Andre Ward vacates his WBA strap, moves to 175

By Boxing News - 11/12/2015 - Comments

ward56By Scott Gilfoid: Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) has reportedly vacated his WBA super middleweight title in order to move up to 175 to find opposition that are actually willing to fight him. Ward, 31, has no choice but to move up to light heavyweight because he’s had absolutely no luck in getting the top fighters in the 168lb division to face him in the last four years since he won the Super Six tournament in 2011.

Ward’s whipping of Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham and Mikkel Kessler in the Showtime’s Super Six tourney pretty much sealed his fate, turning him into an avoided fighter. All three of those fighters showed no interested in wanting to avenge their one-sided defeats, and even the younger fighters in the division wanted nothing to do with Ward.

In a last ditch effort to try and make an appealing fan-friendly fight, Ward called out WBA middleweight star Gennady Golovkin for a fight at 168, but even he didn’t show any interest in fighting the talented Ward.

In moving up to light heavyweight, Ward is assured of at least one big fight against IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev at the end of 2016. However, once Ward gets past Kovalev, I suspect he’ll find himself in the same situation he’s been in at 168, with none of the other top fighters wanting to risk their hides facing him. I mean, I think Kovalev will agree to fight Ward a second time in order to try and avenge his loss in 2016, but if Kovalev loses that fight too, then I see Ward ending up totally avoided by the other big names in the division. I don’t see Jean Pascal or Adonis Stevenson wanting any part of Ward after he beats Kovalev.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzEWSIxgFwM

“I won the WBA belt for my first world title in 2009 and have defended it six times and it’s been a wonderful ride with the WBA,” Ward said. “Gilberto Mendoza and his team have shown me nothing but respect and I’m looking forward to moving up and hopefully winning the WBA light heavyweight belt.”

Ward is recovering from an injury right now, but he’s expected back in the ring in early 2016 against an opponent still to be determined. Ward will take one tune-up fight, and then face a tough test for his second fight of his three-fight contract with HBO. Ward’s third fight of his contract will be against Kovalev at the end of 2016, provided that Ward isn’t slowed by injuries.



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