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Sanchez said the truth there. At the time Ward had just fought 172. Dan Rafael reported he couldn't make 168 anymore (in light of Ward saying a year later he's having issues staying at 175, kinda lends credence to Dan's report).
And GGG didn't ask for a CW to Ward. What they were asked by Dan, and others, is what would it take to make the fight now, when GGG was staying at 160. He said meet in middle. He wasn't gonna move to 168 yet, with good reason.
At the time when Ward offered GGG to fight him in 18 months, GGG had just gotten lined up to fully unify. A goal he's been talking about since coming to the states.
At the time these were the facts:
1. He owned the WBA strap.
2. He signed to fight for the IBF. He won that strap.
3. GGG was mandatory for the winner of Cotto/Canelo. He'd get that strap.
4. And Lee was favored to beat Suanders and fight GGG in a big fight New York unfication fight. Lee had signed before so we know he would have. But after that, Suanders won and messed up the last part.
So they turned Ward down for many reasons.
1. Ward wanted 50/50 18 months in advance.
2. Ward wanted 168.
3. GGG had finally lined up unification fights.
4. 2015-2016 would be the year GGG stock took off making it absurd to give Ward 50/50 so far in advance.
They told Ward then and stick to it now. They'll fight him at 168 when completing his goals at 160.
And GGG didn't ask for a CW to Ward. What they were asked by Dan, and others, is what would it take to make the fight now, when GGG was staying at 160. He said meet in middle. He wasn't gonna move to 168 yet, with good reason.
At the time when Ward offered GGG to fight him in 18 months, GGG had just gotten lined up to fully unify. A goal he's been talking about since coming to the states.
At the time these were the facts:
1. He owned the WBA strap.
2. He signed to fight for the IBF. He won that strap.
3. GGG was mandatory for the winner of Cotto/Canelo. He'd get that strap.
4. And Lee was favored to beat Suanders and fight GGG in a big fight New York unfication fight. Lee had signed before so we know he would have. But after that, Suanders won and messed up the last part.
So they turned Ward down for many reasons.
1. Ward wanted 50/50 18 months in advance.
2. Ward wanted 168.
3. GGG had finally lined up unification fights.
4. 2015-2016 would be the year GGG stock took off making it absurd to give Ward 50/50 so far in advance.
They told Ward then and stick to it now. They'll fight him at 168 when completing his goals at 160.
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