WBA super middleweight king Andre Ward will not recognize IBF champion Carl Froch as an "all-time" great unless he faces him again and gets revenge. This weekend Froch will attempt to get revenge for his other career defeat when he takes on Mikkel Kessler on Saturday. Kessler won a decision over Froch in 2010, and then Ward defeated him in 2011.
"That result [against me] eats away at him," Ward told BBC Sport. "For him to be considered an all-time great he has to try and come and avenge that loss. I have never refused to fight in the UK, contrary to what Carl's team has said. The reality is that I don't have to fight in the UK to become a star in the world of boxing but Froch has to come and stake his claim in the United States of America in order to be recognized domestically and worldwide.
"He did come to the USA but it didn't turn out the way he thought it would and now he is more comfortable fighting back at home. I'll consider it, but they need to understand this isn't something I have to do or be manipulated into doing. If I did it, it would be to reward the UK fans because they have always given me tremendous support. Look at [British super-middleweight] George Groves, he is spending a lot of time in the USA because he knows that is where he has to make it. Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe had to come to the US too."
"I wasn't at my best in the first fight and I would love to show Carl Froch what a fit and healthy Andre Ward can do without a hand injury. The Froch fight was the biggest fight of my career but I had a fractured hand and I did what I had to do to win. The second time around, I will be much more dominant."
