Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev fought for the first time last November in an entertaining 12-round bout that saw “SOG” walk away with a somewhat controversial decision victory. Many, however, had felt as if Kovalev should’ve been given the nod, which is why the rematch, which took place last night (June 17, 2017), was so […]
Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev fought for the first time last November in an entertaining 12-round bout that saw “SOG” walk away with a somewhat controversial decision victory. Many, however, had felt as if Kovalev should’ve been given the nod, which is why the rematch, which took place last night (June 17, 2017), was so pivotal.
Ward once again took home the victory in Las Vegas last night, although controversy once again surrounded the outcome. After seven rounds of back-and-forth action, Ward finished the “Krusher” in the eighth round to retain his light heavyweight titles. Some, however, felt as if the finishing blow was an illegal shot.
— Streetfight Bancho (@streetfitebanch) June 18, 2017
Unfortunately, fight fans are now left with more questions than answers involving Ward and Kovalev. In fact, Kovalev and his team are planning to appeal the stoppage, per Chris Mannix:
Main Events plans to file a protest, citing the repeated low blows.
Boxing champ Andre Ward is one of the very few boxers claiming the recently-announced Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing bout is good for the time-honored sweet science. Ward is currently the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world right now since Floyd Mayweather retired and is slated to rematch P4P No. 2 Sergey Kovalev tomorrow. Heading into […]
Boxing champ Andre Ward is one of the very few boxers claiming the recently-announced Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing bout is good for the time-honored sweet science.
Ward is currently the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world right now since Floyd Mayweather retired and is slated to rematch P4P No. 2 Sergey Kovalev tomorrow. Heading into the pivotal match-up, Ward discussed his thoughts on the hybrid boxer vs. mixed martial artist showdown with Fight Hub TV (via MMA Fighting):
“I think it’s good for boxing. I like it. I’m gonna watch it. I don’t really have an opinion about it in terms of a negative sense. It’s cool. It’s all good.
“I think if you don’t want to watch it, you don’t have to tune in. You don’t have to follow the build up. You can turn the channel or not read it. I’m not here to promote their fight but I think that the attention that all us fighters are getting – you know, we’re asked about it every time we do an interview from mainstream media – I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think it can be good, just understand what you’re signing up for. Understand what it is.”
“I think it’s kind of cool that he’s going for 50 in a unique, different way like this instead of just fighting an average guy. And he’s getting paid to do it so you can’t knock that.”
So far, those in the boxing world have regarded the bout in a fairly negative light. Teddy Atlas, Kathy Duva and others have brushed off the significance of it, with some like Oscar De La Hoya going so far as to say it will hurt boxing’ stature.
Ward takes on Sergey Kovalev in a rematch of their first fight on Saturday June 17.
Former light heavyweight champion of the world Jean Pascal has joined the boxer vs. mixed martial artist trend by calling out UFC welterweight Nick Diaz, but is this more a media exercise than a genuine offer to fight? The debate of boxer vs. MMA fighter in MMA rules was seemingly settled by Randy Couture in […]
Former light heavyweight champion of the world Jean Pascal has joined the boxer vs. mixed martial artist trend by calling out UFC welterweight Nick Diaz, but is this more a media exercise than a genuine offer to fight? The debate of boxer vs. MMA fighter in MMA rules was seemingly settled by Randy Couture in […]
Diaz has fought the Irish superstar Conor McGregor twice in the UFC and is certainly far removed from writing off the abilities of “The Notorious”. It seems everyone and their grandmothers has an opinion on how Conor McGregor would fare in a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. The vast majority of those questioned will have […]
Diaz has fought the Irish superstar Conor McGregor twice in the UFC and is certainly far removed from writing off the abilities of “The Notorious”. It seems everyone and their grandmothers has an opinion on how Conor McGregor would fare in a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. The vast majority of those questioned will have […]
So when he sat down alongside current WBA (super), WBC, and The Ring super middleweight champion Andre Ward on last night’s edition of Inside MMA, the inevitable question came up: who does he think are the top five best boxers in MMA?
Check out Freddie’s top five, along with his thoughts on GSP vs. A. Silva, after the jump.
(That moment when you get hit so hard you shit your pants in front of the whole gym.)
So when he sat down alongside current WBA (super), WBC, and The Ring super middleweight champion Andre Ward on last night’s edition of Inside MMA, the inevitable question came up: who does he think are the top five best boxers in MMA?
Freddie’s Top Five 5. K.J. Noons – ”K.J. is always in my gym and he’s very dedicated with his work ethic. I just love his tenacity in the ring. He comes to fight and he’s all about action.”
4. Nick Diaz– “Nick Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters in the world, today. He’s great with his hands. He gets sidetracked a little bit, like in his last fight, but I think he’ll a great comeback. I’m looking forward to facing him with “GSP” someday, ’cause there’s a lot of talk about that.”
3. B.J. Penn– “You know, B.J., he’s one of the best strikers I’ve ever faced, and that I’ve ever been in the ring with. It’s been quite a few years ago, and I think he’s close to retiring right now, but I’d call him the “James Toney of MMA,” because his weight would fluctuate quite a bit. He’ll fight from low weights to heavyweights. He’ll fight anyone in the world. He’s a good guy to be around, and he’s just a hard, hard worker and a great striker.”
2. George St. Pierre– “GSP’s one of the greatest guys in the world. He’s a real gentleman and one of the best students I’ve ever had. I asked him, ‘How long did you go home and practice in front of the mirror last night?’ Because if I show him a move, he comes back with it the next day, and you know he practiced all night in front of the mirror. So, I love the guy. He’s a good guy and a hard worker, and that’s what it’s all about it hard work.”
1. Anderson Silva– “I had the honor of working with Anderson Silva, when he was in our gym for about five or six days in a row. He told me, ‘I’m pretty good at MMA, but I’m not too goo at boxing.’ He’s just a real humble guy and very talented. He is one of the best guys that really understands distance and timing. He fights off the ropes a little bit. I told him that can be a little bit dangerous sometimes and to be careful, but he’ll suck you in, he’ll set you up, he’s one of the most intelligent fighters I’ve ever seen and have ever worked with.”
While you’re thinking your own lists over, check out part of the interview from last night’s episode, in which Roach and Ward break down the Dana White approved Anderson Silva vs. GSP match, their favorite aspects of MMA other than boxing, and boxing’s current decline, or lack thereof.
Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse ExclusiveIt’s a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lodi, Calif., and Nick Diaz isn’t taking any steps backwards. Not today. For five rounds of boxing, forward seems to be the only direction the Strikeforce welterweight champ…
It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lodi, Calif., and Nick Diaz isn’t taking any steps backwards. Not today. For five rounds of boxing, forward seems to be the only direction the Strikeforce welterweight champion knows. It doesn’t matter what you’re throwing at him. He’s going head first, full speed ahead until you make him stop or kill yourself trying.
“Straight down the middle, that’s it!” shouts Diaz’s boxing coach, Richard Perez.
With his snow-white hair and gregarious disposition, Perez is a little like Santa Claus in a sleeveless t-shirt. He leans against the cage and shouts more encouragement than instruction as Diaz bulls his way forward against a series of smaller, quicker sparring partners. They come bouncing in and go dragging out in rotating shifts. Perez tells them to circle. That’s what “this guy” will do, he says.
Everyone in Diaz’s gym on School Street in Lodi’s quaint little downtown district knows who “this guy” is, but no one says his name. Not once. They don’t need to.
It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lodi, Calif., and