By Scott Gilfoid: WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KO’s) wants his current promoter Dan Goosen to schedule him for his next fight despite the fact that Ward is trying to get out his contract with Goosen Tutor Promotions, according to Fightnews.com. Ward hasn’t fought since last November when he easily defeated the tough Edwin Rodriguez, but he wants to get back in the ring to keep fighting. Ward doesn’t want to stay inactive for an entire year, because he’d be losing out on money and important fights that will help shape his boxing legacy.
Ward’s problem is the same as it’s been as far as him having viable opponents at 168. There’s really nobody for him to fight unless he moves up to the light heavyweight division and takes on the likes of Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson. Bernard Hopkins probably won’t agree to fight Ward, so he’s not an option. But at least with Stevenson and Kovalev, Ward would have two fighters that would be open to facing him.
If Ward chooses to stay at 168, he’s going to likely be waiting for the remainder of his career for someone like Carl Froch or Arthur Abraham to show interest in fighting him.
I don’t see either of those guys ever wanting to mix it up with him again after he whipped them badly in the Super Six tournament several years ago. The only other options are guys like George Groves, James DeGale, Sakio Bika, and Brandon Gonzales. Those are terrible choices for Ward, because none of them are recognizable opponents to casual boxing fans in the U.S other than Bika, who Ward already beat.
Whether Ward realizes it or not, he pretty much has to move up to 175 if he wants to get a chance for any real meaningful fight with the remaining years of his career. Believe me, if Ward stays at 168, he’s going to kicking himself due to the miss opportunities for big fights he’ll be missing out on by staying in this weight class. Staying at 168 will mean that Ward will be facing guy that the U.S boxing public have no clue about, and who won’t have the name value to make Ward a star by beating them. Ward could beat the likes of Groves and DeGale 24/7, and I doubt that fans would care about the wins.
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