Comments Thread For: Sauerland: Andre Ward Has To Travel Like Froch, Kessler

[Daddy T]

fact is froch and kessler will make plenty fighting each other tomorrow hell if they have another cracker they could even make a trilogy out of it and make even more while ward refuses to travel sits on his #1/2 p4p spot and earns sweet feck all. Again why would GGG or martinez or chavez move up to fight him, lose, and make little enough money doing it and damage their future earning potential in the process? they'll make more fighting eachother and have a better chance of winning too.

If Ward is so damn good he should be willing to prove it and go where the fights are or move up and beat up the light heavys.

[jlcelestine]

Before people say "he doesn't have to travel, he's champion" - he won all his fights in the States while his opponents were travelling around the world fighting.

I don't agree with Sauerland too often but they're spot-on with this, Ward short-changed the Super 6 for the fans with his venue b/s.

Froch, Kessler, Taylor, Dirrell, Abraham and Johnson all left their own country during the Super 6 and both Green and Bute did after the tournament. Ward's the odd one out here and he ain't no draw.

I thought his fights in Oakland did really well as far as gate. In any case, as far as HBO is concerned, he is an A side, he is a top p4p fighter, and he is based in America, where everyone wants to fight. The only time Amir Khan fights in his home country is when he is on the comeback trail, and he is no "draw" in the US either, but this is where the money is, and this is where real stars are made. I dont see him, or any other top US fighter with similar recognition fighting anywhere else but here. I dont expect for his legacy to be tarnished when its all said and done, because he never fought in Denmark, Nottingham, or Scandanavia. I could be wrong, but i seriously doubt it.

And while we are at it, his hometown is Oakland. If he fights outside of California IMO he is no longer fighting at "home". The turnout to the Froch fight for a title unification should prove that much. Its not even like these fights are relatively close.

[Suavecito80]

I think this is a fair request considering he did not have to leave Oakland in the super six. I have no issue with this at all.

[Fetta]

Ward beats these 2 guys AGAIN, anywhere. First lets see who wins the battle for 2nd place.

[voneric]

People may try to deny it, but every fighter wants to go to America to prove he is the best, and I have yet to hear a fighter state they need to go Denmark or the UK to do so. The main reason for this is because the population of America is close to 314 million and the population of the UK and Denmark combined is about 70 million. Unless your name is Klitschko, theres more money and fans to be made in America plain and simple. There is no Doubt that Andre Ward would easily beat Kessler or Froch on the road, but to do so at the expense of his fanbase would be crazy. For instance, a fight across the pond will have a start time of about 5pm in the States and most people are still working, as there is no such thing as a weekend anymore. Its going to be very hard to get the American people to watch a tape delay when they already know the outcome from outlets like boxingscene. And then consider that successful rematches in America are usually from questionable decisions or from the first fight being memorable... Froch and Kessler were not even close to fit either description. Does anybody think that Robert Guerrero would beat Mayweather in a rematch? That's the chances that Most would give Froch or Kessler in a rematch with Ward. I think Froch and Kessler are true old school fighters and respect them both, but they need a reality check on whos the Boss.

[djtmal]

People may try to deny it, but every fighter wants to go to America to prove he is the best, and I have yet to hear a fighter state they need to go Denmark or the UK to do so. The main reason for this is because the population of America is close to 314 million and the population of the UK and Denmark combined is about 70 million. Unless your name is Klitschko, theres more money and fans to be made in America plain and simple. There is no Doubt that Andre Ward would easily beat Kessler or Froch on the road, but to do so at the expense of his fanbase would be crazy. For instance, a fight across the pond will have a start time of about 5pm in the States and most people are still working, as there is no such thing as a weekend anymore. Its going to be very hard to get the American people to watch a tape delay when they already know the outcome from outlets like boxingscene. And then consider that successful rematches in America are usually from questionable decisions or from the first fight being memorable... Froch and Kessler were not even close to fit either description. Does anybody think that Robert Guerrero would beat Mayweather in a rematch? That's the chances that Most would give Froch or Kessler in a rematch with Ward. I think Froch and Kessler are true old school fighters and respect them both, but they need a reality check on whos the Boss.

cut it with the excuses and let this coddled prima donna ward fight outside the country, minus his hometown refs, who let him get away with every lowblow, headbutt, and rabbit punch he lands...the kessler and bika fights were horrific to watch...these guys were spot on, and show good judgment by not complaining too much about it...

[Biolink]

Not fighting outside his hometown has gotta be the dumbest criticism I've heard for a top flight fighter. I'd have more respect for it if y'all just came out and said you hope Ward ended up getting robbed in enemy territory.

[taansend]

Not fighting outside his hometown has gotta be the dumbest criticism I've heard for a top flight fighter. I'd have more respect for it if y'all just came out and said you hope Ward ended up getting robbed in enemy territory.

Well said. It's much better that foreign fighters come to America to get robbed.

[Biolink]

Well said. It's much better that foreign fighters come to America to get robbed.

The reffing in the Kessler fight is one thing that's agreeable but Froch literally has nothing. If anything Ward should have the 2 judges that had that fight close investigated.

[New England]

if they can air it live during prime american fight TV time (10-12:30 est, roughly,) and HBO is ok with it, and the money is better, i don't see the issue.

i guess he could be worried about getting robbed, but they can put together an international group of judges and get a neutral ref.

the real issues are hbo and money. if hbo is cool with it, and they money is good, i don't see a problem.