Comments Thread For: Andre Ward: Retirement Talk Was Real; Not Just About More Money

[Eff Pandas]

Once you start talking about retirement, you've already got one foot out of the ring.

Tend to agree with this type of thinking. Although idk if I buy that he legit had retirement on the table & this wasn't a ploy with contract talks/money/etc. stuff despite what he's saying.

I think Ward is attempting to act like a boxing star in his own mild way which includes getting fans & pundits attention for outside the ring stuff more often then he's previously done which includes saying statements like this retirement line that tends to get more eyes on it.

[The Akbar One]

Intereeting hearing retirement talk, and the I've done it all talk, when fighters move to a division more talent filled than the one they came from. It's an excuse to bow out without having to take more tough fights. The talent at 175 ****s on the 168 Ward reigned in.

[killakali]

i dont care about bums like ishe or vanes lmfao... Vanes just signed with don king so he will never fight again.....

dont u wish lara, who carlos molina schooled, would do away and sign with don king?

[JASON SHAW]

dont u wish lara, who carlos molina schooled, would do away and sign with don king?

im not a big lara fan so i dont care who he is signed with lol... All i know is he exposed canelo...

[peplz]

I tried to tell y'all yesterday before this even came out, and people criticized me, but Kovalev is clearly in Ward's head. Now Ward admits Kovalev got to him, and it was Kovalev's trash talk that had something to do with Ward deciding to come back. That tells you Ward knows deep down he didn't win the first fight, and Kovalev continually reminding him of that got to him because he knows it's true, even if he won't admit it to himself.

Turns out, Kovalev knows how to play mind games too. Can't wait until June 17!

Now him admitting that Kovalev got under his skin with all of the INSULTS and name calling equals him not believing that he won the fight. How do you rationalize that conclusion?

[Blue Heffner]

I tried to tell y'all yesterday before this even came out, and people criticized me, but Kovalev is clearly in Ward's head. Now Ward admits Kovalev got to him, and it was Kovalev's trash talk that had something to do with Ward deciding to come back. That tells you Ward knows deep down he didn't win the first fight, and Kovalev continually reminding him of that got to him because he knows it's true, even if he won't admit it to himself.

Turns out, Kovalev knows how to play mind games too. Can't wait until June 17!

Yep. I think during these four months Ward has convinced himself he won the fight. But deep down, he feels like he didn't. The only people I see consistently saying he won the first fight and it'll be easier the second time, are on this forum and youtube...lol. The first fight wasn't easy (he didn't win) and second won't be easier.

He also didn't expect Kovalev to play mind games with him. He talks wayyyy too much and tries to articulate things like he's deep.

[Ganondorf]

lara schooled canelo and that bum vanes hahahaha... Lay of the crack amigo..... Stick to chimichangas instead

I agree with this. Except Vanes is not a bum IMO. Canelo fight was close.

[killakali]

im not a big lara fan so i dont care who he is signed with lol... All i know is he exposed canelo...

he didn't expose anything. he just kept the fight close. if anything he got exposed by Nelo

[A.K]

It's ok the coWARD will have no choice but to turn to figure skating after he's slept.

[Boxing Logic]

Yep. I think during these four months Ward has convinced himself he won the fight. But deep down, he feels like he didn't. The only people I see consistently saying he won the first fight and it'll be easier the second time, are on this forum and youtube...lol. The first fight wasn't easy (he didn't win) and second won't be easier.

He also didn't expect Kovalev to play mind games with him. He talks wayyyy too much and tries to articulate things like he's deep.

You said it man. Ward is not used to any of this. Ward is not used to being in fights most people felt he lost against a guy who says he didn't even have energy for half the fight. Like wouldn't you be scared on some level if someone pushed you to your limit, and you have to fight them again, but you find out that wasn't even his best?

Ward must be thinking "what if he has energy for 10 rounds this time, not just 4 or 5, how will I survive let alone beat him then?" Because when Kovalev had energy, Ward got shut out period. Shut out. So what if Kovalev has good energy all fight this time? Ward won't be able to do much if that happens.

I'm not saying I'm super confident, because let's face it Kovalev has not had good energy for two fights straight now, but I'm not the one who has to try to fight him on a hope and a prayer like that. Ward is not going to be scared of the best case scenario, obviously. It's the worst case possibility that always causes fear. And while it may not be a guarantee Kovalev can come in with better shape, you have to like the odds he will. A pound for pound level fighter, not super young but still under 35... a boxer at that level is likely to have more than 4 rounds of energy most nights he fights.

So it's understandable Ward is scared. Plus, he knows Kovalev is on a mission, and pissed off. And he knows what happened to Boone and Pascal when Kovalev was pissed off.