Comments Thread For: Andre Ward: They Pressure Me To Move Up, Not Others

[aboutfkntime]

I'm not starting a crusade dumb ass, what the f1ck are you on? Are you really that much of a Ward fanboy to believe that? I said he avoided fighting DeGale based on the fact that Ward pulled out of negotiations on a potential fight with DeGale twice. I heard rumors about a Ward/DeGale fight in 2013 and Diggler just proves my point.

Apologies for what I said earlier, and you were right about Groves.

I just think calling Degale anything even close to a duck is reaching badly for the reasons stated in the post above. That would not have been viewed as a top fight at that point in time, Degale would have been seen as a good voluntary defence/stay-busy type of opponent.

Ward would have been giving a guy a shot when that guy had not climbed the ladder and earned it (like Rodriguez).... which is fine btw, there is always a place for those fights/opponents..... but it simply cannot be viewed as a duck or even avoidance..... Degale would have been privileged to land that fight at that point in time.

Also, I got no problem admitting that Ward can be a bit of a diva..... he values his worth, stubbornly so I would say. There could be a number of reasons why Degale did not get the nod.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

You have conveniently switched timelines again

I was asking you, why doesn't Degale rematch Groves NOW ?

Nobody ever disputed the fact that Groves flatly refused an immediate rematch..... Degale demanded one, and Froch continually reminded us that Groves had refused to rematch Degale leading up to Froch/Groves I.

Nobody ever questioned that, I asked why Degale wasn't chasing that rematch NOW, because Groves should jump at the chance for a (undeserved) title shot following his losses to Froch/Jack.

Diggler pointed out that Groves recently refused to give Degale a rematch so you're right in that Degale no longer has Groves problems.

But Diggler was referring to back in 2013, well what had Degale done then ?

Degale arrived on the world stage a few months ago, up until then he had done nothing notable except a debatable loss to Groves.

Where was Degale ranked back in 2013, was he even in the top 10 ?

Back then we had Kessler, Froch, Abraham, Green, the Dirrell Brothers, Ward, Bika, and others..... was Degale even in the top 10?

He may have been close, cant remember for sure..... but he really had done nothing up to that point, as I said earlier he only arrived on the world stage a few months ago when he beat Dirrell.

Degale was viewed back then in much the same light as Rodriguez.

That would not have been seen as a top fight, Degale would have been viewed as a voluntary stay-busy opponent, albiet a very good one.

But I got no problem with that fight now, Degale has earned it.

Surprised that Groves refused to rematch him..... that win over Dirrell really was first class, maybe he shook.

Groves turned down an offer over ?million to fight DeGale earlier this year.

He simply doesn't want the rematch.

You never answered the question - are all of Ward's opponents unbeaten?

[aboutfkntime]

Groves turned down an offer over ?million to fight DeGale earlier this year.

He simply doesn't want the rematch.

You never answered the question - are all of Ward's opponents unbeaten?

Of course not..... but you are missing the point.

When it comes to opponent selection, being unbeaten means nothing..... but when it comes to accusations of ducking, it is not about being unbeaten, it is about being worthy.

At that point Degale had done nothing notable except a debatable loss to Groves.

I have no problem with that fight, either back then, or now..... but Ward did not duck Degale, he selected someone else.

[Boxingwizard]

You have conveniently switched timelines again

I was asking you, why doesn't Degale rematch Groves NOW ?

I apologize I thought you were in the dark about the whole Groves situation.

Of course not..... but you are missing the point.

When it comes to opponent selection, being unbeaten means nothing..... but when it comes to accusations of ducking, it is not about being unbeaten, it is about being worthy.

At that point Degale had done nothing notable except a debatable loss to Groves.

I have no problem with that fight, either back then, or now..... but Ward did not duck Degale, he selected someone else.

You make a good point about DeGale not deserving a fight in 2013, but my first post was about the second time that he pulled out a potential fight with DeGale in 2014. By 2014-2015 the SMW landscape has changed.

There is a topic on boxing forum24 that questions if Ward moved up to LHW to "avoid" a fight with DeGale which is what I meant in my first, I just worded it carefully that he "avoided" DeGale not duck out of fear. I'm not saying he's a ducker, but if Ward opted to stay in SMW he would have to fight DeGale and the Dirrell brothers, he simply can't avoid them like he did in the past. Regardless there is no point in arguing about it, it's simply a what if argument, he's happy at LHW...it seems, there is nothing to criticize about that. What is to criticize is the opponents Ward has chosen and why he couldn't secure a fight against a decent LHW before November 21st, as well his lack of explanation to the public about why he turned down the opponents that HBO offered. There is some good opponents for Ward to fight now since a lot of the top lhw contenders are freed up to fight on January or February, such as Felix Valera or Sean Monaghan. I'm not in Ward's camp and I have no idea who he's going to fight next, but my guess would be Felix Valera.

[ironmt]

This Is what boxing has become, fighters whining about being pressured to move up In weight to give fans great fights.