Requirements for a fight with Andre Ward

[IamInuit]

Why will he not?

And he shouldn't demand light heavyweights drain down to 168. It would be the same as Ward draining down to 160 to fight Golovkin.

And he shouldn't always demand his own way. When Kessler was the champion, he went to Ward's hometown, and despite it being written into the Super Six contract that referees be from neutral countries, Ward had his home ref Jack Reiss (Sauerland protested to no avail). This is what happened:

In fairness it was not in negotiations and if they think everyone should just volunteer then just institute a rule. Quit cherry picking. Cant believe this has resurfaced again.

[J_Undisputed]

Ward gets away with that because he's leveraging the championship against opponents. The minute he loses in the ring, on the scales or due to inactivity, he'll sing a different tune because he's not exciting enough to make demands on his ring performances alone. When Froch and Kessler could fight for a third time and sell out an arena, when ward couldn't sell out a venue outside of his own town despite owning the division... that says all you need to know about the man's draw. (not to mention HBO giving him the klitchsko treatment, along with rigo) I think Ward would be hard pressed to fight Froch (in England) this time. Someone would say he needs Froch for the payday he wants, but he'll say Froch needs to make concessions if he wants a chance at redemption. Just the opinion of a humble American, but fighting Froch in the UK represents risk because British fight fans/ judges don't like stinkers of a fight. Direll already found that out thinking he could stink his way to a victory against Froch on English soil. As for testing, i dont think wards a dirty fighter. When you fight the style he fights, you dont need drugs to win fights. However i wouldn't be surprised to find out he's afraid of his shoulder related therapy, marring his reputation by turning up a dirty test and being stripped (see "title leverage" above). It could happen. Ask Berto and James toney. All in all if Ward was this generations roy jones, mike tyson, de la hoya... he could demand what he wanted and noone would say anything, but he's not. He's got the personality of a sack of grain and the fighting style of a octopus. (hes all arms and head) and that has people calling for him to continuously prove his mettle with a spectacular feat which he doesn't feel should be demanded of him. When people stop watching, he'll either step it up or look for some other way to get paid for what he does (endorsements). just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[powerpuncher]

freedom is probably the best poster on this message board

[ninjaspy3]

Ward gets away with that because he's leveraging the championship against opponents. The minute he loses in the ring, on the scales or due to inactivity, he'll sing a different tune because he's not exciting enough to make demands on his ring performances alone. When Froch and Kessler could fight for a third time and sell out an arena, when ward couldn't sell out a venue outside of his own town despite owning the division... that says all you need to know about the man's draw. (not to mention HBO giving him the klitchsko treatment, along with rigo) I think Ward would be hard pressed to fight Froch (in England) this time. Someone would say he needs Froch for the payday he wants, but he'll say Froch needs to make concessions if he wants a chance at redemption. Just the opinion of a humble American, but fighting Froch in the UK represents risk because British fight fans/ judges don't like stinkers of a fight. Direll already found that out thinking he could stink his way to a victory against Froch on English soil. As for testing, i dont think wards a dirty fighter. When you fight the style he fights, you dont need drugs to win fights. However i wouldn't be surprised to find out he's afraid of his shoulder related therapy, marring his reputation by turning up a dirty test and being stripped (see "title leverage" above). It could happen. Ask Berto and James toney. All in all if Ward was this generations roy jones, mike tyson, de la hoya... he could demand what he wanted and noone would say anything, but he's not. He's got the personality of a sack of grain and the fighting style of a octopus. (hes all arms and head) and that has people calling for him to continuously prove his mettle with a spectacular feat which he doesn't feel should be demanded of him. When people stop watching, he'll either step it up or look for some other way to get paid for what he does (endorsements). just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I find irony in the fact that @Freedom likes this post and is a big fan of Wladimir Klitschko.