Andre Ward

[jehoshaphat]

Ward is a quality fighter probably trying to get rid of Goosen.

That is exactly what he is doing. And he is framing his arguments in the very same way that both Floyd and Oscar used to get out of their contracts with Arum. Trouble for Andre is, I'm not sure that a change of promoters will do anything.This is an era of instant gratification unless you happen to be that guy from Vegas and both boxing networks on this continent seem to be playing to that crowd. Pugilism be damned the great masses only have an attention span for about 4 rounds.

His rather large sense of entitlement isn't doing him any favours either. He must have taken the accelerated course outline at Winky Wright university. He's been feeding off that S6 tournament like Felix Strum fed on the Oscar fight. His entire career thus far has been the enabler from venue, to judges, to refs and even weight. How he managed to get home field advantage being one of the newcomers for that tourney still boggles my mind. And he's firing Goossen? I'm amazed that Andre can get through his front door with the head that he has on him.

He wont go to fight Carl in England for the most money he's ever made and then shit on him for fighting Groves. He then says he might fight Groves after the first go. He yacks again at Carl considering a Chavez fight and then talks about a Chavez fight himself. He claims he could not make 160 for 3g but also claimed he could make it for Floyd. 3g offers him a catch and a 50/50 split and he says no and that it must be 168. He's by far the most talented guy in his division and one of the most talented in boxing so I wonder why he always seems to need the deck stacked. Now he's blaming the man that brought the cards to play.

Andre Wards biggest problem is Andre Ward.

Do you have a link where Golovkin's team offered Ward anything? I've seen many interviews where Golovkin's team said they were focused on middleweight, not ready for the Ward fight yet, Ward has to concede, etc. And I'm sure you're aware that everybody would concede to making a weight for Floyd. Golovkin said they would go down to 154 for Floyd but turned down Lara at 154 because they are committed to 160. BHop said he would go down to freaking 160 for Floyd, Canelo went to 152, Marquez instantly went from lightweight to 144 for Floyd, Khan passed on Alexander and is moving up to chase Floyd, etc etc etc. Everybody is going to make an exception for the lottery ticket even if they find out they are weight drained it is still worth the attempt. I'm not trying to come at you wrong but I feel Golovkin is really getting a pass after his team fooled everybody into thinking he was this boogeyman and everybody from 154 to 175 was scared. Both Lara and Ward called GGG's team on it and they turned both down saying they want to try to clear out 160 first. Now they are immediately going to 168 for what looks like an easy payday of a punching bag in Jr. At the very least they outright lied. What is your take on that? I think he is the real deal still but he is not the boogeyman they marketed him as. But anyway, back to the thread's specific point. I think Ward is saying one thing as a certain portrayal but really trying to ride out of his deal. He is adamant about getting out so I think he is not going to push to make much more money for Goosen. They have more court ahead as well. But his deal with Super 6 getting those home bouts I saw an interview back then where Ward said he would be willing to take short money and fight whoever(why he got stuck with the #1 Kessler to start) if he got the home bout. And I also saw an article where Jermain Taylor basically wanted the biggest money but he would fight whoever and on their turf.

Good stuff.


I'll try to find some links I came across but point taken. Fighters say all kinds of things and do the other but Ward to me has dropped the ball on his career and I do think that he believes he's the next coming of Floyd and cant understand why the red carpet is still not laid out. He may have a "SOG" complex.The thing is my friend is that he has not really done much since the S6 to deserve the acclamation he thinks he should have. The Dawson circus kind of did for me tbh and then almost immediately afterward he spoke of possibly going to 175. I know Dawson offered but still. Again he's a great fighter but he's wasting away and his ego almost casts a scent through my monitor. I believe he's been pampered and wants it to continue and that Goossen probably told him it cant be done anymore and he is going to have to leave his comfort zone. A Vegas fight with Kovalev or a Quebec date with Stevenson after their mandatory fights should be what he's calling for. 168 is a ghost town. Whats he waiting for? The Goossen thing has been ongoing for over a year and he's fought.

Do you think he has been pampered or do you really believe he should concede more to the bigger fights? Its kind of hard to argue he has been pampered when he has fought the best of the best. I agree he should concede more but at least we have a top fighter willing to fight. He cleared out the super 6, he said he would be willing to fight Froch again overseas, he called Golovkin on that bluff, when Dawson called him out he went right to that fight. He is the #2 fighter in boxing. Fighters should be more willing to come to him. Business is the main play in boxing not what the fans want. Remember, we could have another boxer not willing under any conditions to fight certain fighters. But what do you mean he is wasting away? You don't possibly think he would have been a PPV draw do you? I think Ward is about what he was going to be as far as financials/draw go. He's not a bad boy and his style is more skill than blood and guts so he is not drawing the casual fan. But his problem with Goosen is that his first contract basically locked him in from the beginning through the prime of his career. Some states this is illegal for obvious reasons.

[Rantcatrat]

It's pretty plain to me. Ward needs to fight more. GGG was a great fight for Ward, not so great a fight for GGG. GGG is coming up in weight; Ward is established at it. Ward is a perennial p4p talent; GGG is still new to the limelight. I want Ward - Stevenson or Ward - Kovalev or Ward - Hopkins or Ward - Pascal. They involve Ward moving up and I think that's what he needs to do, either that or stay busy against crappy competition for short money.

[IamInuit]

Do you think he has been pampered or do you really believe he should concede more to the bigger fights? Its kind of hard to argue he has been pampered when he has fought the best of the best. I agree he should concede more but at least we have a top fighter willing to fight. He cleared out the super 6, he said he would be willing to fight Froch again overseas, he called Golovkin on that bluff, when Dawson called him out he went right to that fight. He is the #2 fighter in boxing. Fighters should be more willing to come to him. Business is the main play in boxing not what the fans want. Remember, we could have another boxer not willing under any conditions to fight certain fighters. But what do you mean he is wasting away? You don't possibly think he would have been a PPV draw do you? I think Ward is about what he was going to be as far as financials/draw go. He's not a bad boy and his style is more skill than blood and guts so he is not drawing the casual fan. But his problem with Goosen is that his first contract basically locked him in from the beginning through the prime of his career. Some states this is illegal for obvious reasons.

A bit of both I suppose. He's got Froch and Kessler on his ledger since 2009. That is 5 years. Now he's out of opponents and still milking those two. What did Robinson do when he'd done what he had to at 147? and then 160? Greb made the Tunney fights and even tried to get Dempsey. Ward is already acting like he's an all time great and seems hesitant to go to 175 even though he's spoke of doing so on more then one occasion. Like I said, wasting away. I dont know all the fine print in his locked contract and whats happening in court. Tbh that even seems a little convenient given what Goossen has done for him. He's not the draw with Stevenson and if Kovalev keeps going he wont be with him either. Thats a problem because even if it went to purse bid the Bell centre would win and Vegas would most likely get the hypothetical Kovalev fight. With Carl as well, I think Ward would lose the venue battle. I think that's troublesome for him much in the way that it was for Bute. Time will tell.

[mrbig1]

I would love to see Ward vs Stevenson. I doubt Stevenson would take such a fight.

[jehoshaphat]

It's pretty plain to me. Ward needs to fight more. GGG was a great fight for Ward, not so great a fight for GGG. GGG is coming up in weight; Ward is established at it. Ward is a perennial p4p talent; GGG is still new to the limelight. I want Ward - Stevenson or Ward - Kovalev or Ward - Hopkins or Ward - Pascal. They involve Ward moving up and I think that's what he needs to do, either that or stay busy against crappy competition for short money.

Well, we have to be realistic. The networks are still at war and aren't going to all of a sudden open up for Ward. GGG ain't fighting Ward, Bhop straight up said he wouldn't fight Ward and he is with Showtime, and now Stevenson is with Showtime. So basically we have Kovalev. Pascal would be a good fight for Ward to test the 175 waters but nothing more.

[powerpuncher]

ward just needs to move to 175 where the bigger fights are. im sure that he would have no problem getting good fights there.

[FinitoElDinamita]

GGfake and Ward are both afraid to move up in weight when they can't even get good fights in their own weight class..

[Vendettos]

This guy is clearly up there with the best on the planet, but how inactive can a fighter be before they become irrelevant? I saw him in an interview say he's got some legal issues to sort out, but he said that wouldn't delay his next fight.
The crazy thing is that they're aren't even rumours about who he's fighting next, there's nothing. I reckon it's just a total waste of a career.

I feel he is irrelevant even when he fights.

Mainly because he's disliked by so many people, even after his great career.

He's a good fighter but that's overshadowed by how he uses his abilities. He seems to better good at getting the win by being as boring as possible, which is a waste because he could easily dominate everyone he fights while looking excellent.

I personally don't care who he fights next or if he fights again and I certainly won't be in a rush to watch his next fight or any fight after.

Floyds number 1 and Wards number 2 - they can both be boring, BUT .... the big difference?

.....Floyd makes me wanna watch.

[#1FightFan]

sorry, but to me, Ward is crap. a cheating, hugging, clinching boring hypocrite of a fighter. I'd rather watch fri night fights.....

[Primo Carnera]

Dude fought 4 months ago... What's the problem you sucky whiny boxing fans?

By the time he fights again , it will be at least 10 months since his last fight. The fight before that was 14 months before and the fight before that was a year. I know he had a shoulder injury, more reason why he should be catching up. if he don't fight he don't get paid! I would hardly call him busy!!

[Beanflicker]

As far as I knew he was having trouble getting fights, because the big networks are shunning him.

It must be a real piss-off for him. He's one of the top 3 guys on the planet, and all these bums are getting more offers and more money than him.

[J_Undisputed]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

[Rantcatrat]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

You were correct in a few of his matches. I thought he beat up Rodriguez last time out though. I still think he needs to move up in weight where there are some fun fights. Even Pascal, who I know lost to Hopkins etc., but even Pascal-Ward would be fun at 175, as would Kov-Ward.

[bradlee180]

It must be a real piss-off for him. He's one of the top 3 guys on the planet, and all these bums are getting more offers and more money than him.

Hey, Boxing's entertainment, people pay to be entertained.
Ward ought to stop putting on boring @$$ fights. For $#!t's sake, even his personalty is boring.

Muhammad Ali was the master of self-promotion because he put himself out there to the public constantly. For almost 4 years, he didn't fight at all but still maintained a national and international presence, by the $#!t, because he constantly interacted with the public. Zilch self-promotion by Ward.

Kee-rist, Floyd's fights are craptastic borefests too, but at least his personality isn't boring, and he keeps his name in the press, even if it's cheap heat by pulling publicity stunts every time Pacquiao fights or by getting arrested, Floyd still keeps his name relevant.
Floyd tries to compensate for boring fights with personality and publicity stunts.
None of that from Ward.

To the mainstream public, Ward is invisible.
He shows up, he boxes a craptastic bore-fest, then goes home... back to being anonymous with the public. Most Boxing fans don't even like watching him, PPVs are the indicator.

Instead of focusing on a safety-first, risk-averse style, he ought to be more exciting in the ring, and also study the outside-the-ring antics by the Great draws, learn some promo tips from Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Tex Cobb, Mayweather, Ricardo Mayorga.




....but he won't!

[ruthless rocco]

It's not really a tough sales pitch to turn down.

"Hey how would you like to fight a guy who will will walk around, jab you, try to unload but will headbutt you on the follow up, then clinch you, rock you to sleep and then hit you on the break when you're trying to escape from his bear hug. It has to be in his home town and he'll keep most of the money which will be considerably lower because HBO will need guaranteed money to televise it. You wont get any help from the ref, but if you win... you'll be the champ...and you'll easily be in line for other ahem.. money fights ...against most anyone from the Goosen, Shaw or Dibella stables...JUST SIGN HERE! P.S. there's a 50 dollar bonus if you can keep from rolling your eyes and vomiting when the announcer says Son of GOD..."

Andre Ward is more trouble than he's worth. His style is as dry as his commentary and watching his fights is like watching an anaconda eating a deer. The first minute is interesting till you realize the deer has given up its will to fight. After that its just an eternity of slow tedious digestion.

You were correct in a few of his matches. I thought he beat up Rodriguez last time out though. I still think he needs to move up in weight where there are some fun fights. Even Pascal, who I know lost to Hopkins etc., but even Pascal-Ward would be fun at 175, as would Kov-Ward.

But why move up in weight when you're still comfortable at your current weight and still completely dominant? I don't understand this idiotic concept that many of you have that a fighter should always move up in weight if they're at the top of their natural weight division.