Comments Thread For: Artur Beterbiev is About To Become Mandatory To Andre Ward

[j0zef]

Lol@ their wishful thinking. If the rematch between Ward & Kovalev happens, and Ward wins, there's no way in hell he takes the Beterbiev fight in September. You don't fight 2 big punchers in a row with only a 3 month break. Not today at least.

[_original_]

Great matchup.

[UNBIASED BOXING]

This is why I doubt take fans seriously. Ward cleared out his division and beat all the best guys. Then he moved up and took the titles from the undefeated KO artist champion. But, for some odd reason people think he would duck Artur, LITERALLY NOTHING he's done in his career would suggest so, but as we all know hate is irrational.

Really? Nothing besides him saying he might retire instead of rematch Kovalev (but you'll twist this around and bring it up as bargaining), or the fact he has been a financial diva in general, and that Beterbiev won't bring him the same money he saw with Lovalev?

[PunchyPotorff]

More disrespect for Kovalev IMO. Beterbiev's name shouldn't even be mentioned vs Ward til Kovalev either gets his rematch, or Ward retires like the chicken he is, or Kovalev/Beterbiev is made for the belts... NOT an eliminator.

[Superbee]

In fact, (according to the contract) Ward can't fight anybody "next" but Kovalev... If Ward tries that, Main Events will drag him in the court and take his purse away... The best scenario would be that Ward pays "step aside" money to Kovalev -- which I can't see happening, because Ward is avaricious...

Doesn't apply to Kovalev unless I'm mistaken... Yet he prefers to cry instead of showing some balls and take what could be another great challenge in Beterbiev...Prolly his toughest to date and it would give him another card to play while keeping busy... One has to doubt about his real motivations...

Best thing for the sport would be for Ward to vacate the IBF title and make Kovalev begging for Beterbiev...

[Sergio 1]

I am confident that the title will be declared vacant. Even if Ward will be the champion for September, he will not want to box with Beterbiev.

[JASON SHAW]

ward is only 1 year older than "young lion" beterbiev

yeah but in boxing years ward is a old man!

[AliBombaye]

Beterbiev is the only guy who is able to punch ward in the clinches hard enough to make him think twice about clinching, that doesn't mean he'll win but Ward will come out with a hell of a headache for sure.

[AliBombaye]

This is why I doubt take fans seriously. Ward cleared out his division and beat all the best guys. Then he moved up and took the titles from the undefeated KO artist champion. But, for some odd reason people think he would duck Artur, LITERALLY NOTHING he's done in his career would suggest so, but as we all know hate is irrational.

There is a huge difference between winning cleanly and winning via illegal tactics your whole career because the refs don't enforce boxing rules for some guys i.e. in this case Ward. Also most people had Kovalev beating Ward so there's that too, the reaction Ward gave when hearing he won is definitive proof that even he thought he lost the fight.

[Fuerte Apache]

Ward to retire in 3..2..1....