With Pavlik In Retirement, What Next For Ward?

After his planned All-American fight with Andre “SOG” Ward was twice delayed and later canceled, Kelly Pavlik has decided to call it a day and hang up the gloves, admitting he doesn’t feel that drive to continue fighting.

Pavlik, (40-2-0 34 KO’s), was a popular prospect casting through the Middleweight division until September, 2007 when he scored a prosperous come from behind stoppage victory over talented countryman Jermain Taylor to capture the WBC/WBO/Ring Middleweight titles.

He defended the crown four times until a hard fought 2010 defeat against Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez.

After lapses of inactivity, Pavlik set up a Super Middleweight title run, going 4-0 2 KO’s against fringe contenders before we ended up here. Despite being a proud observer of “The Ghost”, I am glad he retired when he felt unenthusiastic about boxing anymore. But that’s that.

Ward’s lingering shoulder injury, which prevented the bout with Pavlik, has been operated on and the Californian is recuperating on schedule.

Despite an injury prone 2011-2012 run, Ward collected astonishing victories against Chad Dawson, Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham. Ward (26-0-0 14 KO’s) won “Fighter of the Year” honors in 2011 but his activity at this stage surely isn’t satisfactory even to top level opposition.

Ward’s handlers at Goosen Tutor have big plans for him after he is ready, even though it is slim pickings with Pavlik off the map and most top Super Middleweights defeated.

It is safe to say he will return by late spring to early summer, nevertheless. Possible opponents include either a rematch against the winner of the upcoming return clash between rebounding beltholders Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch, who face off in May, a bout with contender Edwin Rodriguez or a contest with IBO champion Thomas Oosthuizen.

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Corey Quincy is a boxing writer for Saddoboxing.com and his personal site Blboxing.com Follow his Twitter at Quincyboxingfan, like his Facebook page at Boxing Legends for updates.