Ward vs. Barrera

By Allan Fox: Surprisingly, negotiations between the promoters for former WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) at Roc Nation Sports and unbeaten Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) at Main Events are still taking place for their March 26 fight on HBO from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

The negotiations having been dragging out for the past six weeks for some reason, and there is now only seven weeks to go before the fight on 3/26. Barrera’s promoter Kathy Duva from Main Events says it’s a different issue every day with Ward’s promoters at Main Events.

Ward, 31, absolutely needs this fight to get made with Barrera, because It would be a warm-up fight to get Ward ready for a much tougher fight later in 2016 against IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev. The Barrera fight would be Ward’s first true fight at light heavyweight.

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By Dan Ambrose: Former WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) will be back inside the ring in two months from now on March 26 to fight his first fight his first legitimate light heavyweight in unbeaten Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs).

The fight is said to be confirmed, according to RingTV. Earlier this month, Ward said the fight news was premature, saying on his Twitter “Premature information being leaked to the media. I don’t know who my next opponent for my next fight is. I have no contract.” However, it now appears that the Ward-Barrera fight will be taking place on March 26 on HBO at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

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By Dan Ambrose: Former WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) and unbeaten Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 12 KOs) are reportedly close to a deal for March 26 on HBO Boxing, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. The Ward-Barrera fight will be staged at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Ward, 31, already has a deal with IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev to fight him on HBO later this year in 2016.

Barrera, #6 WBA, #7 IBF, #15 WBO, recently beat Karo Murat in an IBF eliminator last December with the thought of fighting Kovalev. Barrera, 33, could still wind up facing Kovalev if he can defeat the unbeaten Ward to get to that next level.

It was a potentially smart move by Barrera’s promoter at Main Events to match him against Ward, because that’s a more winnable fight for Barrera than fighting the taller, stronger Kovalev.

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By Dan Ambrose: Former WBA 168lb champion Andre Ward (28-0, 17 KOs) could be taking a risky fight in March against unbeaten light heavyweight Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) as a warm-up fight to get ready for a big match-up against Sergey Kovalev in 2016. According to Dan Rafael, the Ward-Barrera fight is being talked about for March 2016, but far from being done.

Barrera, 33, is a big puncher from Cuba and he would give Ward an excellent sample of what he’ll be facing if/when he fights Kovalev. If Ward cannot pass the test against Barrera, then it’s good for him to know so he doesn’t waste his or the boxing public’s time trying to face an even bigger puncher like Kovalev.

Barrera would be a good for fight the 31-year-old Ward, but I think someone like unbeaten light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev would be an even better test for Ward.

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