Requirements for a fight with Andre Ward

[jehoshaphat]

Since Ward fought at 175 in the amateurs, there can only be one reason he insisted Dawson fight him at 168: he wanted Chad to be weight-drained.

That was unsportsmanlike, and very selfish for someone who calls himself the "Son of God".

Actually in the amateurs light heavyweight is 178. But Ward wasn't a real light heavy. He fought at and was the #1 ranked 165er but he moved up to 178 because he wanted his cousin to make the Olympic team with him. Ward weighed in at 170-172 for light heavy in the amateurs and was actually a smaller 165er. One of our guys fought him at the US Challenge and he weighed in at 164 for a 165 tourney and then the next tournament we saw him at light heavy weighing in at 171 with socks and boxers on.
But with the Dawson fight he is not wrong because Dawson called Ward out and also said he could and would make 168. Dawson is even here stating that the weight cut is nothing and that he is only 178 with 5 weeks to go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HSMTn8WfL0 After watching the fight I believe Dawson underestimated the cut and was indeed drained but he brought that situation to himself. Golovkin said he would go down to 154 for Mayweather, Ward and Hopkins both said they would go to 160 for Mayweather. If they underestimate the weight cut and are drained then you blame them not Mayweather. Though I doubt any of those fights will ever happen. But the other points of the original post such as Ward fighting outside of home is hard to ignore. At some point he has to give up home advantage. As far as the additional PED testing I think he should at least pick an agency of his own preference and join in with the other guys doing this. Its the only way boxing will get cleaner. Boxing bodies never try to correct boxing so the fighters have to take it in their own hands.

[imp]

Ward has a great resume regardless of where he has fought.

Who do you want ward to fight?
Who do you think ward is now ducking?

He has just had major surgery on his shoulder and has been out of action for ages.

What Master said made sense.
Pay Ward enough money and he will fight in uk.

[IamInuit]

Ward has a great resume regardless of where he has fought.

Who do you want ward to fight?
Who do you think ward is now ducking?

He has just had major surgery on his shoulder and has been out of action for ages.

What Master said made sense.
Pay Ward enough money and he will fight in uk.

His domination of the S-6 was truly impressive but he had home field throughout and venues seemed to be quite the disruptor in the thing. Now that's not his fault cause for some reason his team was able to stack the deck in his favour. Atlantic city is still home field in an international tourney.

Who should he fight?

How about a rematch with Carl? He's earned it by unifying and working for it. Simply saying the same thing happens again is not a reason not to anymore then it was in the second Robinson/Lamotta fight.
Lamotta even out jabbed him which would have been unheard of.

Fight Stevenson after he demolishes Bellew and go to Quebec where the money will be. He's just a crude puncher. Nothing to fear there for a guy so technically savvy.

I dont think he's ducking anyone and it would be a shame if injury problems ruined his career so quickly.

Pay Ward enough money and he will fight in uk

Looks like a built in escape clause my friend.

[imp]

Could be an escape clause.

The fact still remains no one has beaten ward or even come close in a long time.

I like froch and would love to see the rematch but hearn is not looking to make this fight anytime soon either when a groves, kessler or even bute rematch could be a possibility after pascal.

[IamInuit]

Could be an escape clause.

The fact still remains no one has beaten ward or even come close in a long time.

I like froch and would love to see the rematch but hearn is not looking to make this fight anytime soon either when a groves, kessler or even bute rematch could be a possibility after pascal.

Not sure Carl would be satisfied with that route given his character. Hearn is starting to remind me of Warren.

[imp]

I just think ward is a nice guy and so what he doesnt sell as much as this person or that person he is winning and beating every type of style out there.

[IamInuit]

Really valid point and it was wrong of me to base or infer anything on "his draw" perhaps even hypocritical given my rather dark feelings about the whole ppv / hbo monopoly situation. Point is I guess is that he may have to dance the opponents tune even if he's better then him because of it. Unfortunately boxing has laid itself at the feet of the casual and at times totally ignorant fan base. They want knockouts not boxing displays and they want to see that ko before they exit the drive-through.