Why is Andre "Hometown" Ward Reluctant to Face Froch in the UK?

[djtmal]

I cared both times. Looks like you are wrong as usual.

like i said, nobody cared...lol

[F!x]

Because they don''t count headbutts as punches?

Ah, that explains it.. lol

[CraigM]

I don't mind that Ward won't travel, its just when the people who say its ok to not travel if you are the champ complain when people who aren't American don't want to travel to the states.

I can see why Ward doesn't want to do the UK thing, and he'll never headline Wembley Stadium like he wants because he simply doesn't draw anywhere near enough and American fans won't travel across the country to watch him fight let alone across an ocean.

It is a shame for him though, because if he got a big enough offer and did it, he'd beat down Froch.

[pitbull2009]

Carl Froch wouldn't beat Andre Ward anywhere on the planet earth. Styles make fights, not the crowd

[LacedUp]

Ward isn't a KO fighter
going overseas is a dangerous game for non punchers to play
robberies happen everywhere; fighting on foreign soil doubles the risk
not to mention Ward already holds a decisive victory over Froch
why should he go out of his way to fight Froch in Britain, or anywhere?

How about because:

a) it was at least double or triple his biggest payday

b) these guys fought him in his hometown/country

c) legacy

d) respect

e) stop being a *****

[LacedUp]

Ward is reluctant to face him? How much money has Froch offered him? When did they fax the contract to Ward? When did Ward turn it down or say that it wasn't enough money?

Oh wait... none of those things have happened.

Ward is skeptical of Froch's desire to fight him again, even in the UK. He doesn't believe there will even be a formal offer and I am inclined to believe him because the reality is that Froch is afraid to fight Ward again even in his own backyard.

Dude this isn't the 80s. Nobody's using faxes anymore.

[New England]

i think those two will eventually fight in the UK for big money.

ward is fighting rodriguez at home for 2 million IIRC. that's a ton of money for a regular HBO main event. they're going to have to do better than that to get him to travel. that should be pretty obvious.

i think they can make it happen. froch has sky PPV revenue, and they can easily sellout a huge stadium with that fight.


ward's issue is that he'll expect more money because he's the champion, better fighter, won the first fight and SS, etc. the problem is that he brings a lot less to the table than froch does. they're going to have to settle for an even split, IMO. that's what's fair. ward may not be willing to do that.

[The Big Dunn]

How about because:

a) it was at least double or triple his biggest payday

b) these guys fought him in his hometown/country

c) legacy

d) respect

e) stop being a *****

How does beating Carl a 2nd time in england enhance ward's legacy?

[CraigM]

i think those two will eventually fight in the UK for big money.

ward is fighting rodriguez at home for 2 million IIRC. that's a ton of money for a regular HBO main event. they're going to have to do better than that to get him to travel. that should be pretty obvious.

i think they can make it happen. froch has sky PPV revenue, and they can easily sellout a huge stadium with that fight.


ward's issue is that he'll expect more money because he's the champion, better fighter, won the first fight and SS, etc. the problem is that he brings a lot less to the table than froch does. they're going to have to settle for an even split, IMO. that's what's fair. ward may not be willing to do that.

Nice post!

I don't think it'd sell out a huge stadium though - Ward mentioned Wembley
when he was interviewed after Kessler-Froch 2.

Wembley is a 90,000 seat venue for boxing! It'd look awful on tv as it'd be nowhere full.

Especially when you put it up against the following fights.

Calzaghe vs Kessler - 50,000
Haye vs Chisora - 30,000

I think it'd sell out the city ground in Nottingham which is 30,000 but not much more than that.

[WilkinsOlajuwon]

Is he scared, is it pride, ego, paycheck or what? Froch already fought Ward in the US, the obvious thing for Ward to do (just like Kessler did) is to now fight Froch in the UK.

Ward has been seen as a hometown whore for a long time now so fighting Froch in the UK will repair his damaged reputation. But Ward's manager said something about them only fighting in the UK if Calzaghe comes out retirement to face the winner.. basically a crazy demand which is almost impossible to fulfil.. so it seems they don't want the fight to happen in the UK..

What's the reason.. does Ward have such low confidence in his skills that he doesn't think he could beat Froch in the UK?

Aw, someone's all salty.

FYI he pantsed Froch in New Jersey not Oakland