By Carlos Boogs

According to Virgil Hunter, trainer for IBF, WBA, WBO light heavyweight champion Andre Ward (31-0, 15 KOs), his star fighter is still capable of getting down to the super middleweight limit of 168.

Hunter was recently helping Daniel Jacobs during his long training camp for last Saturday's fight with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight king Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs).

Jacobs gave Golovkin the toughest fight of his career and became the first boxer to extend GGG the full twelve round distance. Golovkin won a close twelve round unanimous decision over the cards.

A few years ago, there was talk of a potential fight between Golovkin and Ward. Initially the two sides were unable to agree on the weight, then it was an issue of money, and then GGG's handlers said the fight wasn't possible until at least 2017 or 2018, because Golovkin was focused on unifying the middleweight division. 

"I know that they were willing to fight anybody from 154 to 168. And at that time we were at 168, so when we found that out - we said 'Why not? We will fight you at 168.' It didn't have anything to do with the talk that nobody wanted to fight GGG. It was a legitimate fight, the best fight the best," Hunter told TownBizzNizz Sports & Media.

"We consider him a top fighter, one of the best, so why not. When it came to [making the fight], that's when they came with a lot of excuses or reasons. I'll give him the benefit of doubt and say reasons."

Ward is now lined up for a rematch with Sergey Kovalev, which is potentially going to take place on June 17 in Las Vegas.

In past interviews, Ward made it known that he was no longer capable of making the super middleweight limit and actually has to work hard to even make 175.

According to Hunter, Ward is fully capable of coming down to 168 - if the money is right. The veteran trainer believes Golovkin would present the right financial opportunity to consider a drop to 168. 

"Of course he can make 168 - if the money is right. He is still a super middleweight," Hunter said.

"We have unfinished business at light heavyweight. I don't know if [Ward will] go back down. But he's not a light heavyweight, he's still a super middleweight. Time will tell if we move back down, but there shouldn't be any reason now on why he won't fight us. I don't think they could use those excuses again [that they used two years ago]. After we finish with Kovalev, if we decide to go back down, [we'd fight Golovkin]."