However You Feel, Boxing Needs More Men Like Andre Ward

By Keith Idec

Too aloof.

Too boring.

Too combative.

Too dirty.

Too inactive.

Too injury-prone.

Too moody.

Too religious.

Too stubborn.

Too technical.

You name it, Andre Ward seemingly is too something for some people. However you feel about the undefeated former super middleweight champion, though, know this – there couldn’t be too many Andre Wards in boxing.

This marginalized game needs polarizing people, particularly as it figuratively fights for attention among mainstream sports fans happily occupied with other interests. Fighters that generate buzz for what they do outside the ring, however unflattering at times, play important roles in keeping boxing relevant.

Adrien Broner, Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather Jr. all firmly grasp that game, for better or worse, yet unquestionably to the benefit of their bank accounts.

Andre Ward, meanwhile, isn’t all that interested in building his brand beyond being one of the best boxers in the world, a devout family man and a positive person kids from such impoverished places as Oakland, California, can consider a real role model.

The 2004 Olympic gold medalist prides himself on being a principled person who has reached the biggest fight of his life Saturday night by doing things his way. With that gigantic chip on his shoulder, the immovable mass built by the compelling childhood issues he only recently revealed, Ward couldn’t care less if that offends you.

No TMZ. No WWE. No phony persona. No nonsense.

Just a special prizefighter who hasn’t lost a boxing match since he was 12 years old. A grateful guy trying to squeeze as much money out of this unforgiving business as he can for his wife and their four children, without becoming someone those that truly know and appreciate him wouldn’t recognize.

Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports has guaranteed Ward a $5 million purse for facing Sergey Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View; $64.95-$69.95 in HD). That’s too much money based on the modest pay-per-view projections for what, on paper, is the most significant fight of 2016.

Ward-Kovalev needs to draw about 400,000 buys Saturday night for Roc Nation to break even, based on the money the company owes Ward for this light heavyweight title fight. Industry insiders polled by BoxingScence.com agreed that this four-fight card should spark enough interest to generate at least 200,000 buys, but not more than 250,000.

Even Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s promoter, figures they’ll be fortunate to crack 250,000 buys.

Then again, that’s Roc Nation’s problem, not a matter with which Ward should concern himself. His compensation Saturday night could be viewed as a reward for his achievements in and out of the ring, well deserved funds for providing a professional example all these years of what it means to overcome odds and stick with what you believe, consequences be damned.

Less accomplished fighters have made more money than a longtime super middleweight champion who has beaten several rugged, talented opponents on his way to 30-0. That’s why Ward is the slight betting favorite over this ruthless Russian knockout artist, if not the fan favorite.

The Hayward, California, native’s detractors contend Ward doesn’t deserve superstardom due to various combinations – or all – of the criticisms listed at the beginning of this column.

He continuously fought what long looked like a losing legal battle against late promoter Dan Goossen. The unfortunate fact that it halted much of the momentum of a blossoming career didn’t deter him.

That fruitless fight, combined with shoulder and knee injuries, limited Ward to three fights in the 3½ years before the buildup toward the Kovalev fight officially began with Ward’s win over previously unbeaten Sullivan Barrera on March 26 in Oakland.

Ward didn’t help his cause, either, by embarrassing overmatched Alexander Brand in another HBO-sponsored tune-up fight August 6 in Oakland. As usual, Ward, who readily admits making some mistakes along the way, offered no apologies for getting what he wanted – in that case 12 more rounds of work to shake off rust his injuries and business decisions helped build.

Many skeptics feel Ward wouldn’t have seriously considered this daunting assignment Saturday night had eventually facing Kovalev not been the mandated end game in the three-fight contract Ward signed with HBO Sports in October 2015.

Ward’s critics make points worth examining, some stronger than others, while typing or voicing their displeasure with the former super middleweight champion’s path toward this showdown with Kovalev.

The 32-year-old Ward will never have enough Arturo Gatti or Diego Corrales in him to satisfy some fight fans. Nevertheless, the safer, smarter strategy he employs is what made Andre Ward, what helped him, at long last, arrive at Saturday night.

Mayweather never wavered on his approach in the ring, either. That conviction made him the richest and one of the most successful boxers ever.

Whatever occurs Saturday night, Ward won’t come close to matching Mayweather’s financial success. To some degree, that’ll remain true because Ward won’t play the marketing game Mayweather mastered after his career-changing victory over Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007.

Again, Ward seems more than fine with the status born from doing things his way. It has prevented him from making money commensurate with his accomplishments, but it’s an admirable approach, particularly to those that value character more than money.

That obviously doesn’t mean everyone has to love Andre Ward. They sure don’t.

It just means that if Andre Ward is too fill-in-the-blank for you, realize that this heavily scrutinized sport couldn’t have too many men like him.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.