Review by AllTheBestFights.com: 2016-08-06, fight not particularly good between Andre Ward and Alexander Brand: it gets two stars.The undefeated former Wba and Wbc super-Mw champion Andre Ward entered this fight with a perfect record of 29-0-0 (15 knockouts) and he is ranked as the No.3 light heavyweight in the world (currently the #1 in this division is Sergey Kovalev). Ward fought just twice since the end of 2013 beating Paul Smith in 2015 (=Ward vs Smith) and Sullivan Barrera in 2016 (=Ward vs Barrera).
His opponent, Alexander Brand, has a boxing record of 25-1-0 (19 knockouts) and he entered as the No.26 super middleweight. He suffered his only loss when he faced Badou Jack in 2012 (via split decision), since then he has won eight consecutive fights. Ward vs Brand is the main event of the evening. Watch the video and rate this fight!
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Date: 2016-08-06
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, USA
Division: light heavyweight (175 lbs, 79.4 kg)
Ward’s previous fight: Andre Ward vs Sullivan Barrera
Ward’s next fight: Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward
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Video: (Free embeddable video hosted on Dailymotion and not uploaded by AllTheBestFights, to report it please visit this link where the video is hosted)
Official highlights
I understand it was hard to choose an opponent for SOG, but this is Mismatch of the Year! Kovalev-Ward is a 50/50 matchup but imo Kovalev had a better preparation in Chilemba. People were talking about Kovalev not looking good in that fight, but that’s exactly what he needed. To polish up his skills and test himself against a durable pressure fighter who is similar to Ward.
Brand showed no confidence or willingness to pull off an upset unlike Chilemba. But Krusher is not an awkward unpredictable technician so if Ward takes away his best weapon (straight right hand) and show that he’s the same unhittable he was tonight he could eventually break him down.
But I see the fight ending up in a close decision for either guy.
I can’t pick it, either. Skill set must favor Ward, but the same factor also favored Bhop yet did not avail him. Admittedly, Ward still has a lot more left in the tank than Hopkins did.
What seems very possible, though, is it won’t be pretty or fulfilling. Ward’s ability to dazzle AND to stink up the joint with his clutching and mugging could make it a long night.
So agree. Let’s hope any Ward win sees Andre stick around and build on that legacy this time – which is the least he will owe the sport for knocking the highly-entertaining, Box Office Kovalev from the reckoning. Lol.
Haha, yes! So, how was La Belle France? I believe that was your destination for holidays, right? A damn sight more exotic than where I spent mine: in the woods swatting mosquitos!
A refreshing break if truth be told, Arjay. Although, girlfriend in tow (Lol), somewhat quieter and less raucous than holidays in France used to be some 20-odd years ago. Lol.
Turns out the only reason it was hard to get an opponent was they were only offering table scraps for payment.
Ward $850K, Brand $30K. ridiculous
Shocking. $850K to beat up a 39-yr old mediocrity, and then giving the human punching bag only $30K?
Whatever else he might be as a supremely gifted technician, Ward is an a*shole.
It is a shame. I cannot believe that the HBO people was so cheap with Brand.
this was a disgrace, how has this guy won any fights, he doesnt know how to box, he doesnt know how to block, he doesnt know how to throw a jab, he doesnt know much of anything having to do with boxing. Andre ward taking this fight is a joke, you notice how the other guy took a fight where he could work on fighting while backing up, this guy offered nothing to prepare for the fight in November.
i just looked at who this brand has fought, jack is the only named opponent on the list. coming up in weight with no experience, i sure hope people didnt pay for this joke.
100%. Kovalev has an advantage in a better tune-up fight.
Is being the best fighter really about winning? Or is being the”best” about entertaining and having the most fans? I am not a fan of ward and his boring style and never will be.
It is always lamentable to see a person with zero knowledge about boxing saying twaddle like Floyd is running, Ward is boring….. Why don’t you go and watch Rocky movie?
You can’t deny this was an absolute snoozefest, sorry.
It was a snoozefest, but who cares if Kovalev is next? That will be a slugfest!
You just should comment “I am not a fan of ward” and say no more.
Nice fight but a little bit complicated by a fighter who thanks to his awkward boxing style was able to partially tarnished the deserved victory of a boxer who has excellent technical qualifications. All the judges were right but in spite of the low level of competition offered by Brand, Ward was not able to finish the fight early as it was required in this case to set up a solid precedent before his scheduled fight with Kovalov.
I hope Kovalev beats up ward. I often Google the purses for big fights and the disparity is often shocking between star fighter and opponent. This is one of the worse though. I remember Yori boy Canpas had only 70K to fight de la Hoya, who made 7 millions. That was ridiculous too.
I’m with you, Matt.
The disparity in those purses is savage. I love boxing, but too often it is the unconscionable profiting from the unconscious. We have Emanuel Augustus (latest in a long line) to show us where it leads…
Yep, Brand was probably picked 1. because he didn’t have a chance 2. because they knew he was not in a position to bargain and would accept the shittiest purse. I mean, this is HBO ffs. Augustus had no backers either, fought mostly at the last minute and was popular among knowing boxing fans. Believe me, he has not a golden retirement. Probably still half disabled from that damn bullet :( 78 brawls to wind up like that :(