Ward Criticizes Kovalev Promoter for Baiting Him About Rematch

By Keith Idec

Andre Ward took to Twitter to respond to Kathy Duva’s critical comments of the newly crowned light heavyweight champion.

Duva – whose company, Main Events, promotes Kovalev – told BoxingScene.com for a story posted Thursday that Kovalev had “figured out Ward.” She also needled Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) for saying that he is contemplating retirement, rather than partaking in a rematch against Russia’s Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs).

Ward also alluded to Duva stating he had taken “a beating,” despite defeating Kovalev by unanimous decision November 19 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“Beating?? Lol, #GetOffTheGas Kathy!!,” Ward wrote. “I understand what your trying to do, I get it…but stop. #GetOffTheGasKathy”

Ward added, “Ask the “Krusher” what happened in those trenches. He knows….#GetOffTheGasKathy”

The 32-year-old Ward told fighthype.com in a video posted Saturday that he might walk away from boxing if an immediate rematch against Kovalev doesn’t make enough financial sense for him to participate in it. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist made a $5 million purse for facing Kovalev, according to contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The Hayward, California, native is contractually bound to a rematch with Kovalev as part of the agreement made between Main Events and Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, Ward’s promoter, more than a year before they fought.

Ward overcame a second-round knockdown to defeat Kovalev by unanimous decision in a highly competitive, 12-round, light-heavyweight title match marred by excessive clinching, fouling and wrestling. Each of the three judges – Burt Clements, John McKaie and Glenn Trowbridge – scored the fight for Ward by the same score, 114-113.

Ward, a former undisputed super middleweight champion, won the IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight titles from Kovalev.

The card headlined by Ward-Kovalev was successful at the gate. It drew an announced crowd of 13,310. Of those in attendance, 10,066 paid a total of roughly $3.3 million for tickets.

The event was less successful on pay-per-view. It drew slightly more than 160,000 pay-per-view buys.

The rematch, if Ward embraces it, also is expected to be televised via HBO Pay-Per-View.

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