What division would Andre Ward have fought in when 168 didn't exist?

[The Big Dunn]

Ward simply put was too much for Kessler.

This is the real issue. Posters can't admit certain fighters are just far better than guys they like. Instead, they will go through a list of plausible theories for losing a fight and act like they apply even when they do not.

[Build That Wall]

Kessler wasn't ready for the head butts, for the hitting off the break, for the repeated illegal clamping of his arm, nor for the rotten referee Jack Reiss yelling at him to distract him.

Do you think that any fight that Ward wins has a Dirty Ref?

[New England]

Do you think that any fight that Ward wins has a Dirty Ref?

a more appropriate question would be "do you close your eyes when wladimir klitschko cements himself as the most prolific holder at HW since muhammad ali?"


how does a klitscko fan get on anybody about holding? how does it happen? you've got to be mentall ill


ward actully wants to keep his hands free inside, if these guys care to watch him. he's a good fighter on the inside. he does well from the outside, but he also does well with his head in his opponent's chest. he keeps his hands free and works.

[Scipio2009]

Back in the days of Sam Langford, Harry Greb, Gene Tunney, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Carlos Monzon the 168 division didn't exist.

Bernard Hopkins "168 is just a place where light heavyweights who don't want to fight the best light heavyweights hide"

From the 19th century to the 1980s, when 168 didn't exist, what division would Andre Ward have fought in?

All things being equal (Ward winning the Gold medal at light heavyweight(178 max) at his walkaround weight of 172, debuting as a professional shortly thereafter, no same-day weigh-ins, etc), Ward would've debuted at 160, fought there comfortably for a while, and then likely started torturing his body to stay at 160 for as long as he can.

Walking into the ring for a light heavyweight fight at literally 175 pounds (Ward was 173 with near three weeks to go for the Paul Smith fight) against an opponent who is likely to be walking into that same ring at near 200 pounds (likely about where Kovalev walked into the ring for the Hopkins fight at, having maxed out at the weigh-in(175) and IBF mandated weigh-in(185) on fight night) isn't a position that someone wants to make a career out of doing, unless you're a heavyweight like Holyfield.

[New England]

Froch and Hatton yes, but Kessler?

Come on he got headbutted how many times? 50 or so?

you think andre ward headbutted kessler on purpose close to twice a minute ?

really?

[The Hammer]

Do you think that any fight that Ward wins has a Dirty Ref?

I think he would do well without a dirty ref, but perhaps not be a top fighter, because he lacks the power to keep his opponents off him. He'd be a Paulie Malignaggi without his illegal tactics.

Ward does have fast handspeed and good footwork.

But he's become more and more reliant on dirty tactics like clamping his opponents arms, that's why he's afraid to fight a good opponent without a home ref.

[The Hammer]

you think andre ward headbutted kessler on purpose close to twice a minute ?

really?

"Oh my, let's be honest here, Ward came in like a billy goat" - Al Bernstein

[New England]

All things being equal (Ward winning the Gold medal at light heavyweight(178 max) at his walkaround weight of 172, debuting as a professional shortly thereafter, no same-day weigh-ins, etc), Ward would've debuted at 160, fought there comfortably for a while, and then likely started torturing his body to stay at 160 for as long as he can.

Walking into the ring for a light heavyweight fight at literally 175 pounds (Ward was 173 with near three weeks to go for the Paul Smith fight) against an opponent who is likely to be walking into that same ring at near 200 pounds (likely about where Kovalev walked into the ring for the Hopkins fight at, having maxed out at the weigh-in(175) and IBF mandated weigh-in(185) on fight night) isn't a position that someone wants to make a career out of doing, unless you're a heavyweight like Holyfield.

ward doesn't walk around at 172. that 173 lb weight was after weeks of training. they can't train that hard year round. their bodies would break down. he probably gets close to 190-200 lbs when he's not training, and that doesn't mean he's out of shape or has bad habits [drinking and eating.]

ward was between 175 and 180 on fight night against chad dawson. that fight was almost three years ago now.


ward would be a LHW with a same day weigh in / if there wasn't a 168 lbs.

[The Hammer]

a more appropriate question would be "do you close your eyes when wladimir klitschko cements himself as the most prolific holder at HW since muhammad ali?"


how does a klitscko fan get on anybody about holding? how does it happen? you've got to be mentall ill


ward actully wants to keep his hands free inside, if these guys care to watch him. he's a good fighter on the inside. he does well from the outside, but he also does well with his head in his opponent's chest. he keeps his hands free and works.

how does a andre ward fan get on anybody about holding? how does it happen? you've got to be mentall ill

[New England]

"Oh my, let's be honest here, Ward came in like a billy goat" - Al Bernstein

2x a minute doe!

and he does that every time he fihts! he headbutted froch so fast you couldn't even see it!