Comments Thread For: Ward Reacts to Rodriguez Public Request for VADA Tests

[mathed]

Ward is ducking the testing...smh

[Light_Speed]

It's all mind games. If Rodriguez was serious about it, he would have put it in the contract.

[BattlingNelson]

It's all mind games. If Rodriguez was serious about it, he would have put it in the contract.

Why? He is going about this in a very smart way IMO. If he had asked for it in the negotiations, he'd have risked seeing his biggest payday evaporate. By saying it now he puts pressure on Ward to do what he's doing. That's pretty smart and he wins a PR victory. If Ward doesn't take the test he looks like a hypocrite and he'll suddenly be the sports biggest suspect.

[thuggery]

Kinda fishy, Ward should do the tests.

I wonder why he's so defensive?

[Light_Speed]

Why? He is going about this in a very smart way IMO. If he had asked for it in the negotiations, he'd have risked seeing his biggest payday evaporate. By saying it now he puts pressure on Ward to do what he's doing. That's pretty smart and he wins a PR victory. If Ward doesn't take the test he looks like a hypocrite and he'll suddenly be the sports biggest suspect.

No, you can ask for certain things in negotiations and then give up if the other side turns them down (the Chavez/Martinez drug testing negotiations is a good example), it doesn't necessarily kill the fight unless you're stubborn.

But he's not putting pressure on Ward to make him take the test, he's putting pressure on Ward for the sake of putting pressure on Ward = mind games. If Ward accepts, he submits to Rodriguez's will.

[BattlingNelson]

No, you can ask for certain things in negotiations and then give up if the other side turns them down (the Chavez/Martinez drug testing negotiations is a good example), it doesn't necessarily kill the fight unless you're stubborn.

But he's not putting pressure on Ward to make him take the test, he's putting pressure on Ward for the sake of putting pressure on Ward = mind games. If Ward accepts, he submits to Rodriguez's will.

Don't you understand that he could have missed the payday if he brought the issue up during negotiations?

Rodriguez might in earnest suspect Ward of juicing, and this might be the only way he thinks can get a level playing field.

[Light_Speed]

Don't you understand that he could have missed the payday if he brought the issue up during negotiations?

Rodriguez might in earnest suspect Ward of juicing, and this might be the only way he thinks can get a level playing field.

No you can bring up anything you want in negotiations, if the other side doesn't agree then either you stick to it and the negotiations end, or you let it go and you make the fight happen. Martinez asked for random testing for the Chavez fight, Chavez refused and Martinez decided to fight him anyway.

[BattlingNelson]

No you can bring up anything you want in negotiations, if the other side doesn't agree then either you stick to it and the negotiations end, or you let it go and you make the fight happen. Martinez asked for random testing for the Chavez fight, Chavez refused and Martinez decided to fight him anyway.

Dude. He isn't asking Ward for anything. He's just saying that he himself undergoes random testing for this fight. The fight will still go on regardless of Ward taking the test or not. Obviously he knows that Ward will look bad if he doesn't take the test and he is hoping Ward will comply, but it's not a dealbreaker.

In that way he saves his career payday and maximizes his chances for a percieved level playing field. Nice move.

[nÔÔb_out_king]

I'm pretty sure Ward would have used Rodriguez' demand for testing as a means to negotiate a bigger purse for himself. Maybe it wouldn't jeopardize the fight, but it would most definitely have meant some other demands not fulfilled.

It was a very smart move and Ward will probably keep saying he doesn't have a problem getting tested yet he'll never do it.

Had I any points I would bet all of it on Ward not getting tested.

[Reloaded]

Why? He is going about this in a very smart way IMO. If he had asked for it in the negotiations, he'd have risked seeing his biggest payday evaporate. By saying it now he puts pressure on Ward to do what he's doing. That's pretty smart and he wins a PR victory. If Ward doesn't take the test he looks like a hypocrite and he'll suddenly be the sports biggest suspect.

And Ward can counter gracefully by saying ; I have no problems what so ever taking OST , if any of my opponents wish to ask for extra testing during the negotiation stage I will gladly oblige . However , under these circumstance when testing is used as a publicity stunt : then Mr Rodriquez can test himself if he likes , next time ask at the appropriate time .