Ward jumping ship?

[MulaKO]

Could Andre Ward leave RocNation Sports for Top Rank?


by Michael Woods
The ever lively rumor mill churned out the scenario which saw Andre Ward leaving RocNation Sports, with whom he’s been aligned since exiting his deal with the late Dan Goossen, to Top Rank, the promotional umbrella helmed by Bob Arum. That rumor went from a simmer to near boil when we saw Ward working the ESPN mic on the most recent Top Rank show on “The Worldwide Leader.”

So I asked Arum, on the latest edition of the Everlast podcast “TALKBOX,” if indeed Ward were hopping aboard the Top Rank train.

“Andre Ward is promoted by our friends at RocNation. We don’t interfere with anybody’s contract and neither would Andre,” Arum said. “He’s a very, very lovely guy, very intelligent guy, and RocNation’s been very good to Andre and Andre is not looking to break away from RocNation.”

Ward has noted that he is a TV free agent and is no longer contracted to HBO. “So it would depend on RocNation, on which platform Andre would want to fight on.”

Hold tight: You notice the wording there? There is the possibility that Arum has hinted at the furtherance of a direction and trend here. Top Rank won the purse bid for light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev’s next fight, against Enrico Koelling, and will feature the Al Haymon-advised boxer on an October 31 card put together by Top Rank, portions of which will run on ESPN. Is it too lengthy a leap in logic to see Ward fighting on a Top Rank card, as Beterbiev (11-0, 11 knockouts) will be?

And regarding RocNation and its place within the box-o-sphere, does Arum get the sense that the Jay Z arm will continue in the space? Four-division titleholder Miguel Cotto is now with Golden Boy Promotions and I didn’t hear back from RocNation when I inquired about the length of their deal with the Oakland pound-for-pound ace.

“Yes, I do. I met with their officials in our office,” Arum continued. “And my feeling was – and they said – they would continue in boxing. Now they may work to some extent in coordination with us, which I would welcome, but they will definitely remain in boxing.”

[Pigeons]

RNS is a sham promoter?

Boxing is a tragic comedy.

[Scipio2009]

Ward's not going anywhere

Could Andre Ward leave RocNation Sports for Top Rank?


by Michael Woods
The ever lively rumor mill churned out the scenario which saw Andre Ward leaving RocNation Sports, with whom he’s been aligned since exiting his deal with the late Dan Goossen, to Top Rank, the promotional umbrella helmed by Bob Arum. That rumor went from a simmer to near boil when we saw Ward working the ESPN mic on the most recent Top Rank show on “The Worldwide Leader.”

So I asked Arum, on the latest edition of the Everlast podcast “TALKBOX,” if indeed Ward were hopping aboard the Top Rank train.

“Andre Ward is promoted by our friends at RocNation. We don’t interfere with anybody’s contract and neither would Andre,” Arum said. “He’s a very, very lovely guy, very intelligent guy, and RocNation’s been very good to Andre and Andre is not looking to break away from RocNation.”

Ward has noted that he is a TV free agent and is no longer contracted to HBO. “So it would depend on RocNation, on which platform Andre would want to fight on.”

Hold tight: You notice the wording there? There is the possibility that Arum has hinted at the furtherance of a direction and trend here. Top Rank won the purse bid for light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev’s next fight, against Enrico Koelling, and will feature the Al Haymon-advised boxer on an October 31 card put together by Top Rank, portions of which will run on ESPN. Is it too lengthy a leap in logic to see Ward fighting on a Top Rank card, as Beterbiev (11-0, 11 knockouts) will be?

And regarding RocNation and its place within the box-o-sphere, does Arum get the sense that the Jay Z arm will continue in the space? Four-division titleholder Miguel Cotto is now with Golden Boy Promotions and I didn’t hear back from RocNation when I inquired about the length of their deal with the Oakland pound-for-pound ace.

“Yes, I do. I met with their officials in our office,” Arum continued. “And my feeling was – and they said – they would continue in boxing. Now they may work to some extent in coordination with us, which I would welcome, but they will definitely remain in boxing.”

As long as RocNation is still in business, Ward's going to stick with them. We need to see the payouts on the coming Loma-Rigo fight, but I doubt that Top Rank had the financial wherewithal on ESPN to even afford Andre Ward fighting for them.

ESPN will bring Andre Ward around to talk up fights that ESPN gets hyped to cover (with Floyd retired, Andre Ward is basically the most well-known American star at this point), Andre Ward will fight out the rest of his career on PPV/premium TV (possibly could get Showtime/CBS to put him on primetime CBS for a fight), and Ward will likely end up transitioning when he retires to ESPN (Joe/Teddy/Andre, as a three-man team, worked pretty well for the Crawford fight).

[turnedup]

As long as RocNation is still in business, Ward's going to stick with them. We need to see the payouts on the coming Loma-Rigo fight, but I doubt that Top Rank had the financial wherewithal on ESPN to even afford Andre Ward fighting for them.

ESPN will bring Andre Ward around to talk up fights that ESPN gets hyped to cover (with Floyd retired, Andre Ward is basically the most well-known American star at this point), Andre Ward will fight out the rest of his career on PPV/premium TV (possibly could get Showtime/CBS to put him on primetime CBS for a fight), and Ward will likely end up transitioning when he retires to ESPN (Joe/Teddy/Andre, as a three-man team, worked pretty well for the Crawford fight).

Arum brought ESPN Pacquaio...of course he can get Ward the right money to fight on that network if it came to it. The TV gig is more plausible though since I don't see Andre fighting too much longer. He's already got his fingers in two pies outside of the ring with the announcer gig and the Stevenson co-management.

[Scipio2009]

Arum brought ESPN Pacquaio...of course he can get Ward the right money to fight on that network if it came to it. The TV gig is more plausible though since I don't see Andre fighting too much longer. He's already got his fingers in two pies outside of the ring with the announcer gig and the Stevenson co-management.

The only way that ESPN was able to get Pacquiao was because the Brisbane government was more than happy to cover the costs of staging the fight on a Sunday afternoon; you're a fool if you think the ESPN money covered a tenth of what Pacquiao got on the fight.

Crawford and Indongo were only able to split $2m between them because of the money that Sky Sports brought with them.

Andre Ward is basically a $2m minimum fighter at this point of his career, at least. Arum's mo is his money.

[Lester Tutor]

The only way that ESPN was able to get Pacquiao was because the Brisbane government was more than happy to cover the costs of staging the fight on a Sunday afternoon; you're a fool if you think the ESPN money covered a tenth of what Pacquiao got on the fight.

Crawford and Indongo were only able to split $2m between them because of the money that Sky Sports brought with them.

Andre Ward is basically a $2m minimum fighter at this point of his career, at least. Arum's mo is his money.

I'd say 3mil minimum. With particular others making types of money Ward's "ego" for purse is justified. It's not his problem if another network can't match a pay grade. And Roc Nation Sports seems to be sound.

[Eff Pandas]

Yea RN gots the money, Arum got the TV deal. That might be where things align for those sides for awhile cuz RN isn't gonna get a TV deal they'll just work out with whatever HBO allows them to have if anything in the future I imagine lol & Arum isn't likely to be willing to pay Ward RN money so Ward riding RN til their wheels fall off might be the plan.

And yea show me Ward vs Beterbiev on ESPN. I don't hate that fight at all. Ward looking good with his last half + whole 2nd fight with Kovalev & Beterbiev is rusty as f#ck now + has been stagnant with his career for too long, but I still like Beterbiev's chances to KO anyone at 175 if he can touch them. Touching Ward surely won't be easy doe.

[Scipio2009]

Yea RN gots the money, Arum got the TV deal. That might be where things align for those sides for awhile cuz RN isn't gonna get a TV deal they'll just work out with whatever HBO allows them to have if anything in the future I imagine lol & Arum isn't likely to be willing to pay Ward RN money so Ward riding RN til their wheels fall off might be the plan.

And yea show me Ward vs Beterbiev on ESPN. I don't hate that fight at all. Ward looking good with his last half + whole 2nd fight with Kovalev & Beterbiev is rusty as f#ck now + has been stagnant with his career for too long, but I still like Beterbiev's chances to KO anyone at 175 if he can touch them. Touching Ward surely won't be easy doe.

Why would Andre Ward/RocNation not go to Showtime?

Ward-Stevenson, Ward-Jack, Ward-Beterbiev, Ward-Bellew (as long as Tony wins his next fight), and then Ward floats at cruiserweight until the heavyweight shot opens up or Ward is done boxing.

Options for 6 fights, exercised over the next 3 years, for $15m guaranteed would seem a reasonable place to start for Ward/RocNation and Showtime.

[daggum]

anyone who touches ward loses money. top rank is usually pretty smart so the only way they would take him is if someone else pays his crazy salary. we should all hope he prices himself out forever and never fights again. do we really need anymore hollow victories based on robberies or fouls just to please a very small fanbase? i think not. hes no one to protect since you cant earn any money off of him. very puzzzling why they are setting up these fights for him.

[MulaKO]

Bertebiev would toy with Ward
He's got enough amateur fights to know how to get to him
Plus big B beat your man Kovi twice even three times if you wanna count the one they robbed him of