Comments Thread For: GGG's Coach Explains Why Andre Ward is Not Relevant

[IMDAZED]

Hatton had one of the most rabid fanbases I have ever witnessed in the sport. He was a balls to the wall fighter. Not necessarily a killer. Neither was he controversial.

Britain has many non-black fighters. Why don't they get behind them all the way they did Hatton?

[QballLobo]

I agree, Ward needs to show why he is relevant in 2015. GGG is on the rise while it seems Ward peaked in 2011.
Roc Nation needs to show they know how to build up Ward's name because right now he is relevant only to the hardcore that are going to seek him out on BET to watch him fight.
Ward and Roc need GGG more than he needs them. If they want to build Ward up he needs to come to GGG's terms right now. There is no other fight for Ward that means as much while GGG can work to unify 160 and make just as much money doing it.

[Joe Beamish]

I said as a black fighter you have to either be controversial OR a killer in order to become a major draw in this sport nowadays. Is that statement not true?

There have been and are many fighters of other nationalities that are neither yet have had tremendous support and have become stars in this sport.

Floyd won and went from 4mil to 400k in his very next fight. Why? There was no interest in watching him fight and there was little chance to see him lose.

It's not a black thing. It's an american thing.

Americans have zillions of other sports to watch. (And, as it happens, these sports are nearly all dominated by black athletes.)

So, when you say you have to be a killer or controversial to get attention as a boxer nowadays, this is because boxing just doesn't resonate in the US the way it used to. Doesn't matter what color you are.

[hitking]

I agree, Ward needs to show why he is relevant in 2015. GGG is on the rise while it seems Ward peaked in 2011.
Roc Nation needs to show they know how to build up Ward's name because right now he is relevant only to the hardcore that are going to seek him out on BET to watch him fight.
Ward and Roc need GGG more than he needs them. If they want to build Ward up he needs to come to GGG's terms right now. There is no other fight for Ward that means as much while GGG can work to unify 160 and make just as much money doing it.

If Ward is so irrelevant. Why is Ward-GGG by far the most talked about subject on this, and every other boxing forum?

[Deevel916]

It's not a black thing. It's an american thing.

Americans have zillions of other sports to watch. (And, as it happens, these sports are nearly all dominated by black athletes.)

So, when you say you have to be a killer or controversial to get attention as a boxer nowadays, this is because boxing just doesn't resonate in the US the way it used to. Doesn't matter what color you are.

You have a point there. Problem is, most top American boxers are usually black.

Gatti is an example of what I'm stating. He was actually a nice guy with a humble persona. He wasnt a great fighter nor was he a killer. His fans loved him and he was a hit on HBO because of his style of leaving it all on the line win or lose. Which black American fighter today do you think can pull that off? Maybe Terrance Crawford? and even that is a stretch. He's a great talent but I dont see the mainstream fans flocking to him.

[El-blanco]

Ward is irrelevant because he doesn't want to fight anymore.

[Larry the boss]

Clearly Team Golovkin knows who Ward is based on how badly they want to forget him. If you have to explain why someone is irrelevant, clearly they are not irrelevant.

exactly............

[HeroBando]

If Ward is so irrelevant. Why is Ward-GGG by far the most talked about subject on this, and every other boxing forum?

Cause Ggg is turning into a big time star, so naturally has rabid haters who don't believe anyone has a chance to beat him other than 172lb p4p #2

[Deevel916]

If Ward is so irrelevant. Why is Ward-GGG by far the most talked about subject on this, and every other boxing forum?

Because its a boxing forum and mainly die-hards frequent boxing forums. The casual fan isnt even talking about this fight.

Another reason is because they're both at the top of their respected weight classes and are a weight class apart despite Ward fighting his last fight at 172. It's a possible matchup at 168.

[hitking]

You have a point there. Problem is, most top American boxers are usually black.

Gatti is an example of what I'm stating. He was actually a nice guy with a humble persona. He wasnt a great fighter nor was he a killer. His fans loved him and he was a hit on HBO because of his style of leaving it all on the line win or lose. Which black American fighter today do you think can pull that off? Maybe Terrance Crawford? and even that is a stretch. He's a great talent but I dont see the mainstream fans flocking to him.

You have no clue WTF you're talking about. Boxing has been relegated to basically a cult sport nowadays. And its been that way now because of the lack of excitememt in the heavyweight division. And since Lewis-Tyson, boxing has basically been dead to the mainstream outside of DLH, Floyd, and Manny.

The blunt reality is nobody outside of hardcore fight fans give a **** about Andre Ward. And likewise, outside of hardcore fight fans, nobody gives a **** about Gennady Golovkin. That event has a ceiling of about 400K PPV buys today. This time next year, it will have a ceiling of about 400K PPV buys. And as long as both remain unbeaten, it will have a ceiling of 400K PPV buys. Ward's relevancy is just the latest excuse Team GGG has for avoiding an inevitable ass whip'n that will bring an embarrassing end to the hype train.