Hot Topic: Andre Ward

Seems like he now wants to leave his promoter, a promoter he's been with since day one. Shame, I like Dan Goosen. Maybe Dan is struggling to find dates, or maybe ward realizes that without a big promoter he'll find it hard to get the big fights.

But who knows with this kid.

All the talent in the world, but lately, hardly any of the will. 

I know he's had injuries, I know that. But this guy needs to talk about how he's gonna do some of the fighters calling him out wrong once he's back. he needs to talk about doing their mummas too. hell, he could do me if it sold a fight worth a damn.

I want this guy, this Olympian to man up. Andre Ward needs to take a risk, get active, and fight for titles. Not moan about how he's the 'Champ' and he does not need to meet anyone's demands.

Times change, Andre. Don't Dirrell yourself.

Ward is excellent, no doubt about that.  His problem is probably motivation, as he is short of challenges.  I'd like to see him figth Froch again in the UK as that would be a test mentally and physically, although he is the better pure boxer Froch has improved, and it would do Ward good to box away from home.  Then his focus needs to be on light heavyweight I think.  If he can mop up there then he'll have had a stellar career.  He's 6 feet tall, so could probably even see at some point if his skills transfer to cruiserweight.  My feeling is he needs to move through the divisions, get the marquee fights and that will motivate him to achieve incredible things.

Davidemore wrote:Seems like he now wants to leave his promoter, a promoter he's been with since day one. Shame, I like Dan Goosen. Maybe Dan is struggling to find dates, or maybe ward realizes that without a big promoter he'll find it hard to get the big fights.

But who knows with this kid.

All the talent in the world, but lately, hardly any of the will. 

I know he's had injuries, I know that. But this guy needs to talk about how he's gonna do some of the fighters calling him out wrong once he's back. he needs to talk about doing their mummas too. hell, he could do me if it sold a fight worth a damn.

I want this guy, this Olympian to man up. Andre Ward needs to take a risk, get active, and fight for titles. Not moan about how he's the 'Champ' and he does not need to meet anyone's demands.

Times change, Andre. Don't Dirrell yourself.

Winning the super 6 isn't enough? Massively outpointing Froch and Kessler - the other 2 best in the division isn't enough?

How about stepping up to fight who was considered at the time as a very dangerous fighter after beating BHop in Chad Dawson and demolishing him?

Not enough?

Your articles are always garbage. You may aswell just title it Andre Ward: Changing Promoter?

And then just mention about Dan Goosen. Not all the other crap you spout.

Assuming Ward to keep winning I'd like to see him face;

Froch (SM)
Hopkins/Kovalev (LHW) - will be ranked as divisional number one
Pascal (assuming he beats Bute)
Stephenson

Then I'd like to see him go up to Cruiser if he can take it, and fight Hernandez - assuming there are no further challenges at light heavy.

What I don't want to see if him stagnating through lack of competition.

Good to have you on board BlakkMamba.

Hope you stick around

Ward's only challenge is how many air miles he can accumulate over the next few years. He may as well jet over to fight Froch, then come back to fight Cleverley at LH and then come back again to fight Marco Huck at CW in Germany. However, I see that being as likely as Jones Jr flying over to fight Michelczewski.

Don't see what there is to gain from a "legacy" point of view in facing Pascal. He's already been beaten by Froch and Hopkins and is fringe World class at best although Ward may have to take a step back before he can move forward. However, as he's also beaten Dawson, I'm not sure he needs Pascal to prove his LH credentials.

Our next threat may as well be "With limited options/opposition like this, who'd be Andre Ward?"

Adam, thanks chap, intend to!

Dave - it's a valid point - you look at a lot of the fighters around near his weight and there aren't many options for him really.  I suppose it's up to him whether he wants to travel or not, if I were as talented as he is i'd go anywhere, because frankly i wouldn't be worried about being beaten by the likes of Marco Huck or Nathan Cleverley.

I was thinking from the point of view of if Pascal held a belt - but yes fair point.  Despite those losses Pascal is still a damned good fighter though.

I have grave concerns about Ward's willingness to do it "the hard way" if required. I fully appreciate that he's top three p4p easily and as, such, he should be the guy everyone wants to face even to get themselves a payday but sadly, it doesn't look like ever coming off for him. Guys like Froch have had to get on the road to make a name for themselves and one would have to say that he deserves his time in the spotlight

Ward may sit and watch less talented fighters grab the limelight, the glory and the big paydays say "No, I deserve that as much as everyone else" and wait for the fights to come to him. It won't detract one iota from his ability or talent but it will certainly harm in long term standing.

Mind you, given the poor quality of LH and CW opposition, even being a three weight title holder may not be enough to propel him to stardom (in the eyes of many)

BlakkMamba wrote:Assuming Ward to keep winning I'd like to see him face;

Froch (SM)
Hopkins/Kovalev (LHW) - will be ranked as divisional number one
Pascal (assuming he beats Bute)
Stephenson

Then I'd like to see him go up to Cruiser if he can take it, and fight Hernandez - assuming there are no further challenges at light heavy.

What I don't want to see if him stagnating through lack of competition.

Is this the same blackkmamba from our old 606 days ??

It's our new pre season signing Truss, not a bad one is it. If we can tempt Klutey and Jimmy back we'll be in good shape for the new season.

The very same - I toyed with retirement but ultimately, like Audley, I've decided to carry on

Robzaba would be a good addition too if we could get him back!

Feels like a school reunion!

Ward will be looking to secure bigger money and more of a profile, Goosen is not the man for either and HBO deal almost exclusively with Top Rank these days.

Wards career is stalling, which is a shame as he is easily the best in the SM division. I would advise him to step up to 175, start cleaning out Stevenson, Pascal and dare I say the great Nathan Clev (ha).

Special talent but I am gettting a little too used to seeing him as a commentator and not a boxer.

Also, this talk of him fighting GGG is silly. GGG is barely a Middleweight and if Ward picks on him at 168 people will slate him for it

GGG has no business up there, much like Ab's had no right, and still has no right.

ward is 29 so has 5-6 years left at the very top. He has already beaten some pretty good fighters in Kessler, froch and dawson and he has plenty of time to beat some more.

Certainly talented; but he's not the whole package. He needs a personality and and a bit of excitement; that's what sells the fights. He can be the slickest fighter in the world, but if he's not fun to watch, people WON'T watch. 

Perhaps if he develops a nasty streak in his next fights and once dominating, starts really letting go and takes his opponents to bits, more people might like him. It's not his fault - great fighter does not necessarily mean exciting. And exciting sells.

Alternatively he could live in Germany and sign with K2 - he'd be perfect: Dominate but not go in for the KO until there's no danger. The Germans would love him!!

Mayweather realised that.

I think what Ward lacks is real challenges, rivals and marquee fights. The likes of Abraham, Kessler and Froch dont carry enough interest in the US despite large domestic followings.

Mayweathers personality factors into his success but its probably his fights with the likes of Gatti, Judah and most of all de la Hoya that really enabled him to massively raise his profile to the level it is now. Even someone like Hopkins had guys like Trinidad and de la Hoya that he could feed off.

Ward doesnt really have any of those kind of superstars avaliable to him.

Seanusarrilius wrote: I would advise him to step up to 175, start cleaning out Stevenson, Pascal and dare I say the great Nathan Clev (ha)

I agree. Although the only 'ward' that Cleverly is likely to go near is a hospital ward so he can find another nurse to fight