What is HBO going to do about getting Ward another opponent?

[Motorcity Cobra]

I don't even know why ward needs another tuneup which would be his THIRD in a row. But if he does need another fight then should fight shabransky or gonzales. HBO paid ward almost 2m to fight barerra. If shabransky is asking for more then ward or roc nation should cover the extra money on their end. Can't see HBO willing to pay ward 2m and then pay 500-800k for an opponent in a non ppv fight. Either ward has to take less or you have to find a opponent to take less which means the quality of the fighter will drop down significantly.

HBO didn't pay Ward $2 mil. That's his minimum with Roc Nation. He took a cut in pay to pay Barrera more money.

[Clegg]

It sucks that HBO have such a reduced budget. Seems we missed out on good fights because of it. I don't think Ward is super-rusty, he was better against Barrera than Smith, but one more tune-up would be better for him than sitting until November. Maybe he could fight on the Cotto card if he ends up confirming something for this summer.

[Motorcity Cobra]

Kim said Alexander Brand (Ward's opponent from the Canelo/Cotto card), is being considered. It's a garbage fight, but Ward's been so inactive who cares. As mentioned, this probably won't help sell anymore ppv's for Ward/Kovalev (nor will Kovalev/Chilemba for that matter). That fight will probably bomb at both the gate and ppv, which is ****ed up given its magnitude.

HBO has chosen to broadcast Kovalev/Chilemba on a Monday night. They wouldn't do that if they didn't think it would help PPV sales.

[kafkod]

HBO didn't pay Ward $2 mil. That's his minimum with Roc Nation. He took a cut in pay to pay Barrera more money.

He should have taken a pay cut to fight Shabranskyy or Cleverly too. Neither of them owe Ward a living and nor do HBO. Ward should be paid what his fights are worth, the same as any other fighter.

If he's serious about preparing himself for Kovalev, then he and his promoter should bear the cost of that preparation, not HBO. That's the way it works for everybody else in the business, why should Ward be any different?

It's not like Ward/Kovalev, if it happened this year, would be a PPV blockbuster and earn HBO a fortune. Outside of hardcore boxing fans, nobody knows or cares about Ward and Kovalev. That's sad, but it's true.

I think what we are seeing now is Ward preparing his escape route from annihilation by Krusher. "They won't pay me what I'm worth. Why should I fight for peanuts?"

Shabranskyy or Cleverly against Ward would both be 50/50 fights, btw.

[Motorcity Cobra]

He should have taken a pay cut to fight Shabranskyy or Cleverly too. Neither of them owe Ward a living and nor do HBO. Ward should be paid what his fights are worth, the same as any other fighter.

If he's serious about preparing himself for Kovalev, then he and his promoter should bear the cost of that preparation, not HBO. That's the way it works for everybody else in the business, why should Ward be any different?

It's not like Ward/Kovalev, if it happened this year, would be a PPV blockbuster and earn HBO a fortune. Outside of hardcore boxing fans, nobody knows or cares about Ward and Kovalev. That's sad, but it's true.

I think what we are seeing now is Ward preparing his escape route from annihilation by Krusher. "They won't pay me what I'm worth. Why should I fight for peanuts?"

Shabranskyy or Cleverly against Ward would both be 50/50 fights, btw.

I can understand Cleverly because he has a more lucrative deal. But what is Sharbanskky doing? HBO doesn't have any dates for him. He's not going to get paid more than what Ward is offering. Did you see the Golden Boy purses for tonights fight? The headliner is making only $300,000. Sharbanskky will be fighting on a Golden Boy undercard making $50,000. If he wants to be great he should take the money Ward offered and beat him. Otherwise he's being a diva that has nothing else going on and wanting more money than what he's worth.

[Cutthroat]

Most feared boxer in the sport right now, ducked even in the strongest division in boxing.

[eco1]

Ward need 3,457,337 more tune ups.

[Eastcoast]

HBO has chosen to broadcast Kovalev/Chilemba on a Monday night. They wouldn't do that if they didn't think it would help PPV sales.

No doubt HBO will do what they can to push this ppv to be a success, it's just neither guy is exactly on fire with the fans due to the lack of opposition. Really a missed opportunity not have done a double header with them. Also to get the most juice out of this fight, they probably should do it in Oakland.

I think a Ward/Dawson rematch at 175 would do better numbers than Ward/Brand. I would honestly rather see Ward bring up a top 10 SMW like Andre Dirrell to 175 than fight a guy completely unequipped to challenge him. If Bute hadn't just failed his drug test, that fight would still even do decent comparatively.

[MDPopescu]

No doubt HBO will do what they can to push this ppv to be a success, it's just neither guy is exactly on fire with the fans due to the lack of opposition. Really a missed opportunity not have done a double header with them. Also to get the most juice out of this fight, they probably should do it in Oakland.

I think a Ward/Dawson rematch at 175 would do better numbers than Ward/Brand. I would honestly rather see Ward bring up a top 10 SMW like Andre Dirrell to 175 than fight a guy completely unequipped to challenge him. If Bute hadn't just failed his drug test, that fight would still even do decent comparatively.

... Sad Chad is a wreck... Bute is a wreck... Anybody else?

[285Kid]

September 10

HBO
Andre Ward vs Alexander Brand
Sadam Ali vs Anton Novikov

Showtime
Jose Pedraza vs Yuriorkis Gamboa
Peter Quillin vs Anthony Dirrell

^^ There now give be a check for booking