I see Ward announcing a retirement soon.

[AddiX]

I don't think he's done... but I think his time as top dog is. People just assume he's still top dog..he hasn't proved it in years.

I have no animosity toward the guy but that's how I see it.

I get what your saying, but I'd bet anything Ward has kept himself sharp.

He's become an entitled prick, but this is a dude who takes his craft very serious.

I don't think he's scared to fight Kovolov either. Ward is a confident dude.

[BrometheusBob.]

Hope so, and maybe he gets hit by a car on the way home too and the medical bills eat up all his money he earned. Payback for having to endure his boring ass style and divas ways all these years.

You see this ****? Don't post this ****.

One thing to rag on a fighter for being boring or being a bum but to wish that kinda suffering onto them is reprehensible.

[Syf]

I get what your saying, but I'd bet anything Ward has kept himself sharp.

He's become an entitled prick, but this is a dude who takes his craft very serious.

I don't think he's scared to fight Kovolov either. Ward is a confident dude.

Him being so tentative with tuneups is explained away by the presence of nagging injuries. Shoulder..knee.. and who knows what else.

Must say him looking for the brands and Rohans of the world wasn't reflecting well on him... but injuries explain that.

His time at the top was because he had the confidence in his physical faculties to get it done. Kept him a full step and a half ahead of his opponents. An injury (or more likely, injuries) can ruin that.

Of course he will look sharp against Paul Smith ect... question is when he steps up in class against Kovalev for instance will the gulf of levels be so large, or even there, like in his super six days? I say not.

He miraging people.

[Vasyl’s dad]

Nothing wrong with wanting to test the waters first so he feels comfortable there. The point is they are gonna fight. The fact that both Duva and Ward's side are interested and say the fight is gonna happen is good enough. How do you duck someone you have agreed to fight? That was one of the whole point of the 3 fight deal is so HBO could get two of the best fighters in the ring on their network. Neither fighter is a household name, so I don't have a problem with HBO wanting these guys to get a bit more exposure before they charge us PPV for the fight. Cause we all know that's where it's going to head to.

Link me to where HBO says this Ward is fighting Kovalev.

[i'm a fun haver]

Link me to where HBO says this Ward is fighting Kovalev.

The only thing said about is is "a first step"
Ward fighting SMWs above the SMW limit is a "first step" towards fighting Kovalev...some time lol

[Hougigo]

Doubt it... at least through this Roc contract

[Johnwoo8686]

Ward's career arc is starting to eerily resemble David Hayes. However, its truly pathetic to see the hate that some of these so called boxing fans have in their hearts. An undefeated Olympic Gold medalist, who cleaned out his division can't get any appreciation from these people who claim to be fans of the sport. They are just fans of certain fighters and that is all.

[AddiX]

Him being so tentative with tuneups is explained away by the presence of nagging injuries. Shoulder..knee.. and who knows what else.

Must say him looking for the brands and Rohans of the world wasn't reflecting well on him... but injuries explain that.

His time at the top was because he had the confidence in his physical faculties to get it done. Kept him a full step and a half ahead of his opponents. An injury (or more likely, injuries) can ruin that.

Of course he will look sharp against Paul Smith ect... question is when he steps up in class against Kovalev for instance will the gulf of levels be so large, or even there, like in his super six days? I say not.

He miraging people.

As long as its not a serious shoulder or knee injury, than injuries in boxing aren't that big a deal.

It's not like other sports where you have to play every week. you only have to perform once and than you can go back to resting.

I don't think any injuries will hld ward back, but well see.

[Vasyl’s dad]

The only thing said about is is "a first step"
Ward fighting SMWs above the SMW limit is a "first step" towards fighting Kovalev...some time lol

I searched and can't find anything other than Ward tweeting he signed a deal, however there is no mention of Kovalev. As usual, Ward fans making up things to make him look like he's something special.

[Syf]

As long as its not a serious shoulder or knee injury, than injuries in boxing aren't that big a deal.

It's not like other sports where you have to play every week. you only have to perform once and than you can go back to resting.

I don't think any injuries will hld ward back, but well see.

Seems to me he has ALREADY let injuries hold him back.

I'm talking about what goes on behind the scenes.. not a fighter's outward bravado. Outward bravado and inward confidence are two different animals. How else do you explain his three years of doing nothing significant if not for injuries? A fractured hand..shoulder surgery..and now a knee.... and that's just what we know about.


Also it's more than one and done in boxing. There is very extensive training. An injury can have very adverse effects on training. A bum knee for instance, can trouble you in road work and hitting the heavy bag (shoulder too for hb) and limit the effectiveness of your training. Sparring could reaggravate said injury easily. That's outside the psychological..and merely looking at the physical aspect.

Now..if you had a 50% camp because of nagging injuries..how will you be at your best on fight night?