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Andre Ward - Better Than Ever
MON May 1, BUSTER PARIS - To some extent he’s been living up to his hype and potential. I know he’s undefeated and I know that only 8 fights does not a career make, but the kids an Olympic Gold Medallist (2004 Light Heavyweight Gold) and we’re all expecting great things…greater things from him.
The last couple of times I’ve seen him fight I haven’t been overly excited or unusually impressed – and I’ve been turning my adulation elsewhere - that is until Saturday, April 29 2006 at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, CT where Andre Ward put on an amazing show of power and talent and forced a fellow undefeated fighter – Andy “Kaos” Kolle - to take that first “L”.
Before the opening bell Andy Kolle looked like big trouble for Ward to take on. First off – Kolle’s a Southpaw – that’s got problem written all over it. As a professional Andre only has one round of actual experience with a Southpaw – he knocked out Glenn LaPlante in the first round of their October 2005 bout – so, for all intense and purpose, it’s really Andre’s first professional bout with a Southpaw. And that’s trouble.
Another bad sign for Ward is that Kolle is a hard puncher. Out of his 9 wins 7 of them came by way of knockout – and Andre’s chin has recently been the focus of some questions since Darnell Boone dropped Ward in the fourth round of their November 2005 bout.
So – I’m thinking this might be it for Andre’s undefeated run and maybe we’ve built him up to much – maybe he is good, but not that good – maybe he’s not that fighter we’ve thought him to be -- and of course there’s my brilliant pre-fight analysis and dazzling Pugilistic algorithm which, at the time, seemed flawless and reads as follows:
Southpaw + Power + Questionable Chin = Trouble.
Here are some of the highlights of the fight – you’ll notice too the easy dismantling of my genius-like analytical skills as a boxing soothsayer as Andre Ward improves in - and wins - every round:
Round 1 – The feeling out process was over pretty quickly as Andre was throwing combinations from the start. At 2:16 into the 1st round he landed a beautiful and clean combination that makes Foxwoods go “ooow” and already Kolle has a red welt forming under his right eye. Ward’s jab was the faster of the two and it’s landing much more frequently. In the last 10 seconds of the round Ward prominently flurries and is simply beating up Andy.
It’s obvious at the end of round 1 that Andre Ward is the more skilled of the two and honestly just a far better boxer than Andy Kolle – and - I’ve actually never seen Andre have a better round. He looked much better than the last time I saw him – in fact - he looked better than ever.
Round 2 – Andy started off by throwing more jabs and Andre was still all over him with combinations. Ward is clearly much faster and sharper and his punches are doing much more damage. It seems as if Andre is landing 3 shots to every 1 shot that Kolle lands. Ward is also throwing some crushing body blows. At around :22 Andre lands a big left on Andy’s head – soon after Andy starts to flurry, but compared to Andre it looks like he’s swimming in a pool wearing a long sleeved thick flannel shirt – his arms look heavy, slow and like something is weighing them down. Ward shows us what a flurry is supposed to look like and ends the round with an impressive one.
Round 3 – Andre opens the round with a really big right hand and he’s definitely picking up the offensive pace. He lands four (yes four) right hand bombs in a row. All his punches have been brutal and solid – the kind that produce two sounds – the meat tenderizing “THUD” as it hits flesh and the various sounds of approval from the crowd. The last 20 seconds of the round has Andre landing where and when he wants.
Round 4 – Much like the other 3 rounds until 2:17 where Ward connects with this astounding uppercut, then Kolle starts to answer back and he’s accurately landing some pretty strong shots and then Andre takes over - and punishes him.
Round 5 – Started off with Ward flying in and landing a brutally solid 1-2. They both tangle up and are clinching a lot. That would be the dance for most of the round until 37 ticks to go and Andre lands an amazing 1-2-3 shot and goes heavy on the attack and in the last 10 seconds they are both slugging away, but with Ward being so extra fast he makes Kolle look extra slow.
Round 6 – Andre landing truly heavy and hard shots. His jab is almost Klitschko like in that it launches out there so fast and yet is so heavy that it’s puzzling and difficult to comprehend until just as the thought comes you’re quickly caught by surprise watching Andy’s head cruelly snap back. At 1:30 Andre lands a fast, hard and crisp left/right duo and blood starts to drool out of Kolle’s nose. Ward starts to land punches from unusual angles – one in particular is this jumping angled uppercut – wow!
Andy’s nose a bashed and bloody, his eye is swollen and his face is reddened and pained. In between round 6 and 7 he reveals he can’t see out of his eye and that’s it – that’s the fight.
One of the best fights I’ve seen Andre Ward fight – actually – I’d have to say that this was his best performance. He has absolutely grown as a fighter – I mean some of the angles he ended the fight in were spectacular and that jab – wow! – it really was Klitschko like – strong, unforgiving, imposing, unstoppable and ever-present.
I’m somewhat embarrassed to have been so close to jumping off the Andre Ward bandwagon so soon. Again – 8 fights does not a career make – and granted – neither does 9, but he’s better. He’s improved and is improving.
Andre Ward is better than ever.
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions.
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