Andre Ward has been looking back over his career and has picked out an opponent he thinks would have given him even more trouble than had he moved up to heavyweight and taken on two time world champion Anthony Joshua.
Ward was one of the best fighters of his generation with a great mix of physicality, technical skills and ring IQ. He retired undefeated with a record of 32 wins and 16 knockouts.
His honours included becoming unified world champion at light heavyweight and super middleweight, all whilst also being a high school wrestling champion which gave him an edge when it came to working up close in the boxing ring.
He beat the likes of Carl Froch, Mikel Kessler, and Arthur Abraham, along with twice getting the better of the then-fearsome Russian Sergey Kovalev. He also claims he would have fought Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez had the Mexican have been up for it.
Speaking to Boxing News, he was asked about his views on Joe Calzaghe who also fought at super middleweight and light heavyweight and retired undefeated.
“Man, Calzaghe – he was another guy, a competitive type of person. He didn’t have a lot of punching power – threw a million punches. Always prepared the right way; loved the father [and trainer Enzo] doing it with his dad, and he had that drive about him. He was a dog. I have nothing but respect for Calzaghe – he’s always done it the right way.”
After saying he believes he would have beaten the Welshman had the two of met, he explained why Calzaghe would have been a tougher fight than Joshua, who Ward once considered going up to heavyweight to fight.
“The big, one shot would have been my concern with Anthony Joshua. He doesn’t have the style – he’s not like a big man, like George Foreman.
“George knows how to tie you up and walk you back and wear you down. [Joshua’s] trying to box and be cute as well. I can look out for that right hand a lot easier when you fight like that, so Joe Calzaghe would have been a tougher fight. A different style, and a different mentality.”