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.
โRight now thatโs not something thatโs really on my radar. Stevenson, I think heโs a good fighter, I think heโs got a lot of buzz in Canada but I think some of the moves heโs made over the last couple of years, he has a belt, heโs earned the belt and heโs defended it and youโve got to respect that but I just think he had the opportunity to get in the mix and I just think he didnโt take that opportunity for whatever reason. Honestly heโs not really a guy that I think about,โ Andre Ward said. โI think heโs coming to the party late. Heโs had several years โฆ and for whatever reason, Iโm not involved in every part of their business, but it didnโt 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 Iโm the best in this division.โ
โAs far as Stevenson I really donโt have even an opinion about him,โ he added. โI respect him, heโs a champion but thatโs as far as I go.โ
He also warned Stevenson not to bother him after the fight. โHe can come but just respect my space, man. Donโt get in the ring, I donโt do that stuff. He can come, I donโt 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. โIโm on a mission to get in the ring, defend my belts and glorify God and go home and kiss my wife and kids. Thatโs the mission,โ Ward said.
While Ward wouldnโt 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, โItโs not a struggle but itโs not easy. In the middle of that, thatโs where Iโm at now. Iโve got to be aware of what Iโm eating. If I just let myself go I can get up into the mid 90s easy. If Iโm diligent which I am in training camps I shouldnโt have any problems. No sauna, no sweatsuits nothing like that. But last couple of weeks youโve got to be mindful and you should be aware of what youโre putting in your body and how much.
โIโll never go back down. Once you go up, you canโt 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 thatโs a cardinal sin, you canโt come back down. MMA guys do it and they seem to have success and I donโt know how but for boxers itโs never worked out ever, itโs not a good thing.โ
โI know what Iโve accomplished, Iโm 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 doesnโt have much left to prove, fighting in Europe is one of his goals. He thinks about it โall the timeโ.
He added, โIโve been wanting to do that for years. Thatโs a whole other beast out there. I love it, I respect it, Iโve been out there several times I would love to partake in something like that. Iโve got close a couple of times, it just didnโt happen, [Carl] Froch and guys like that, talking the O2, Wembley, it just didnโt work out. Iโd love to, definitely. Anythingโs possible.โ