Andre Ward: "Floyd is on to something...I wanted to take things a step further"

[bojangles1987]

Well then start demanding testing for your fights Andre. That's how things change.

[THe TRiNiTY]

It's a nice idea in theory, I suppose. However, what people have to remember is that it can only happen when it makes sense for everyone and it's fair for everyone. At this point, it simply isn't. Even if if "only" costs $20,000, that kills the club scene as some have said, if it's enforced. Which can really hurt the sport.

It has to be reliable as it can be and affordable as it needs to be. Until then, this is an unrealistic pipe dream by Ward and/or Mayweather. Just not realistic.

[BattlingNelson]

BT: So you're looking to help bring about change to the sport by shedding more light on the subject of improved drug testing policies?

AW: I wanted to take things a step further and implement it, not just talk about it, and be one of the first to actually do it outside of Floyd Mayweather. I believe Carl is a clean fighter, but I just think that with a fight of this magnitude, it would be great for the sport to implement something like Olympic-style drug testing. The goal is to go through with it even if Carl doesn't want to, but again, the cost could be an issue, so we'll see.

Sure Andre. Sure....

[thuggery]

Classic flop flopping

[LeG00N]

Fucking cheat

[.Mexico.]

****ing 2011 he really wants to bring the light to testing, a few years later he has denied test after test, even when they are free.

This Cheater never wanted to get tested.

[bojangles1987]

Sure Andre. Sure....

These statements are why, as a huge Ward fan, it pains me to admit he is very su****ious. He can implement testing, claims to want to, and refuses to. You don't say stuff like this and then refuse testing.

[dirty fingers]

Andre Ward definitely does not lead by example. I expected more from one of the so called p4p greats. Shame.

[BattlingNelson]

These statements are why, as a huge Ward fan, it pains me to admit he is very su****ious. He can implement testing, claims to want to, and refuses to. You don't say stuff like this and then refuse testing.

I always liked Ward. Outside the ring obviously . But saying this and doing the complete opposite is plain ****** and a public relations disaster. Unless of course that taking the test would have been an even bigger disaster.

That's what you got to wonder here.

[#1Assassin]

wow.. ppl here dont seem to understand business too well.

when i first read (here) that ward refused testing i felt so dissapointed, but after learning all the facts i dont see how anyone can blame him.

the contract was already signed and sealed, the fight was done. ward didnt say no to testing, he said no, period. no to rodriguez asking for anything because the time for asking for things was over, rodriguz knows this too.

rodriguez doesnt really want testing, what he wants is to avoid a 100% focused andre ward come fight night. he has done this thing before (boxing), there is no way he is ****** enough to think someone is going to keep negotiating with him once the fight is made. he knew ward would turn down anything he asked for, so he picked drug testing knowing what a hot topic it is and how ignorant most "fans" and writers are.

just like when pascal did it to hopkins, the risk of hopkins becoming the oldest man to win a world title at his expense was putting a lot of pressure on him and you better believe he was getting asked about it on a daily basis. so he created a new subject, something else to talk about to take some of the attention away from what was weighing heavily on him. thats the only logical reason, again, everyone in the fight game knows how business is made. you negotiate in negotiations, not in training camp.

i dont think it will help rodriguez any though, ward isnt the kind of guy to take his eye of the price. most likely it will just motivate him to put more of a beating on rodriguez as he has basically dragged wards name through the mud through sheer manipulation.