Andre Ward’s fight to break free from promoter Dan Goossen continues, and the super middleweight world champion is sticking to his guns.
“You can’t get things done of significance when you have those kind of internal problems, and he’s just unwilling,” Ward told The Fight Network during Hall of Fame Weekend in Canastota, New York. “But he’s still obligated to get me fights, and he’s just, in my opinion, unable to produce that.”
The 30-year-old Ward (24-0, 16 KOs), who defended his crown seven months ago in a wide unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriguez, was asked about making a move up to the 175-pound light heavyweight limit.
However, much like Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter informed BoxingScene.com in May, the Oakland, California, native would rather extend his reign at 168 pounds.
“I don’t see where there are the money fights at 175 (pounds), and again, I think that’s the misconception that -- where are the money fights at 175?” Ward told The Fight Network. “They’re not there.”
Adonis Stevenson, the reigning light heavyweight champion, had been fighting on HBO -- the same network that features Ward -- but after signing with adviser Al Haymon, the Canadian southpaw has jumped ship to rival Showtime.
Main Events CEO Kathy Duva promotes the other HBO-friendly option in the division, Russian dynamo Sergey Kovalev, and has voiced her desire to set up a clash with Ward. However, the 168-pound ruler doesn’t deem that bout very appetizing, either.
“Adonis is on another network, so you have one guy, Kovalev,” Ward added. “It’s not a pay-per-view fight, and then if I fight him and beat him, then what?”
Back at super middleweight, Ward has made no mystery about chasing a pay-per-view fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Ward has also brought up the possibility of a rematch with Carl Froch -- who he defeated handily with a broken hand in 2011 -- or George Groves.
But after notching a second victory over Groves in front of 80,000 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium two weeks ago, neither Froch nor his promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport have been keen on a return bout with Ward. In fact, Chavez’s promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, has been vocal about his interest in a fight between the Mexican star and Froch.
In the meantime, the king of the division will wait for his next assignment.
“The big fights are at 168, and the reality is that those guys don’t want to fight me,” Ward said. “And there’s a slew of excuses on why, but that’s the reality. And if the media and the fans are OK with that, then that’s what it is. But I think it’s the media and the fans that have to demand otherwise.”
“You can’t get things done of significance when you have those kind of internal problems, and he’s just unwilling,” Ward told The Fight Network during Hall of Fame Weekend in Canastota, New York. “But he’s still obligated to get me fights, and he’s just, in my opinion, unable to produce that.”
The 30-year-old Ward (24-0, 16 KOs), who defended his crown seven months ago in a wide unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriguez, was asked about making a move up to the 175-pound light heavyweight limit.
However, much like Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter informed BoxingScene.com in May, the Oakland, California, native would rather extend his reign at 168 pounds.
“I don’t see where there are the money fights at 175 (pounds), and again, I think that’s the misconception that -- where are the money fights at 175?” Ward told The Fight Network. “They’re not there.”
Adonis Stevenson, the reigning light heavyweight champion, had been fighting on HBO -- the same network that features Ward -- but after signing with adviser Al Haymon, the Canadian southpaw has jumped ship to rival Showtime.
Main Events CEO Kathy Duva promotes the other HBO-friendly option in the division, Russian dynamo Sergey Kovalev, and has voiced her desire to set up a clash with Ward. However, the 168-pound ruler doesn’t deem that bout very appetizing, either.
“Adonis is on another network, so you have one guy, Kovalev,” Ward added. “It’s not a pay-per-view fight, and then if I fight him and beat him, then what?”
Back at super middleweight, Ward has made no mystery about chasing a pay-per-view fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Ward has also brought up the possibility of a rematch with Carl Froch -- who he defeated handily with a broken hand in 2011 -- or George Groves.
But after notching a second victory over Groves in front of 80,000 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium two weeks ago, neither Froch nor his promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport have been keen on a return bout with Ward. In fact, Chavez’s promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, has been vocal about his interest in a fight between the Mexican star and Froch.
In the meantime, the king of the division will wait for his next assignment.
“The big fights are at 168, and the reality is that those guys don’t want to fight me,” Ward said. “And there’s a slew of excuses on why, but that’s the reality. And if the media and the fans are OK with that, then that’s what it is. But I think it’s the media and the fans that have to demand otherwise.”
@ this struggle thread we in the 2nd phase of our hof career and ggg is a middle aged man still in his first 
old ass intern
