(Photo credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME – By Robert Jackson: This year’s ending edition of ‘Just the facts’ will discuss the merit of both fighters, expose their weaknesses and finally predict a winner, so keep reading.
Skills
When it comes to skills the 2004, 178lb Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward hasn’t lost a fight since he was 13 years old. His international experience is 2nd to none in the amateur ranks. As a professional Ward has faced a litany of opponents with a combined record of 388-68-14, and other then the early ‘usual suspects’ that all up-and-comers fight, as Ward’s advanced to the upper echelon of the division he’s only fought in-their-prime top fighters like Edison Miranda, Allan Green, Mikkel Kessler and Sakio Bika. Though moved carefully Ward has avoided the typical journeyman fighters that most prospects fight to build themselves up, to instead fight killers and other top guys of the division. Ward can fight outside, is especially good on the inside and can switch stances and fight effectively. Ward’s defense is also very subtle but effective.
England’s Carl Froch has developed as a fighter as the Super 6 has played out. He gutted out a close victory against Andre Dirrell who outboxed him but forgot his amateur pedigree and in the end Froch took the fight from him. After that Froch sought to improve his skillset and made a fine showing in a loss against Mikkel Kessler, then in his best effort of the tournament – outboxed Arthur Abraham his following fight to earn the victory.
Skills: Advantage Andre Ward
Training and Preparation
In the area of training, we don’t know much about either fighter, glimpses of their training regiments aren’t as available as their HBO counterparts. Both men generally come to the ring highly prepared to go 12 rounds and neither have shown in past fights any ill-effects that could be attributed to training.
Training and Preparation: Even
Mind Set (Psychological Preparation)
In this area having a ‘fighters mentality’ is of the utmost importance to a championship caliber fighter. A fighter must know who he is, focus on the task at hand and let no distractions divert him from that task. Carl Froch the master psychologist attempts to get in his opponents heads by talking up their faults, weaknesses or past infidelities. During Showtime’s Staredown, Andre Ward calmly and eloquently made it clear to Froch that he was not in charge and the smack he was talking was BS. After that verbal exchange Froch’s demeanor became more passive. Since that exchange Ward seems to be in command during any verbal exchanges with his British foe. Froch has considerably toned down his taunting and verbal attacks on Ward.
Mind Set: Advantage Ward
Imponderables
In the way of impondearbles, we have a WYSIWYG fighter who’s strong and proud against a decorated amater and solid Pro. The ‘in your face’ fighter has stated that he will walk thru Ward’s punching power with a smile on his face, the solid pro has stated he will outbox his opponent and possibly knock him out late because he’s underestimating that aforementioned punching power. The mental advantage Froch has tried to gain with his mouth has been all but shutdown by Ward in rebuttal. Ward’s head played a part in victory over Mikkel Kessler, so Froch has to be wary of it because of Ward’s penchant towards in-fighting. The cut Ward suffered prior to the initial date for this fight that caused the delay could work in Froch’s favor if he’s able to hit that area cleanly.
Imponderables: Froch
Prediction
This fight will go similar to last week’s Khan/Peterson fight with Froch trying to fight from a distance and Ward trying to get inside. Ward will box in spots from the outside ‘tit for tat’ with Froch but his ultimate goal will be to get inside and punish Froch. Don’t think that Froch can outbox Ward for 12 rounds and even though his game is strong, he doesn’t have enough weapons to box 12 rounds and keep Ward off of him. His underestimation of Ward is also a mistake that he will regret. I’m picking Ward by late rounds TKO or UD in a very physical battle. After the fight Froch will say he didn’t think that Ward was that strong, could punch that hard or was that good.
Prediction: Ward by late TKO or UD