The team behind super middleweight king Andre Ward (27-0, 14KOs), manager James Prince and legal adviser Josh Dubin, spoke to BoxingScene.com to respond to some recent statements that were made by Oleg Hermann, the manager of IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (30-0, 27KOs).
Regarding a potential fight between Golovkin and Ward, Hermann says the idea is too risky to pursue - because Ward has ongoing legal issues with his promoter of record, Dan Goossen.
"Ward files lawsuits, calls for a fight, but he does not come out to the ring - and that's the problem. No one knows how long it's all going to last. Yes Andre Ward says he is ready, but Gennady is also ready to discuss [a potential fight]. Even if we agree on all of the terms - [we can't do the fight] without the participation of his promoter," Hermann told BoxingScene/Allboxing.ru.
"It is also difficult to see how we can work with Ward, his team and his promoter and promote the big fight when there is a war between them - the fight would be at risk every day. The only way [to do a fight] is for them to find a solution. I hope they solve this problem in the near future, and then we will be able to sit down at the negotiating table."
"While Ward continues to sue his promoter, he shouldn't mention GGG's name and talk about a potential fight, which he knows and we know, cannot take place in his current situation."
Dubin tells BoxingScene that there is absolutely nothing standing in the way of Ward and Goossen working together for a Golovkin fight on HBO.
"This is just more nonsense from Golovkin's side. Andre Ward made an agreement with Dan Goossen, right after the legal action was filed, that they would continue working together until the legal action was resolved. That agreement is still in place. There is no impediment for the Golovkin fight happening at all. Andre Ward is ready, willing and able. We're just waiting on an offer. All of this nonsense about [the legal action] affecting the promotion is nonsense," Dubin told BoxingScene.com.
"The reason they are running for cover, in our opinion, is because they know as soon as he steps in the ring with Andre Ward - the party is over....no more being able to sell the people these ridiculous fantasies that he's somewhere in the same [class] as 'Sugar' Ray Robinson. The fight can be made. All they have to do is pick up the phone."
Prince noted to BoxingScene that certain members of Golovkin's team are intentionally piling up the roadblocks, like stating that a potential fight with Ward would require a 50-50 financial agreement.
"Here is the thing with the manager, the promoter and the trainer - they are looking for the opportunity to hide behind something to protect their fighter and keep him out of the ring with Andre Ward - whether it's 50-50 or something else. They are going to come up all kinds of things to stop them from coming to the table for Dre Day. And Dre Day is the day that Golovkin steps in the ring with Andre Ward and get destroyed. His team is going to try to protect him," Prince told BoxingScene.com.
"They don't believe in the fighter. The fighter might believe in himself but the team don't believe in him, and that's why wanted him to go up to 168 for [Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.] Chavez but not for Andre Ward."
http://www.boxingscene.com/team-andre-ward-golovkins-side-running-cover--81471
@Newzz @krackdagawd
Regarding a potential fight between Golovkin and Ward, Hermann says the idea is too risky to pursue - because Ward has ongoing legal issues with his promoter of record, Dan Goossen.
"Ward files lawsuits, calls for a fight, but he does not come out to the ring - and that's the problem. No one knows how long it's all going to last. Yes Andre Ward says he is ready, but Gennady is also ready to discuss [a potential fight]. Even if we agree on all of the terms - [we can't do the fight] without the participation of his promoter," Hermann told BoxingScene/Allboxing.ru.
"It is also difficult to see how we can work with Ward, his team and his promoter and promote the big fight when there is a war between them - the fight would be at risk every day. The only way [to do a fight] is for them to find a solution. I hope they solve this problem in the near future, and then we will be able to sit down at the negotiating table."
"While Ward continues to sue his promoter, he shouldn't mention GGG's name and talk about a potential fight, which he knows and we know, cannot take place in his current situation."
Dubin tells BoxingScene that there is absolutely nothing standing in the way of Ward and Goossen working together for a Golovkin fight on HBO.
"This is just more nonsense from Golovkin's side. Andre Ward made an agreement with Dan Goossen, right after the legal action was filed, that they would continue working together until the legal action was resolved. That agreement is still in place. There is no impediment for the Golovkin fight happening at all. Andre Ward is ready, willing and able. We're just waiting on an offer. All of this nonsense about [the legal action] affecting the promotion is nonsense," Dubin told BoxingScene.com.
"The reason they are running for cover, in our opinion, is because they know as soon as he steps in the ring with Andre Ward - the party is over....no more being able to sell the people these ridiculous fantasies that he's somewhere in the same [class] as 'Sugar' Ray Robinson. The fight can be made. All they have to do is pick up the phone."
Prince noted to BoxingScene that certain members of Golovkin's team are intentionally piling up the roadblocks, like stating that a potential fight with Ward would require a 50-50 financial agreement.
"Here is the thing with the manager, the promoter and the trainer - they are looking for the opportunity to hide behind something to protect their fighter and keep him out of the ring with Andre Ward - whether it's 50-50 or something else. They are going to come up all kinds of things to stop them from coming to the table for Dre Day. And Dre Day is the day that Golovkin steps in the ring with Andre Ward and get destroyed. His team is going to try to protect him," Prince told BoxingScene.com.
"They don't believe in the fighter. The fighter might believe in himself but the team don't believe in him, and that's why wanted him to go up to 168 for [Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.] Chavez but not for Andre Ward."
http://www.boxingscene.com/team-andre-ward-golovkins-side-running-cover--81471
@Newzz @krackdagawd
