Why is Ward afraid to move up?

[soul_survivor]

I don't get the Ward hype, I really don't. Yes he has skills but he is a spoiler, great fighters aren't spoilers. I'd have him on a p4p list simply because of his Froch win, which made him the clear MAN at 168, which is a rarity in modern divisions. His resume, outside of Froch is average at best, his best wins are against guys who were beaten by better opponents at least half a decade earlier.

Now Ward has been out for ages with an injury, his last bout being a farce against a drained Dawson. Now Ward is calling out Chavez Jr, who was already humiliated by Martinez as thoroughly as any humiliation I have ever seen, except for the last minute of the last round.

It's clear, if HBO can't make a GGG/Martinez fight next year, they will make a GGG/Ward fight which I do not agree with. Yes GGG is a great puncher but he is far too small for 168, Ward will pop shot him with jabs all night and clinch when he gets too close. IF HBO want Ward in with a big puncher it should be Kovalev...maybe even Stevenson, although Ward schools Stevenson.

[bojangles1987]

He's not. He's trying to make some money at 168 that isn't there at 175.

[Simurgh]

I don't get the Ward hype, I really don't. Yes he has skills but he is a spoiler, great fighters aren't spoilers. I'd have him on a p4p list simply because of his Froch win, which made him the clear MAN at 168, which is a rarity in modern divisions. His resume, outside of Froch is average at best, his best wins are against guys who were beaten by better opponents at least half a decade earlier.

Now Ward has been out for ages with an injury, his last bout being a farce against a drained Dawson. Now Ward is calling out Chavez Jr, who was already humiliated by Martinez as thoroughly as any humiliation I have ever seen, except for the last minute of the last round.

It's clear, if HBO can't make a GGG/Martinez fight next year, they will make a GGG/Ward fight which I do not agree with. Yes GGG is a great puncher but he is far too small for 168, Ward will pop shot him with jabs all night and clinch when he gets too close. IF HBO want Ward in with a big puncher it should be Kovalev...maybe even Stevenson, although Ward schools Stevenson.

^ this.

Ward-Kovalev is much more natural than Ward-GGG.

I would like to see the first one. It would be a great fight. Kovalev is strong enough to not let Ward to just punch and clinch.