Andre Ward calls for a union to protect boxers ... definitely agree with him.

[Walterson]

http://www.boxingfutures.com/news/1230-ward-calls-union-protect-boxers

Ward calls for a union to protect boxers
Posted on Dec 30, 2010

WBA super-middleweight champion Andre Ward has voiced concern for the welfare of professional boxers, calling for a union to protect fighters throughout their careers.

Ward, who is America’s only current Olympic gold medallist to hold a world title, faces the definitive year of his career in which he is tipped to reach the final of the Super Six and even go on to unify the division.

The young champion told Boxing News, ‘I would love to have some kind of union, some kind of board that would oversee the business of boxing. I think it would bring respect to the sport as a whole.

‘There should be someone who’s able to overlook every contract before it’s signed, who’s able to help a fighter highlight certain things that maybe he’d miss.’

‘When the final bell rings and you’ve got to turn your back on the crowd and walk away, do you have health insurance? Do you have life insurance? Something to help guys transition from the sport back to regular life.’

[Tamis!]

Good stuff!

Andre Ward stepping it up for the betterment of every boxer. Very noble for him!

[SugarRoyJones]

He's a smart guy.

[mushahadeen]

F that. You take all the high-risk/high-reward out of it.

If you're good, you should get rich. If you suck, you should be dirt poor. Bums should suffer. ALL bums/dumb boxers should end up like Shane Langford.

Why reward bums or especially the guys that waste all their money??

[Traveler1]

F that. You take all the high-risk/high-reward out of it.

If you're good, you should get rich. If you suck, you should be dirt poor. Bums should suffer. ALL bums/dumb boxers should end up like Shane Langford.

Why reward bums or especially the guys that waste all their money??

Damn, bro.

[JBell11]

That is a great idea; I agree.

[Ko King 212]

He is correct. But with will the politricks allow it.

As far as bums **** go there are bums in every sport and even they are covered with **** like medical and life insurance.

[ThePrince]

Boxing organizationally is completely ****ed up. The fact that boxers don't have a union is shocking really. There's no order, it's like the wild west... scratch that, it's more like feudal Japan or Europe with lords (Arum, DLH, etc) putting their serfs in harm's way for profit, and different territories with different rules (all the various commissions).

I think Andre has a good head on his shoulders and he should be the one to get fighters together and try to create a Union. And someone needs to step in and do a better job of organizing and legitimizing the governing/overseeing bodies... I really think Congress should step in. Make one universal Boxing commission that regulates all aspects of the sport- take the match-making and in-housing out of the feudal lords hands and regulate the sport better.

[Traveler1]

He is correct. But with will the politricks allow it.

As far as bums **** go there are bums in every sport and even they are covered with **** like medical and life insurance.

It'd be great if they could implement something like this in boxing, but you know money trumps everything. The costs would be far to great for the greedy ****s that run boxing to ever let boxers unionize.

[jrosales13]

It is great idea, but how will it work?

Yes the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc etc have a union. But, they have a union for their own league...You can't pro playing the same sport and expect a union. You need to play for those leagues to be in their union.

Boxing, doesn't have a league. And, not only that boxing in the U.S alone have like 50 different commissions, with 50 different commissions rule.

And, will they be a number of cutoff on how many fights you need to be in the union? Can I become pro, have 1 fight, get KO'd retire and get a pension plan cuz' I'm in the union?

It is a great idea. But, I don't see how it will be possible for it to work? Which sucks.