Abel Sanchez: Sullivan Barrera Must Take it From Andre Ward!

By Ryan Burton

Unbeaten light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0) will take a big step up in competition on Saturday when he faces Andre Ward (28-0) in a HBO televised main event.  Former title challenger Jayson Velez and the undefeated Jo Jo Diaz will battle in the televised co-feature bout. The event takes place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Barrera's trainer Abel Sanchez, who also trains WBA/IBF/WBC interim champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, believes that the Cuban must be the aggressor and take the fight to Ward who is known for having very good defense.

"I think that he just has to be a 175 pounder. He has to be himself. The fact that we are fighting a very good fighter as Andre Ward is, or was, and maybe still is, we can't let that come in to the equation. We have to fight our fight and take it to him and see how he reacts," said Sanchez.

In a previous interview on BoxingScene.com, Barrera said that he needs to knockout Ward because he is not confident in getting a decision in the Oakland native's backyard.

Sanchez agrees with his fighter and feels that there are many reasons why Ward will get the nod if the fight is close.

"It is not only because it is in Oakland. You are talking about one of the top three or four fighters in the world. Judges tend to give the better fighter the benefit of the doubt unless it is really one sided. We understand that. That is just the way this game is. Andre has great credentials and it is for us to take it from him. He is not going to give it to us and the judges aren't going to give it to us either," Sanchez told BoxingScene.com.

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