Andre Ward Facing the Heavyweight Decision of a Kovalev Rematch!
By: Coach K – January 11, 2017
After helping boxing fill the void for boxing’s TMZ, Floyd Mayweather fans taking on Russian “Krusher” Sergey Kovalev Andre “SOG” Ward following his controversial decision win has a tough world championship career call to make.
After contentious contract negotiations, including “warm up bouts for both fighters Ward entering the Kovalev fight still healing the business wounds of a contract dispute with Goosen Promotions “SOG” signing with Roc Nation and going down for the first time in his career is faced with another one of those long time boxing business and legacy hurdles, a rematch clause.
It is that rematch clause giving Ward, 31-0, 15Ko’s the chance to squash the buzz of a controversial decision the opportunity to clearly frame and define his legacy.
Like so many of the sports greats before him, the 2004 US Olympic Light Heavyweight Gold Medalist is now faced with a personal and revealing choice, one that has defined many of those before him. One that has led to such historical rematches like “Sugar” Ray Robinson vs. Carmen Basilio II, Rocky Graziano vs. Tony Zale II, “Sugar” Ray Leonard vs. Thomas “Hitman” Hearns II, Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez II and Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe II. Not ending there, the rematch choice has gone onto draw out some unforgettable, trilogies including Floyd Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson III, Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera III, Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti III and of course the near fight to the death “Thriller in Manilla” Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III.
While no family man could disparage the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion for taking the biggest pay day, it is it’s more than just a man’s word or signature on the line for the financially sound Ward. He has a heavyweight choice to make. A choice no just for him, but one that could help steer the sport itself away from the last two decades of no risk, high reward, safe, ducking and dodging path of least resistance.
With todays newly found creation of college safe zones, I can only hope the aspiration for the proverbial undefeated “zero” doesn’t bring us a Mayweather styled timely first retirement or a step aside or in this case a go away check that would deny the sport and it’s loving fans the long-endeared right to witness true personal challenge, world championship drive and pursuit for greatness of fighting the best they demand and deserve to see. Anything short would be a sign it’s time hang them up and follow “Vicious” Victor Ortiz to the movies.