume than Lucian Bute. That is simply a fact.

And this applies not just to Andre but to whoever wins the Super Six, period.

[LeadUppercut]

The Super-6 is a fantastic competition, terrific for the sport of boxing.

The only blemish, is that Lucian Bute is not participating.

[Dave Rado]

If Ward wins, is it fair that he be denied the number 1 spot after walking the gauntlet against 5 of the 6 best fighters at 168? It aint his fault that Bute wasn't included.

The Super 6 winner should be ranked #1 but should not be called the undisputed world champion until he fights Bute, unless Bute loses or looks bad in the meantime. As long as Bute keeps reasonably active and continues to look good, his ranking shouldn't go lower than #2, given that it isn't his fault that he was excluded from the Super 6. And as long as he doesn't go lower than #2, no fight not involving him can be for the undisputed or lineal or Ring world championship.

[Dave Rado]

The Super-6 is a fantastic competition, terrific for the sport of boxing.

The only blemish, is that Lucian Bute is not participating.

Absolutely. And as long as the winner fights Bute for all the marbles then that's okay.

[LeadUppercut]

The Super 6 winner should be ranked #1 but should not be called the undisputed world champion until he fights Bute, unless Bute loses or looks bad in the meantime. As long as Bute keeps reasonably active and continues to look good, his ranking shouldn't go lower than #2, given that it isn't his fault that he was excluded from the Super 6. And as long as he doesn't go lower than #2, no fight not involving him can be for the undisputed or lineal or Ring world championship.

Exactly, except I think that by that stage The Ring will have the Super-6 winner at number 1, leaving Bute to challenge for that spot in a unification match.

[LeadUppercut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedom Fighter War Mangler! I'm rooting for Allan Green, but Ward has the advantage of a home referee who lets him hold and heabutt as much as he wants, so it's not going to be easy. Why does Ward get to have all his fights at home?

maybe because he's won two and green is getting a massive break!
the contender kiddies built green up early. but then he became a headcase.
will he get lucky? will wards knee act up?
IMO ward makes green look dumb. green way overclassed here.
if bute was'nt such a stayathomewus wish he would of gotten involved over greenweenie.
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my complete sentiments with view from my fave boxing scribe graham houston:
"Logic says that the fight will go 12 rounds, with Ward darting in and out, boxing a somewhat cautious fight — being well aware of Green’s punching power — and picking up points.
This could well be what happens, but I think there is a chance that Ward can force a stoppage. I thought that he was rocking Kessler, who has a very good chin. If Ward can catch Green with the same sort of shots, he might be able to get a surprising inside-schedule win. I lean towards this possibility.

Last Updated: June 16, 2010 10:28amNote: Odds are for entertainment purposes only"

http://www.fightwriter.com/?q=node/2737

Agreed, I got Ward settling down to his work and going largely untroubled..... but the possibility that Green may land "that punch" is what makes this match-up intriguing.

It would not surprise me at all to see Ward stop Green late in the fight.