Andre Ward says he wants to face Carl Froch again – and he is prepared to travel to the UK to make it happen.
The World Boxing Association has ordered a showdown between the two super-middleweight champions – Froch holds the regular title while Ward holds the Super World crown – but Ward had previously said he would not bend to Froch’s calls for a fight in Nottingham.
However Ward, who beat Froch on points in 2011, told Sky Sports News HQ that it was only the request to fight in Nottingham, specifically at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest FC, that he rejected.
The American said he was ready to travel to another part of the UK for a rematch, and Wembley Stadium is top of his location list.
“The UK is one thing, Nottingham is something different,” Ward said. “Now he’s saying ‘well, I came to America, now you need to come to Nottingham’.
“The thing is this: Atlantic City, where we fought the finals of the Super Six, it’s thousands of miles away from my home – that’s a road fight. I live on the west coast, the fight was on the east coast, which was a six-hour plane ride for me.
“I’m not willing to come to Nottingham, I don’t think I should have to, but Wembley stadium, the UK as a whole – I would love to come.”
Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) has only fought twice since inflicting a first career defeat on the Nottingham fighter in Atlantic City, when he secured a unanimous points decision for the 25th of his 27 career victories. His last outing came against Edwin Rodriguez in November 2013.
Froch (33-2, 24 KOs), meanwhile, had been linked with a fight with former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in September after last fighting and defeating countryman George Groves in May last year.
But while Ward is adamant Froch will not dictate terms of their fight, he acknowledges his English opponent is determined to set a date for the rematch.
“Carl – we’re waiting on you to pick up the phone and call,” Ward said.
“If you want to fight, and you want to avenge the loss or attempt to avenge the loss that you say you say you so desperately want to avenge, then you need to pick up the phone and we need to try to figure it out,.
“I’ve accepted his invitation to come to the UK but it’s going to be on the right terms.
“I don’t care what’s said through the press, I’m not just going to take anything, and it’s going to be mutual agreement if I’m in the UK.
“But I would love to give my UK fans, and even Carl’s friends, the opportunity to see me fight in the UK before my career is over.”
http://www.boxingscene.com/andre-ward-id-go-uk-froch-pick-up-phone--89156
The World Boxing Association has ordered a showdown between the two super-middleweight champions – Froch holds the regular title while Ward holds the Super World crown – but Ward had previously said he would not bend to Froch’s calls for a fight in Nottingham.
However Ward, who beat Froch on points in 2011, told Sky Sports News HQ that it was only the request to fight in Nottingham, specifically at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest FC, that he rejected.
The American said he was ready to travel to another part of the UK for a rematch, and Wembley Stadium is top of his location list.
“The UK is one thing, Nottingham is something different,” Ward said. “Now he’s saying ‘well, I came to America, now you need to come to Nottingham’.
“The thing is this: Atlantic City, where we fought the finals of the Super Six, it’s thousands of miles away from my home – that’s a road fight. I live on the west coast, the fight was on the east coast, which was a six-hour plane ride for me.
“I’m not willing to come to Nottingham, I don’t think I should have to, but Wembley stadium, the UK as a whole – I would love to come.”
Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) has only fought twice since inflicting a first career defeat on the Nottingham fighter in Atlantic City, when he secured a unanimous points decision for the 25th of his 27 career victories. His last outing came against Edwin Rodriguez in November 2013.
Froch (33-2, 24 KOs), meanwhile, had been linked with a fight with former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in September after last fighting and defeating countryman George Groves in May last year.
But while Ward is adamant Froch will not dictate terms of their fight, he acknowledges his English opponent is determined to set a date for the rematch.
“Carl – we’re waiting on you to pick up the phone and call,” Ward said.
“If you want to fight, and you want to avenge the loss or attempt to avenge the loss that you say you say you so desperately want to avenge, then you need to pick up the phone and we need to try to figure it out,.
“I’ve accepted his invitation to come to the UK but it’s going to be on the right terms.
“I don’t care what’s said through the press, I’m not just going to take anything, and it’s going to be mutual agreement if I’m in the UK.
“But I would love to give my UK fans, and even Carl’s friends, the opportunity to see me fight in the UK before my career is over.”
http://www.boxingscene.com/andre-ward-id-go-uk-froch-pick-up-phone--89156
Why is he still begging to fight a dude you already beat easily