Worst business decision of the decade: Ward signs with ROC Nation

Jay-Z doesn't know it, but he might have completely fukked Ward's career by offering him a big, lengthy contract.

Ward cannot go below 168.

ROC & Haymon will never work together, that's understood by all given the Jay-Z/Beyonce/Uncle Al ordeal from the past. Ward was still with Goossen when he fought E-Rod, the only Haymon fighter on his resume.

Sauerland, Fast Eddie, etc will on one hand not risk one of their fighters' momentum by coming to the US to fight Ward, and on the other hand would require big money if they did - something that is not possible for Ward's opponents considering his non-PPV status and the fact that he only brings in a decent gate at the Oracle, the one place Euros will not want to fight at (re: Kessler fight).

List of non-starters when it comes to Ward @ 168 or 175:

Haymon - 168
Dirrell 1
Dirrell 2
DeGale
Bute
Bika
Chavez Jr
Quillin (post-Jacobs fight, can't make weight)

Sauerland / other Euro promoters - 168
Abraham
Groves
Stieglitz
Murray
Sturm
Chudinov
C. Smith
Froch*
Kessler*

Haymon - 175
Stevenson
Beterbiev
Alvarez
Fonfara
Shumenov
Dawson
Rodriguez
Williams Jr
Browne

Sauerland / other Euro promoters - 175
Braehmer
Oosthuizen
Cleverly
Mohammedi
Skoglund


....so. What are viable options where A) ROC/Haymon isn't an issue and B) a passport is not required?

168:
-Badou Jack (who's on TMT and not interested per last night)
-Gilberto Ramirez (who's on the TR payroll, too young and vulnerable to be thrown in with Ward)
-Jesse Hart (see Ramirez)
-J'Leon Love (cherry popped already, stock decreased)
-Marco Antonio Periban (see Love)

175:
-Sergey Kovalev (Main Events)
-Isaac Chilemba (Main Events)
-Jean Pascal (GYM)

:conf

 

En effet, my bad. :good

Do you believe Jean would be interested? Especially with Jones Jr in his corner to work on a gameplan... could be a decent fight.

 

Is that it?

 

Peanut better and jelly you mean? :hey

Next in line for decisions is this TBA on the Canelo-Cotto undercard... Zac Dunn?

"We are working towards our first defence in October against Cagri Emiris. Our goal is to fight legendary ‪#‎German‬ Arthur Abraham and we have also had another big offer come out of left field to defend the IBO Title against one of the greatest Super Middleweights ever in Andre Ward on the Canelo Alvarez / Miguel Cotto card. Great offer but we have a plan to beat Cagri Emiris first then Abraham and look to bigger pay days then. No hurry as Zac is only 24 and has years to reach his peak."