I wouldn't mind seeing Andre Ward vs Mikkel Kessler Two If the fight was close and the attraction was the fight and not Ward fighting outside of Oakland. With a lot of his detractors and critics the attraction is never a close fight or a suitable opponent, it's always the "Ward hasn't traveled argument", which would be relevant if he were winning close fights were the Hometown obviously played a factor.
However, that isn't the case, Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch both got completely out-classed. I don't even think collectively they won more than five rounds against Ward and that's say a lot. I thought Kessler won about two or three arguably and Froch didn't anything...maybe a one round.
Historically, we've seen situations where you have the American fighter that refuses to travel to Europe to face an opponent who's suitable contemporary. These guys aren't on Wards level, a few head buts wasn't the difference maker, and Ward beating Froch/Kessler in Europe isn't anymore rewarding than him doing it in Oakland.
I think the only fight that HAD....key word being HAD enough clout and marketability to force Ward to come to him was Lucain Bute, but we all know what happened to him.
GREAT QUESTION. I actually paused my PS3 to stop and answer this.
The fact is fighting a name opponent in his own back yard is pretty much a fix. Without a KO the opponent is pretty much going to lose the decision if the home town fighter is still standing at the final bell. Both Froch in Nottingham and Bute in Montreal followed the pattern Frankie Ward set up with Calzaghe and all Sauerland did was apply that recognized political reality to Ward.
The difference is Ward convincingly beat both Froch and Kessler there was no controversy over those wins.
Froch should have lost to Dirrell in Nottingham and Bute should have lost to Andrade in Montreal. Those decisions were clearly biased. Calzaghe's only two fights outside of Europe were his last to against a aged Roy Jones and and ageless Hopkins. Joe and Warren used the pattern Ottke did by taking as few risky fights as possible against as many easy opponents has they could, much like Mayweather does. It's the business end of boxing, and the "sport" suffers, but it makes money.
Calzaghe made his name fighting a one armed Jeff Lacy after Lacy's shoulder surgery made Jeff damaged goods and less of a thereat to Joe. In Calzaghe's back yard Jeff Lacy had no chance, and Sauerland see's the same potential for his fighter in fighting Ward after Ward's shoulder surgery, so he is attempting to get a fight in motion by creating interest. Personally I think Ward is damaged goods and ripe for the next big boxing upset, and so does Sauerland. Boxing is a brutal business and any edge a fighter has over an opponent (including a home court advantage) can and will be used.
The issue isn't "where" Ward fights next, it's whether his shoulder will allow him to be the same Andre Ward who won that 168 lb. tournament and beat Dawson. The buzzards are already circling.
I don't think that Mikkel Kessler is going to win this rematch with Carl
The Cobra Froch. I know that your a Kessler fan and I do respect that
however, Carl Froch has really improved as a fighter since that loss to
Mikkel Kessler in 2010. Three years later Carl Froch has really gotten
a lot better and has won more notable fights including the win over the
former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Lucian Bute. Definitely, then
if Carl Froch wins Andre Ward should consider traveling to the UK and
give Carl Froch a rematch and then, Match Room Sport could begin to
negotiate for that to happen. We will see what happens though cheers.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
If Ward wants to spread his notoriety, yes he needs to travel. Does he need to go to his opponents home country to fight? No.
Ward is the man at 168 which means that his opponents need to come to him. Teodor is right about the US. We don't have an "American" identity which gives advantage to the home country fighter here. We have that at the city and state level possibly, but not country wide.
Kessler is heading into the final stretch of his career while Ward is still in ascension the fight was a close one but Ward beat Kessler clearly. Obviously Kessler has to get past Froch, but unless Kessler has added many more facets to his game, it doesn't matter where he fought Ward, he would lose.
Anybody familiar with boxing in the USA should know that an American fighter never really enjoys hometown advantage unless he is fighting in his own hometurf and I think Ward fighting mostly in his native Oakland gives credence to Sauerland's assertion. Really, Atlantic City was a neutral territory in the light in this sense.
I agree Ward has to travel--especially to Europe and figh and beat his challengers there to be considered the best at least in his division.
Why, even Sugar Ray Robinson and Carlos Monzon had Europe in the boxing tour itinerary!
From a national perspective, Atlantic City is a home fight for Ward, but Atlantic City, NJ is far from Oakland, Ca.
There is even different time zones. Many greats didn't travel. And Froch didn't lose because they were in NJ...but he may lose cause they are in England (like Dirrell did, in a fight many Americans felt he won).
If it was in Oakland or LA you might have something.
Seems only right that Ward should have to travel in order to be considered the best.
http://www.boxingscene.com/sauerland-andre-ward-travel-like-kessler-froch--65868
I love the part in this article where its mentioned that Atlantic City was considered 'neutral territory' for the Froch fight!
