By Radio Rahim
Olympic gold medal winner Andre Ward (30-0, 15KOs) admits that a rivalry is growing between American and Eastern European fighters.
In the last few years, the number of Eastern European fighters competing in the United States has exploded. Top professionals, top amateurs and numerous Olympic medal winners from Eastern European countries have made the American market their home.
With so many talented fighters from the Eastern Euro countries, many of them are securing television dates on HBO, Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions.
A few years ago, only a handful of Eastern Euro fighters were campaigning on U.S. soil. That was then. In the current era, every major American promoter has numerous fighters from Eastern Europe under contract.
With Eastern Euro fighters securing a fair share of TV dates and top slots on major events, a lot of the American top contenders, seasoned veterans and rising prospects are being left out in the cold.
"The Eastern European fighters are here - a lot of them. So they are getting those opportunities. I think there is an inherent rivalry there between Americans and Russians, because they are on our turf trying to make a name and we're trying to defend what we have so to speak - that's how I look at it. No disrespect, it's nothing personal, but yeah I think there is an inherent rivalry there because they are trying to take something that we have," Ward said.
That rivalry will take a big step on November 19th, when Ward challenges one of the most feared fighters in the sport - IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia - who became a star on American soil with his run of impressive victories in recent years.