This. Ward wouldn’t make any money from names like Bivol, Gvozdyk or Beterbiev. Ward was fortunate that Kovalev had belts and was for a long time the P4P narrative. Ward knew that fighting even Bellew at Cruiser, though good money in the UK, does absolutely nothing to his resume and actually downgrades it after his Kova wins.
Ward would have too much pressure from industry to fight Wilder. For instance the crossroads that Usyk were to beat Joshua with the ring IQ that Parker didn’t have would most likely bring Ward to fight Usyk with Hearn doing a massive paycheck. Yes, Usyk could beat AJ. So then if Ward beats Usyk and doesn’t fight Wilder it does even more damage to Ward.
In the end, Ward knew that the final crossroads at Heavy would mean to fight Wilder, and the world knows, by then, Wilder is Champion and had more drawing power than Ward.
Ward would have too much pressure from industry to fight Wilder. For instance the crossroads that Usyk were to beat Joshua with the ring IQ that Parker didn’t have would most likely bring Ward to fight Usyk with Hearn doing a massive paycheck. Yes, Usyk could beat AJ. So then if Ward beats Usyk and doesn’t fight Wilder it does even more damage to Ward.
In the end, Ward knew that the final crossroads at Heavy would mean to fight Wilder, and the world knows, by then, Wilder is Champion and had more drawing power than Ward.
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