Andre Ward's path to PPV stardom ... ?

[Scipio2009]

Preface this discussion with the fact that Andre Ward's first fight on HBO did 1.3m viewers for Ward-Dawson and 1.2m viewers for Ward-Rodriguez (a bygone era for HBO, but there's still a base to work from). The path, though, seems to be pretty straightforward:

-3/26, against Sullivan Barrera, on HBO [Oracle Arena, Oakland]
-6/18, against TBA, on HBOPPV [support to Cotto's fight, Barclays Center, NYC]
-Nov 2016, vs. Sergey Kovalev, on HBOPPV [Mandalay Bay EC, Las Vegas]
-Mar 2017, vs Adonis Stevenson, on PPV [Bell Centre, Montreal or Oracle]
(with Ward's HBO done at that point, fight is free to go to whatever channel that puts up the money)

By that point, with four belts around his waist, and the hype behind delivering three PPV shows, Andre Ward (depending on how the shows do) is in position to call some major

[Fetta]

Lets hope not but i know Ward/Kov will be PPV

[Finito2K]

By that point, with four belts around his waist, and the hype behind delivering three PPV shows, Andre Ward (depending on how the shows do) is in position to call some major

PPV Stardom? That's a little far fetched when you can't even sell out in your own back yard, isn't it?

6/18: Cotto's generating the hype. Ward's just part of the package.

November: vs. Kovalev. Here's fight with 2 elite fighters who aren't proven commodities in the ppv market. Die hards will purchase this PPV. That's it.

Mar. 2017: If Ward beats Kovalev, a fight with Stevenson is a non-issue. Unless Stevenson is willing to jump ship to HBO.

[GMAN SUPREME]

that's a lot of IFs .you are assuming ward beats all those guys and with his activity level being pretty low who knows how many years it would take for him to even fight all those guys which would kill all momentum. I don't think ward will ever come close to being a ppv star his last fight did an embarrassingly low number 300k views on bet which is just regular cable and is in a lot more homes than hbo and showtime put together. ward went from 1.3 mil views on HBO to just 300k on bet.

[-Kev-]

It's difficult to sell PPV fights up there with no dance partners. None of those guys are A-sides really, like enough to carry a PPV. You're looking at B-sides all over the place. When two B-sides fight each other, you get disappointing numbers. Ward v Kovalev, Ward v Stevenson, Ward v DeGale are all good fights but not fights that the mass will pay $60 for. I still want to see them, I personally would pay to watch them, but not enough people would pay for them to call them a success.

[Irony123]

Ward needs his Duran (as they say), as good as he is he isn't a PPV fighter and he doesn't have a fan friendly personality or fighting style. He is a very good fighter just not exciting enough for the main stream... Floyd wasn't very exciting at the end tail of his career but he had some great fights and the persona. GGG has the exciting style and is being marketed very hard and he isn't even a PPV fighter yet. As good and as exciting as the Kovalev fight is the recognition level is just too low for the fighters to do big PPV numbers (Kovalev vs. Ward doesn't do more than 250k on ppv). If ward unified the LHW division in an exciting fashion, did some PR work and ****ed up his personality he would become a PPV attraction late next year. especially if it is a fight vs. the likes of GGG (if GGG takes out Canelo).

[MDPopescu]

Ward beats the kangaroo killa' Murdock on PPV.

[Scipio2009]

PPV Stardom? That's a little far fetched when you can't even sell out in your own back yard, isn't it?

6/18: Cotto's generating the hype. Ward's just part of the package.

November: vs. Kovalev. Here's fight with 2 elite fighters who aren't proven commodities in the ppv market. Die hards will purchase this PPV. That's it.

Mar. 2017: If Ward beats Kovalev, a fight with Stevenson is a non-issue. Unless Stevenson is willing to jump ship to HBO.

The Kovalev fight is the last bout on Ward's deal with HBO; with that out of the way, Roc Nation(representing Ward) and GYM(representing Stevenson) can come together, look for the broadcaster that delivers the best deal to the fighters, and follow the best possible deal (like any sensible promoter would do).

400k-600k(depending on the opponent and hype for the show) PPV homes will see Ward fight on Cotto's show, 200k-400k PPV homes will likely see Ward take on HBO's 175 boogeyman, and 300k-500k PPV homes will likely see Andre Ward unify the 175 weight class for the first time since Roy Jones Jr did it.

An active, American, Olympic gold medalist, who is now again active, and is earnestly a wholesome good guy has far bigger crossoever potential than you seem willing to give any credit for.

[Larry the boss]

PPV Stardom? That's a little far fetched when you can't even sell out in your own back yard, isn't it?

6/18: Cotto's generating the hype. Ward's just part of the package.

November: vs. Kovalev. Here's fight with 2 elite fighters who aren't proven commodities in the ppv market. Die hards will purchase this PPV. That's it.

Mar. 2017: If Ward beats Kovalev, a fight with Stevenson is a non-issue. Unless Stevenson is willing to jump ship to HBO.

that's a lot of IFs .you are assuming ward beats all those guys and with his activity level being pretty low who knows how many years it would take for him to even fight all those guys which would kill all momentum. I don't think ward will ever come close to being a ppv star his last fight did an embarrassingly low number 300k views on bet which is just regular cable and is in a lot more homes than hbo and showtime put together. ward went from 1.3 mil views on HBO to just 300k on bet.

GGG trolls...running to every Ward thread

[Dean_Razorback]

those PPV dreams will be KRUSHED! if you know what i mean