Comments Thread For: “Fighting Words” - On the Ward-Rodriguez Money Debate

[soul_survivor]

^^^That but come on, HBO offering over 3 mil for this crap? They need to spend that on better fights.

In all honesty, I'm not a Ward fun but I respect what he's saying here, he got paid less for a title fight AND his first defence, offering someone like Rodiguez 800k is a good deal, you wana be champ? Take if not, **** off! Perfect negotiating from Ward's team but having said all that, Ward can't really be expecting for millions for a tune up fight against guys who are either no hopers and no names...and Ward isn't a big enough name to sell a fight on his own. He isn't Manny or Floyd who can fight near on bums and still pack in the stadia and the PPV buys/tv audiences.

And what's all this crap Ward and other fighters say these days about "don't talk about money till you been in the ring yourself" wtf??? It's our money that buys you the house , the fancy car and the whores, GTF over yourself

[dc3383]

Andre Ward won't see the money he wants until he signs with Top Rank or Golden Boy

[soul_survivor]

It would be great if Ward being one of the 2 best fighters in the world meant he was paid accordingly, but that's not the truth of it. He cannot let money disputes waste away his prime.

I do rate Ward as one of the 10 best in the world right now and HBO coughing up 3.5mil? That's good enough but 2 problems:
A. Rod is a fool for not taking it
B. Ward is, as you say, wasting away his prime. SMW is a decent division, not huge in terms of marketing (only Froch and Kesler) but he could be in decent fights with good contenders. Ward is wasting time, prime and the opportunity to be considered one of the best.

[chill4500]

I think the problem has more to do with Rodriguez's lack of belief in his own skills. He doubts his ability to finish, let alone win, a fight against possibly the best fighter in the world. Then any shine that he currently has is gone, and so are the ~400-600K paydays. Why not fight 3-5 more times for you are making now than take 800K, get trounced, and have to start all over. Fast food is a dirty game.

Thanks for a logical post among a bunch that make little to no sense. The ONLY issue here is Rodriguez' lack of confidence. Ward should face someone who actually believes he can win and let Edwin keep fighting two tiers below. Andre is angling for a Chavez bout in 2014, so he should line up something that will be entertaining on Nov 16 in the meantime. The bigger paydays come for him next year.

[DanboSmitty]

These networks are not a chartity, fighters should not expect to get paid the same as their last fight when really the opposition is not even close to the same level. Ward wants a tuneup fight after a long layoff and that is perfectly acceptable considering all the big names are going to busy. If wants a tune=up then he should get tuneup money, not megafight $'s

[rogdogx]

This would be an easy lay up comeback fight for Ward. Rodriguez just made a good payday and is avoiding the sure loss. HBO could surely spend that 3 mil on something much more entertaining than this. HBO is really closing the year in underwhelming fashion. Chavez jr vs tune up, GGG vs tune up, Cotto vs ESPN fighter, and a tired Donaire-Darchinyan rematch. Bradley vs Marquez is the only really good fight HBO gots going and thats on PPV! Well Alvarado-Provodnikov is actually also a good fight but outside of that HBO is really stinking up the joint. Pac-Rios is decent but also PPV and something that many fans resisted when first announced. Them not working with GBP has really hurt them in the second half of the year after a good start. Its hard to get excited about a Ward fight unless he gets in there with a Froch, Chavez Jr or a GGG. I for one could care less if the Rodriguez fight gets made.

[rogdogx]

These networks are not a chartity, fighters should not expect to get paid the same as their last fight when really the opposition is not even close to the same level. Ward wants a tuneup fight after a long layoff and that is perfectly acceptable considering all the big names are going to busy. If wants a tune=up then he should get tuneup money, not megafight $'s

you make a really great point

[MRCHOKEaMF]

This would be an easy lay up comeback fight for Ward. Rodriguez just made a good payday and is avoiding the sure loss. HBO could surely spend that 3 mil on something much more entertaining than this. HBO is really closing the year in underwhelming fashion. Chavez jr vs tune up, GGG vs tune up, Cotto vs ESPN fighter, and a tired Donaire-Darchinyan rematch. Bradley vs Marquez is the only really good fight HBO gots going and thats on PPV! Well Alvarado-Provodnikov is actually also a good fight but outside of that HBO is really stinking up the joint. Pac-Rios is decent but also PPV and something that many fans resisted when first announced. Them not working with GBP has really hurt them in the second half of the year after a good start. Its hard to get excited about a Ward fight unless he gets in there with a Froch, Chavez Jr or a GGG. I for one could care less if the Rodriguez fight gets made.

Froch isnt a fight worth seeing, he beat him with ONE hand last time CONVINCINGLY. Chavez Jr only because mexicans will watch but thats NO COMPETITION. GGG is definitely not ready and they need to let him fight more bums to build the anticipation.

[boxrec]

I love Rodriguez and he is coming off a GREAT win. With that being said he is the challenger and he absolutely WILL NOT have another offer from a champion that is even close to 800k. Ward has beaten champion after champion. Rodriguez shouldn't worry about what Ward is getting and look at 800 k as career hi payday and opportunity to face the best. That is GREAT money for a challenger.

[Russian Crushin]

3.15 mil couldnt make this fight happen? What a joke. HBO wants to drastically overpay both guys and the fight still isnt happening.

Reminds me of when Angulo turned down 750K to fight Sergio at 155 and then got KTFO by kirkland and deported