Comments Thread For: Ward's Coach: Brand *****s Wade, Golovkin Didn't Want It!

[Ake-Dawg]

Not ideal...but that's who Ward chose. Naw man, a boxer can only be tested in the sport by getting in the ring in a non-sparring fight...no protective gear...just fight. There is not enough sparring in the world to prepare a boxer for getting hit flush while not wearing headgear & pads. It's the reason why Kovalev chose defensive-minded Chilemba to prepare for Ward...you choose a fight that prepares you best for the bigger fight down the road. If Ward isn't picking the best guys to prepare him for the LHW champion, then what plan are they following?

Braehmer, Beterbiev, Browne, or even Smith after his upset win...all better options than little known Brand. But they still chose Brand...excuse me...they re-chose Brand.

Brand was not the first option so to say they chose Brand doesn't tell the story. Smith? Fight negotiations don't happen overnight. He wouldn't have even been a consideration until after his upset win. So when we're negotiations supposed to happen? Again...I agree that those are better fights, but I'm not one to think you "challenge" yourself in a tune up fight. You either fight a similar but lesser talented fighter...Chilemba...or you fight someone to get live rounds in with minimal risk of injury....Brand.

[JUNIABOY]

Brand was not the first option so to say they chose Brand doesn't tell the story. Smith? Fight negotiations don't happen overnight. He wouldn't have even been a consideration until after his upset win. So when we're negotiations supposed to happen? Again...I agree that those are better fights, but I'm not one to think you "challenge" yourself in a tune up fight. You either fight a similar but lesser talented fighter...Chilemba...or you fight someone to get live rounds in with minimal risk of injury....Brand.

If two boxers really want to fight each other, negotiations can be completed in a week. I'm not buying that they ever tried to negotiate with anybody acceptable because negotiations need to be conducted in good faith (as opposed to just issuing demands). Ward's already had 2 tune-up fights to acclimate to 175 (yes, I'm counting Paul Smith at 172). This last tune-up should be a bout against someone that will prepare him for the LHW champion. But he re-chose Brand. And how much tune-ups does a guy need in order to acclimate to a weight class that he fought in during the Olympics? I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt. But actions speak louder than words. When they re-chose Brand after being lambasted for trying to get a fight against Murdoch, their actions spoke very loudly to me. They said to me: we don't want to prepare properly for Kovalev because we're afraid that Ward might lose if they went after anybody better; we just want to fulfill the terms of the contract. Not quite the message I would want to hear from a supposed p4p fighter. If you're a boxer who doesn't want to challenge yourself, then boxing fans have no reason to follow you at all (& don't tell me Kovalev is challenging himself because he hasn't fought him yet). He gets credit after he beats Kovalev...not before. Zero points for settling on Brand.

[Ake-Dawg]

If two boxers really want to fight each other, negotiations can be completed in a week. I'm not buying that they ever tried to negotiate with anybody acceptable because negotiations need to be conducted in good faith (as opposed to just issuing demands). Ward's already had 2 tune-up fights to acclimate to 175 (yes, I'm counting Paul Smith at 172). This last tune-up should be a bout against someone that will prepare him for the LHW champion. But he re-chose Brand. And how much tune-ups does a guy need in order to acclimate to a weight class that he fought in during the Olympics? I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt. But actions speak louder than words. When they re-chose Brand after being lambasted for trying to get a fight against Murdoch, their actions spoke very loudly to me. They said to me: we don't want to prepare properly for Kovalev because we're afraid that Ward might lose if they went after anybody better; we just want to fulfill the terms of the contract. Not quite the message I would want to hear from a supposed p4p fighter. If you're a boxer who doesn't want to challenge yourself, then boxing fans have no reason to follow you at all (& don't tell me Kovalev is challenging himself because he hasn't fought him yet). He gets credit after he beats Kovalev...not before. Zero points for settling on Brand.

You've made two presumptions that seem to drive your stated opinion. 1. That there was no good faith effort to secure the fighters mentioned by Hunter and that the waiting on the conclusion of Beterbiev fight and the Fonfara Smith fight was an option (HBO pressure maybe). 2. That I somehow want to give Ward credit for something.

The only thing Ward needs to do is be sharp with his counters and head movement and confident in letting the straight right hand go. That's what leads us to a competitive fight in November. Barring injury in the Chilemba fight, Krusher is going to be crusher.

[JUNIABOY]

You've made two presumptions that seem to drive your stated opinion. 1. That there was no good faith effort to secure the fighters mentioned by Hunter and that the waiting on the conclusion of Beterbiev fight and the Fonfara Smith fight was an option (HBO pressure maybe). 2. That I somehow want to give Ward credit for something.

The only thing Ward needs to do is be sharp with his counters and head movement and confident in letting the straight right hand go. That's what leads us to a competitive fight in November. Barring injury in the Chilemba fight, Krusher is going to be crusher.

Excuse me from being too presumptuous. I just find it very hard to take anything Ward & his camp say because it took them nearly 3 months to secure a fight...& within those 3 months, there was a dearth of evidence that Ward would pursue anybody that would prepare him for the LHW champion. Not so much as being able to prove his chin, but to refine his defensive skills in the face of LHW power...& can he impose his style in a fight where the other guy is using his power to overwhelm. These are questions that fans were hoping to get answered before he fights the Krusher. Looks like Ward wants to go into the championship fight as green as possible. I am not a fan of this.

[aboutfkntime]

Beterbiev's power is the perfect test for Ward if he truly wanted to prepare for Kovalev...we don't know how Ward would deal with the power at LHW...that's why he should have chosen a power puncher. But you just dismissed it because he's young. That means that no matter who I bring up, you'll just poo-poo it down. Why even ask the question? Are you going to tell me that Brand is preparing Ward for Kovalev? Would you have felt better if I had brought up Braehmer? Nobody complained when the young Inouye captured a world title after only a handful of fights...why should you dismiss a young Beterbiev who is a top-10 guy? Sounds to me like you'll defend Ward no matter what logic I use...

When you are fighting an elite opponent, power is worthless unless you set it up, and Kovalev/Beterbiev are nothing alike.

Typical casual-fan, over-rating power.

Ward has faced PLENTY of bigger punchers coming up, he has ALWAYS fought the very best, because he has always been the very best.

There is nobody available who fights similar enough to Kovalev to make going that route worthwhile..... Ward has been ready for Kovalev for YEARS, he just needs to be sharp and right on point..... someone like Fonfara would have been perfect, but yea.

[aboutfkntime]

If two boxers really want to fight each other, negotiations can be completed in a week. I'm not buying that they ever tried to negotiate with anybody acceptable because negotiations need to be conducted in good faith (as opposed to just issuing demands). Ward's already had 2 tune-up fights to acclimate to 175 (yes, I'm counting Paul Smith at 172). This last tune-up should be a bout against someone that will prepare him for the LHW champion. But he re-chose Brand. And how much tune-ups does a guy need in order to acclimate to a weight class that he fought in during the Olympics? I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt. But actions speak louder than words. When they re-chose Brand after being lambasted for trying to get a fight against Murdoch, their actions spoke very loudly to me. They said to me: we don't want to prepare properly for Kovalev because we're afraid that Ward might lose if they went after anybody better; we just want to fulfill the terms of the contract. Not quite the message I would want to hear from a supposed p4p fighter. If you're a boxer who doesn't want to challenge yourself, then boxing fans have no reason to follow you at all (& don't tell me Kovalev is challenging himself because he hasn't fought him yet). He gets credit after he beats Kovalev...not before. Zero points for settling on Brand.

You tool, that is exactly what they did to Canelo LMAO

[JUNIABOY]

When you are fighting an elite opponent, power is worthless unless you set it up, and Kovalev/Beterbiev are nothing alike.

Typical casual-fan, over-rating power.

Ward has faced PLENTY of bigger punchers coming up, he has ALWAYS fought the very best, because he has always been the very best.

There is nobody available who fights similar enough to Kovalev to make going that route worthwhile..... Ward has been ready for Kovalev for YEARS, he just needs to be sharp and right on point..... someone like Fonfara would have been perfect, but yea.

Ward always fought the very best? You mean the way Ward fought Bute, Dirrell, & DeGale? I guess your trollness is right. Ward's opponents at SMW were waaaaaaaaaayyyyy bigger punchers than guys at LHW...you are so impressive with your boxing information. Who wants to argue with that kind of logic? Who needs to bring up that Beterbiev who would have been a good option for Ward because how Ward deals with the power from this LHW would be a barometer for him in his preparation for the LHW king...nope, no need to bring that up at all. And I guess despite betting odds & logic, Kovalev has no chance because Ward has been ready for years...no need to bring up wanting tune-up fights before him...none of that matters when you're troll hyping. The sky's the limit for you. Keep it up!

[JUNIABOY]

You tool, that is exactly what they did to Canelo LMAO

...and using that technique failed GBP in getting that GGG fight. Comparing one failure to another. You troll so well. Who needs to talk about boxing when you're around? Keep the hype up! I believe in you.

[aboutfkntime]

Ward always fought the very best? You mean the way Ward fought Bute, Dirrell, & DeGale? I guess your trollness is right. Ward's opponents at SMW were waaaaaaaaaayyyyy bigger punchers than guys at LHW...you are so impressive with your boxing information. Who wants to argue with that kind of logic? Who needs to bring up that Beterbiev who would have been a good option for Ward because how Ward deals with the power from this LHW would be a barometer for him in his preparation for the LHW king...nope, no need to bring that up at all. And I guess despite betting odds & logic, Kovalev has no chance because Ward has been ready for years...no need to bring up wanting tune-up fights before him...none of that matters when you're troll hyping. The sky's the limit for you. Keep it up!

On what planet is Bute the best, you dumb **** ? LMAO

That hypejob fell over THE VERY FIRST TIME he stepped up.

You wouldn't know a good fighter if he punched you in the face kid.

Ward has been the very best since he was a teenager, to SMW..... because he has beaten the best. Learn the sport son.

[QballLobo]

Ward has his big money legacy fight coming up in Kovalev. Meanwhile GGG will be fighting C level euro bums and guys with ankle bracelets for the foreseeable future.