HBO's packaging of Andre Ward is DISGRACEFUL!!!

[IamInuit]

Don't feel too sorry for him. HBO gave him $1.9 million for fighting Rodriguez. The viewing figures didn't even make the top 10 most watched fights at the end of the year. That's some seriously good wedge for a guy with no fans.

Good point. Last two were anorexic light hevs to boot. All his fights at home etc etc. The Goossen feud is getting a little long winded also. Pay him the ten million like Floyd did Arum and move on. There is nothing left at 168 really. What are you waiting for?

[Rantcatrat]

Don't feel too sorry for him. HBO gave him $1.9 million for fighting Rodriguez. The viewing figures didn't even make the top 10 most watched fights at the end of the year. That's some seriously good wedge for a guy with no fans.

I'll take 2 million a fight without complaining if need be for the rest of my career, until the 10 million fight come around. But who would be his opponent? Even if he moves up or down in weight, he still probably won't get that.
1. GGG
2. Stevenson
3. B-HOP
4. Kovalev

Even if floyd took him up on his offer an meet him at 160, Ward would probably only get somewhere upwards 8 to 10. Saying that, keep winning and make 2 per fight. Better then losing and making 500K

If he got paid $2MM to face Rodriguez, I bet he makes more against the light heavyweights.

[Kirkland Laing]

Ward just isn't interesting enough inside or outside the ring to be built up into a PPV star. Couple this with the fact that there's nobody at 168 who is PPVable (apart from Chavez Junior who doesn't want to fight him) and Ward doesn't want to move up and fight Kovalev or Stevenson. Things may change if Chavez beats Vera and Bika and has a title however expecting Chavez to hold it together for that period of time and then agreeing a split with Ward is a tall order.

Stevenson and Kovalev might have a barnburner and create another potential PPV opportunity for Ward. But then if Stevenson wins he probably won't want to leave Canada to fight Ward so that fight might not get made. If Kovalev wins is he going to be a big enough name to sell a PPV?

Ward is after big paydays but the big paydays out there would come against guys like Chavez or Stevenson who would be beltholders and easily the biggest part of the draw. Ward would have to take the short end of the purse and he's convinced he's a superstar just nobody noticed yet.

[Rantcatrat]

Here's the thing. GGG has stated that he intends on remaining at 160 for now. If he stays at 160 for the remainder of the year, he will not face Ward. There aren't any viable opponents for Ward at 168. So, really, Ward has no option but to move up.

[Vendettos]

FINAL POST

Say what you want, boxing or fighting, avoiding or holding, etc... No matter what it is, it's boring.

Bottom line, if he was more exciting and people wanted to watch him, they'd push him out there faster than a 2lb baby from a 10lb vagina!

But they won't push him because he is a boring fighter to watch.

Thanks for coming, you can all leave the thread now.

[Beanflicker]

FINAL POST

Say what you want, boxing or fighting, avoiding or holding, etc... No matter what it is, it's boring.

Bottom line, if he was more exciting and people wanted to watch him, they'd push him out there faster than a 2lb baby from a 10lb vagina!

But they won't push him because he is a boring fighter to watch.

Thanks for coming, you can all leave the thread now.

Why would a thread be wrapped up with such a weak, intellectually-devoid statement?

The fact that Floyd Mayweather is the #1 draw in boxing completely destroys your logic.

There are TONS of fighters who are more exciting than Floyd. His style generally fits into what you described as boring fighting. Add also the fact that he isn't a big puncher and rarely KO's anyone.

Floyd got himself out there into the public consciousness and became a household name. People know who Floyd is, and they are emotionally invested in him (whether it's to see him win or get KTFO). That's the big thing: emotional investment. When your favorite football/hockey/soccer/basketball/ect team is playing, you don't care if it's not the most exciting game. You care about the competition and cheering on your team, because you're emotionally invested.

[Vendettos]

FINAL POST

Say what you want, boxing or fighting, avoiding or holding, etc... No matter what it is, it's boring.

Bottom line, if he was more exciting and people wanted to watch him, they'd push him out there faster than a 2lb baby from a 10lb vagina!

But they won't push him because he is a boring fighter to watch.

Thanks for coming, you can all leave the thread now.

Why would a thread be wrapped up with such a weak, intellectually-devoid statement?

The fact that Floyd Mayweather is the #1 draw in boxing completely destroys your logic.

There are TONS of fighters who are more exciting than Floyd. His style generally fits into what you described as boring fighting. Add also the fact that he isn't a big puncher and rarely KO's anyone.

Floyd got himself out there into the public consciousness and became a household name. People know who Floyd is, and they are emotionally invested in him (whether it's to see him win or get KTFO). That's the big thing: emotional investment. When your favorite football/hockey/soccer/basketball/ect team is playing, you don't care if it's not the most exciting game. You care about the competition and cheering on your team, because you're emotionally invested.

Floyd makes you wanna watch him though, his personality.

Ward has the personality of a log.

[erics44]

FINAL POST

Say what you want, boxing or fighting, avoiding or holding, etc... No matter what it is, it's boring.

Bottom line, if he was more exciting and people wanted to watch him, they'd push him out there faster than a 2lb baby from a 10lb vagina!

But they won't push him because he is a boring fighter to watch.

Thanks for coming, you can all leave the thread now.

Why would a thread be wrapped up with such a weak, intellectually-devoid statement?

The fact that Floyd Mayweather is the #1 draw in boxing completely destroys your logic.

There are TONS of fighters who are more exciting than Floyd. His style generally fits into what you described as boring fighting. Add also the fact that he isn't a big puncher and rarely KO's anyone.

Floyd got himself out there into the public consciousness and became a household name. People know who Floyd is, and they are emotionally invested in him (whether it's to see him win or get KTFO). That's the big thing: emotional investment. When your favorite football/hockey/soccer/basketball/ect team is playing, you don't care if it's not the most exciting game. You care about the competition and cheering on your team, because you're emotionally invested.

there is a vast difference in styles between Floyd and ward

floyds hits and doesn't get hit and he does very little holding along the way, he stands in front of his man and avoids punches and hits back

ward hits and smothers, call it technically brilliant if you want, theres still a lot of smothering going on

[erics44]

and I agree with @Vendettos the plank, his personality doesn't help either

[Spicoli]

HBO wants cavemen its obvious. It's why the openly state 'we are getting out of heavyweight business' and mock Wlad on live tv, essentially tell Rigo to go get back on the raft and they don't have the time etc. What about Lara v Trout stinking out the joint. Meanwhile Lampley has a Stonehenge like hard on while watching Mago and Glen Tapia get damn near beat within one inch of life and career. It's a two way street and Hbo more and more dumbs down fan appeal to the point of Slingblade. Ward has grown on me and isn't a pure backseat boxer like made out. He's actually very crafty in an old school way and it was ironic watching Rodriquez resort to fouls and repeated warning while being methodically beat up.

[FinitoElDinamita]

If I was a promoter, I wouldnt let ward anywhere near my office..

He's very boring and has no personality either.. this is business and he is not marketable..

[Vendettos]

HBO wants cavemen its obvious. It's why the openly state 'we are getting out of heavyweight business' and mock Wlad on live tv, essentially tell Rigo to go get back on the raft and they don't have the time etc. What about Lara v Trout stinking out the joint. Meanwhile Lampley has a Stonehenge like hard on while watching Mago and Glen Tapia get damn near beat within one inch of life and career. It's a two way street and Hbo more and more dumbs down fan appeal to the point of Slingblade. Ward has grown on me and isn't a pure backseat boxer like made out. He's actually very crafty in an old school way and it was ironic watching Rodriquez resort to fouls and repeated warning while being methodically beat up.

Yes they only wanna show brutal fights, but it's the or nothing, what would you rather have?

At least the uk showcase all their talent, so I don't have too many issues with American TV, because I don't watch it all that often.

[Master]

Forget packaging the fighters needs to have a personality and charisma which Ward does not have. He is not a monster puncher but he is the best at his weight. He gets what he deserves and if he wants more then he does have to move out of his comfort zone. That means going up to light heavy.

[Bo-Bo24]

Forget packaging the fighters needs to have a personality and charisma which Ward does not have. He is not a monster puncher but he is the best at his weight. He gets what he deserves and if he wants more then he does have to move out of his comfort zone. That means going up to light heavy.

I think the key with that is his comfort zone. He fights at a weight he's dominated and always in Oakland. If he wants more than he should challange himself more at a different weight or different place. He's obviously got the ability to handle it.

[beenKOed]

Its bad enough that fighters have one slave owner but two. These pseudo omnipotent broadcasters and especially HBO are deciding who fights each other. Sadly they want to go back to wearing togas and throwing bread around.

Ward is screwed, he is not going to change the way he fights, stop talking about Christianity, take SOG off his trunks, start chasing women or drugs. He's going to keep trying to be as decent as he can.