Andre Ward not even thinking about WBC champ Adonis Stevenson

ANDRE WARD knows he and Sergey Kovalev are fighting for supremacy in the light-heavyweight division, with the WBO, WBA and IBF titles on the line in their rematch on Saturday (June 17). Despite holding the WBC title Adonis Stevenson does not factor into the equation. After a series of soft defences over recent years he is far out in the cold.

โ€œRight now thatโ€™s not something thatโ€™s really on my radar. Stevenson, I think heโ€™s a good fighter, I think heโ€™s got a lot of buzz in Canada but I think some of the moves heโ€™s made over the last couple of years, he has a belt, heโ€™s earned the belt and heโ€™s defended it and youโ€™ve got to respect that but I just think he had the opportunity to get in the mix and I just think he didnโ€™t take that opportunity for whatever reason. Honestly heโ€™s not really a guy that I think about,โ€ Andre Ward said. โ€œI think heโ€™s coming to the party late. Heโ€™s had several years โ€ฆ and for whatever reason, Iโ€™m not involved in every part of their business, but it didnโ€™t work out and I think you have to beat the best to be best and Sergey was the best in his division and I beat him and now Iโ€™m the best in this division.โ€

โ€œAs far as Stevenson I really donโ€™t have even an opinion about him,โ€ he added. โ€œI respect him, heโ€™s a champion but thatโ€™s as far as I go.โ€

He also warned Stevenson not to bother him after the fight. โ€œHe can come but just respect my space, man. Donโ€™t get in the ring, I donโ€™t do that stuff. He can come, I donโ€™t stop him coming, he should come,โ€ he said.

Rather than dwelling on the tantalising possibility of unifying all four belts in the division, it is all about this fight. โ€œIโ€™m on a mission to get in the ring, defend my belts and glorify God and go home and kiss my wife and kids. Thatโ€™s the mission,โ€ Ward said.

While Ward wouldnโ€™t rule out trying to win a title in a third weight class, his days at super-middleweight are behind him. As he prepares to make 175lbs today, he said, โ€œItโ€™s not a struggle but itโ€™s not easy. In the middle of that, thatโ€™s where Iโ€™m at now. Iโ€™ve got to be aware of what Iโ€™m eating. If I just let myself go I can get up into the mid 90s easy. If Iโ€™m diligent which I am in training camps I shouldnโ€™t have any problems. No sauna, no sweatsuits nothing like that. But last couple of weeks youโ€™ve got to be mindful and you should be aware of what youโ€™re putting in your body and how much.

โ€œIโ€™ll never go back down. Once you go up, you canโ€™t come down. Unless you can go up out of your weight class to take an opportunity but if you build yourself up and go to another weight class I think thatโ€™s a cardinal sin, you canโ€™t come back down. MMA guys do it and they seem to have success and I donโ€™t know how but for boxers itโ€™s never worked out ever, itโ€™s not a good thing.โ€

andre ward

โ€œI know what Iโ€™ve accomplished, Iโ€™m secure in that. I feel like I have a good grip on what I try to bring to the sport,โ€ he said. While Ward doesnโ€™t have much left to prove, fighting in Europe is one of his goals. He thinks about it โ€œall the timeโ€.

He added, โ€œIโ€™ve been wanting to do that for years. Thatโ€™s a whole other beast out there. I love it, I respect it, Iโ€™ve been out there several times I would love to partake in something like that. Iโ€™ve got close a couple of times, it just didnโ€™t happen, [Carl] Froch and guys like that, talking the O2, Wembley, it just didnโ€™t work out. Iโ€™d love to, definitely. Anythingโ€™s possible.โ€

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