Doesn't Seem Like Ward Wants Kovalev

When you read this guys do you get the feeling he wants to fight Kovalev or even Stevenson or anyone at 175 worth a $hit? I'm a fan of Ward but this is irritating me. He has no problem with GGG moving up and facing him at 168 even when GGG has bigger money fights against Cotto, Canelo and maybe even Lemieux but he is reluctant to move up to a weight class he fought 3 pounds above in the Olympics 11 years ago. What the hell has happened to our beloved sport? So many businessmen with boxing gloves on these days. It sucks that such a small percentage of guys are truly willing to take on all comers and are labeled "throwbacks" because back in the day they ALL were warriors and that term was never uttered. C'mon Andre, we don't want to see you fight Froch again. The Dirrell brothers have lost. Degale is good but you can't tell me he would add to your legacy and bank account the way Kovalev would. I don't think Ward believes in his chin enough. He knows he would get tagged by Kovalev and Stevenson and since he has been hurt by 168 pounders he probably worries. That's the only thing I can think of because his skills are great and he is a very intelligent boxer. What are your thoughts? Why is he so reluctant to make the move to 175? It's not like there is more money and legacy fights at 168. He has conquered that division. The only thing to accomplish at 168 is a GGG fight which doesn't appear to be happening.

His win over Paul Smith secured, WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward says he has options. “If I go up in weight I can fight Kovalev,” said Ward. “I could fight Stevenson but there would be politics involved in that. I will go home and talk to Virgil and ask him what he saw and what we have to fix then we will go from there. I could get down to fight at 168. I weighed 170 in camp and I could have lost another two. If I did that I could fight Froch or any other super middleweight.”

 

WTF? So he can't fight at a weight he fought 3 pounds above 11 years ago? He can't move up one professional weight class when Floyd moved up 5 and Pac moved up 7? What did Calzaghe have over Ward? It's not like Calzaghe was a big puncher. Calzaghe ended his career at 175 as the linear champ. Where's the logic?

 

3 or 4 years from now Ward will be retired bro. Nobody gives a **** about Ward/Froch 2. The first fight wasn't competitive and Froch doesn't even know if he wants to continue fighting and admitted he would most likely lose a decision again to Ward. Hagler was a 5'9 middleweight and Super Middleweight division didn't even come into existence until '84 and Hagler retired in '87. Hopkins was 6'1 and much longer than Hagler with more of a scientific boxing style. The Calzaghe/Ward comparision I made was more apples to apples. Both guys are light punchers, the same height and win fights on outboxing guys and using their brains as opposed to taking them out. If Calzaghe can move up to 175, Ward can. Again, he fought in the Olympics at 178 eleven years ago.

 

We agree 100% man. :good

 

Here's the truth. Kovalev beats Ward and Ward beats GGG. That is probably why we will never see those fights. Kovalev is more than just a puncher and has proved that in his last two fights. He is very intelligent and has great range control and very underrated boxing skills. Stevenson is beatable and Ward knows that but he also knows he has power and isn't as big of a legacy fight as Kovalev so the risk/reward that cautious guys like him always look to weigh is an issue.

 

I can see that and I hope you are right. I think Kovalev beats Ward but I still want to see it. If Ward beats Kovalev he is a legend.