THERE is no denying Andre Wardโs accomplishments. He dominated super-middleweight and after stepping up to light-heavyweight he won Sergey Kovalevโs three world titles when he took a points win over the Russian in November last year.
Kovalev bitterly resents the decision and Ward has faced criticism since. The American has a point to prove in todayโs rematch. His cutman Jacob โStitchโ Duran has been alongside Ward throughout his career. He has seen a special fighter develop. โThereโs a certain bond when you work with guys and youโve known and youโve seen their career progress and youโve been with them for years. There has to be a bond,โ Stitch told Boxing News. โIโve been working with him ever since he was young.
โHe always said, when I turn pro, I want you to be my cutman. I started off in Oakland, thatโs where Andre and Virgil are from. I left and they never forgot. Itโs definitely a fighter-cutman relationship but it goes beyond.โ
Duran believes Ward should be respected. โItโs a shame. Thatโs something Iโve always said, this kid, he ought to be on a box of Wheaties. Heโs sponsored by Jordan, heโs doing commercials. He represents the game and himself to the tee. Heโs good at what he does and his whole focus is family. Family and religion. He has the money, he knows that. But his thing is to do things his way. Heโs not a loud speaking guy and thatโs what I like about Andre. Heโs cool and very calculated in what he says. Heโs the kind of guy I like working with. Itโs a pleasure. I wish he got a little more respect,โ Stitch said.
Ward is not a brash, outspoken character. โHeโs too good of a kid. Like Andre has said, Iโm not going to go out there and be that guy,โ Stitch said. โYouโve got to take me as I am. Not so much in those words but in that meaning. Iโm not going to go out there and start and argument thatโs just not who he is.โ
Yet that detached attitude has infuriated Kovalev, who comes into this rematch with genuine spite. Ward is convinced that he is the best in this division, his second weight class. But he needs to win today to prove that once and for all.