Monday, May 16, 2011

Andre Ward Defeats Arthur Abraham

Photos Courtesy of Showtime Boxing


By Randy De La O

Andre Ward is starting to grow on me. I haven't exactly been a real big fan of the Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament but Ward has been catching my interest. His wins over Alan Greene and Sakio Bika last year, and then this past weekend's big win against Arthur Abraham has him breaking away from the pack. He will be facing the winner of Carl Froch vs Glen Johnson, who will be fighting June 4, 2011. The fight took place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, just minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. The fight was shown on Showtime Boxing.

Abraham came out aggressively, with a "Peek-A-Boo" style defense and seemed to be getting off to a good start. Ward seemed unable to penetrate Abraham's tight defense, still he kept pumping the jab, while trying to figure out a way in. In the fourth round Ward found his range and with the uppercut and body shots started to get inside Abraham's defense. Once he was in, Ward took control of the fight and gave what has to be the best performance of his career, alternately slugging and boxing, and fighting southpaw at times, and doing all of it welll. It was a championship perrformance by Ward, who seems to be improving and gaining confidence with every fight. Abraham for his part, never stopped trying. He just could not keep up with Ward. By the middle rounds Abraham was tired and frustrated and it showed. Ward won by 12 round decision.

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2 comments:

brian said...

168 has been a real acquired taste project for me,even when Joe Calzaghe was in it;I missed the fight-and I'm hoping that Glen Johnson or Ward wins the tournament...Without Lucian Bute(I've seen him once)-and assuming
Kelly Pavlick can step it up(and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone)..for me,so far I think I was much more interested in the heavyweight tournament Joe Frazier
boycotted.

scottG said...

He's a young boxer very well taught to go to the body early and cash in on that early work later in the fight. He's a good boxer and I look foward to seeing him move up.

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