Andre Ward speaking to the press (Photo: Fight Hub)
By Chris Robinon
To anyone who follows the sport of boxing somewhat closely, you can surely spot the tension coming from both sides regarding a possible fight between WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and WBA super middleweight king Andre Ward.
There has been curiosity surrounding the potential matchup for a few years now but Ward insists that the Kazakhstan star and his team, specifically trainer Abel Sanchez and promoter Tom Loeffler, are feeding the public lies about their interest in a showdown.
“It’s not Triple G no more, it’s Little G,” Ward told BBC Sport recently. “Little G turned down and official fight with us. I don’t know; about a month ago. I just don’t talk about this stuff a lot. I’m enjoying my summer. The reality is, for all the talk, for all the websites that the trainer and promoter went off on, for all the radio, for all that they said, the proof is in the pudding.
“I have an email right now that shows that we gave him what he wanted,” Ward continued, explaining the situation. “We gave him 50-50, these are the terms, these are the conditions, and the promoter turned it down and said ‘Maybe in 2017.’ So for now on it’s ‘Little G’.”
While Golovkin has been less vocal in the press, Ward has seemed to take offense to the dialogue from Sanchez and Loeffler.
“I’m a very respectful fighter and try not to get out of character and start talking crazy,” Ward stated to Fight Hub. “If you really don’t want to fight a fighter or it’s not a good style, then say that. I have a problem with the trainer, who gets paid to say what he’s supposed to say, and the promoter gets paid to say those things. The truth is they never wanted the fight and I’ve been saying that for two years.”
Golovkin (33-0, 30 KO’s) is getting ready for an HBO pay per view showdown with IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux on Oct. 17 while Ward very well may be returning on the Nov. 21 Miguel Cotto vs. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez clash, also set for HBO pay per view.
Check below for more from Ward.
Chris Robinson can be reached at CRobinson@hustleboss.com