Comments Thread For: Andre Ward Explains Reasons To Break Goossen Contract

[kombayn]

While I'm sure that Andre Ward is setting himself up to join Top Rank, I think he should give a long look at Lou DiBella Entertainment if he's interested, what he's done for GGG & Sergio Martinez shows the man has the juice to get things done in this business and has relationships with other promoters where they refuse to deal with him.

I still think Bob Arum will land Andre Ward since he knows how to promote big fights and I think the fact that Bob Arum can give him Julio Caesar Chavez, Jr. down the line is a big deal for Ward as that would be an HBO PPV fight. I also think Ward would have more trust in Arum in getting Ward vs. Froch 2 for a date in Las Vegas.

I have to agree with Ward though, once the Pavlik fight fell through, it seems that Goosen-Tutor has done nothing for the man. I fully expect that Andre Ward will buy himself out of the contract and will sign with Top Rank immediately afterwards. I figure a tune-up fight for Andre Ward will happen in late 2013.

[deanrw]

I cannot help to think there is something else going on behind the scenes with Ward and Prince trying to push out Goossen. Frankly put, they are using 1 episode, 1 event, 1 failed meeting. Goossen has helped Ward get some big name opponents and to me, carved Ward's career fairly decently.

Ward will only get so popular. He is not a knockout artist and he is not the most exciting fighter on the planet. With all the talent he has, he still has a ceiling on his marketability. Can a big name promoter change it? I do not think so. He has to do what a Tim Bradley did. Bradley wowed crowds in his last fight and has earned another multi-million payday. Bradley changed his own course. Ward has to do the same, even if it does come with added risks.

I also do not think The California boxing commission has the power to break a legal binding contract. That is a court issue.

[sicko]

Goossen/Tutor are awesome Promters when your working your way up the ranks but once you reach a certain level they are kinda limited. Same for DiBella and Gary Shaw! Solid Promoters but not the type of Promoters that can take you to that next level

[Realizniguhnit]

Goossen/Tutor are awesome Promters when your working your way up the ranks but once you reach a certain level they are kinda limited. Same for DiBella and Gary Shaw! Solid Promoters but not the type of Promoters that can take you to that next level

What you stated is exactly the problem with fighters like Ward. There is no next level...if you're not an attraction by 30 31 most likely you never will be. Nobody important wants to fight Ward, high risk, little reward and If Ward had an issue being promoted by gossen he should of took action years ago when he was younger.

[HeroBando]

Other than Chavez, I think the idea is to have stronger promotional backing when dealing with guys like Hearn, the Canadians, Sauerland, who are starting to muscle him around a little. For example last time he fought Froch, Carl was promoted by inept Hennessy. Now he's with Hearn, making big time money in the UK that Goossen cannot rival. Plus since HBO is all in on 160-175, it stands to reason many of the top guys will end up with TR.

[SweetScience]

Goosen has taken him as far as he can go....

Time to go to the elite promoters...

[BattlingNelson]

The issue:

When Ward requested that his manager and co-promoters meet with HBO to discuss the September date, future bouts and marketing plans, Goossen refused to attend the meeting.

I'm guessing that Goosen feels (rightly or wrongly) that he has exclusive promotional rights to Ward and therefore does not acknowledge any co-promotors.

We will see when Goosen responds.

It's most unfortunate when a fighter gets in such a mess as important career earnings are lost. Hopefully this gets solved so that Ward can get in the ring as soon as his shoulder allows it.

[Ray*]

I don't know what is going on but the fact that he has a low profile is an indication that all isn't right, He should be a high profile boxer by now, he beat both Kessler and Froch but they are not only more famous than him but also bring more money to the table than him, He is a gold medal winner and the man at 168 but someone like Broner is even more recognised than him SMH.

[S H A R K B O Y]

What I feel is going on, is that Ward is allowing Prince to be more involved, probably pushing Goosen to do more with Ward and his career. Goosen doesn't seem to take having a co-promoter lightly and I'm sure there is something in Ward's contract that Goosen forgot to close up, allowing Prince to be a co-promoter in the first place.

Ego's and power trip's is what it looks like.

[MDPopescu]

(...) he still has a ceiling on his marketability. Can a big name promoter change it? I do not think so. He has to do what a Tim Bradley did. Bradley wowed crowds in his last fight and has earned another multi-million payday. Bradley changed his own course. Ward has to do the same, even if it does come with added risks.
(...)

Bradley is a perfect show case.

(One seems to forget that Ward also had multiple injury issues in the past.)