Not because he's obligated to because he certainly is not, but with his WBC emeritus or whatever status being stripped to allow him the right not to defend against a guy he already beat that wouldn't pay him anyway. But because with him declining to fight his good friend and mentor bernard hopkins, there are NO options for Ward to take in term of capital gains. He could fight Chad Dawson again at a more comfortable weight for Chad and for the lineal 175lb title, but a rematch straight away probably won't sell tickets. His other option is to challenge undefeated WBO 175 titlist Nathan cleverly, but 2 things would stop that. Ward will HAVE to travel to Wales to fight Clev at Millenium stadium as Clev coming to the Oracle just wouldn't make financial sense, and the undefeated Clev pretty much has a hopkins fight secured once hops has dealt with Murat. So..........with all that being said. It's been 3 years since Ward's beaten either Kess or Froch and offering a rematch with this weekends winner makes the most financial sense. Unless Ward becomes a full time blow by blow man or says screw it to his creed of not fighting hopkins, then he'll make the lowest purse of anyone on the p4p list unless he fights this weekends winner.
It hasnt even been 2 years since he beat Froch, but, the dude does need to line up some fights. Just Dawson since Froch. That won't cut it.
I'm sorry, i meant 3 years for Kessler but it's been long enough to where it's not an immediate rematch. You could make a case for both kessler and froch 'improving' but chad will only have, if he wins, a win over an overrated and relatively inexperienced Adonis stevenson. So a bad chad rematch later this year or early next would look bad for Ward. I think with the hype around this weekends fight that it could make Ward a good payday to rematch the winner.
