Photo by New Sports Stars
After Super Middleweight ruler Andre Ward definitively dispatched Carl Froch in the Super Six final back in 2011, the boxing world was undeniably at the Oakland man’s feet. However, years of injury and promotional issues followed, which ultimately kept Ward out of the ring, while rival Carl Froch surged up the Super Middleweight rankings, leaving his conqueror to slowly fade into insignificance.
Now that Ward is back to reclaim his 168-pound throne, the reigning IBF and WBA Super Middleweight champion Froch has spoke at length about his intent to avenge that sobering Super Six defeat that has haunted him for quite some time.
There had been whispers that Ward would not be interested in a UK scrap, meaning that the negotiations for a rematch had hit a significant snag. But Ward was quick to quash those claims, when he spoke with Sky Sports News HQ earlier this week, where the undefeated fighter firmly stated that he is very keen on a UK fight, and in fact the ball is very much in the Nottingham Cobra’s court.
“Carl, we’re waiting on you to pick up the phone and call. If you want to fight, and you want to avenge the loss or attempt to avenge the loss that you say you so desperately want to avenge, then you need to pick up the phone and we need to try to figure it out,” Ward confirmed.
The Former Olympic gold medalist went on to say that, although he is interested in a trip across the Atlantic for a lucrative rematch, he is adamant that a bout in the Cobra’s hometown is absolutely out of the question.
“I’ve accepted his invitation to come to the UK but it’s going to be on the right terms. The UK is one thing, Nottingham is something different,” said Ward. “Now he’s saying ‘Well, I came to America, now you need to come to Nottingham’.”
“The thing is this, Atlantic City, where we fought the finals of the Super Six, it’s thousands of miles away from my home, that’s a road fight. I live on the west coast, the fight was on the east coast, which was a six-hour plane ride for me,” Ward told Sky Sports News HQ.
Despite the 31-year-old champion’s reluctance to fight in Froch’s hometown, he reiterated that he would be extremely interested in a shootout at the home of England soccer, the colossal Wembley Arena in London.
“I’m not willing to come to Nottingham, I don’t think I should have to, but Wembley stadium, the UK as a whole – I would love to come.”
So with the only obstacle seemingly the venue, one can only trust that both me can eventually get the deal across the line. If so, then it would come as a welcome treat for the passionate British fights fans who would relish the opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of boxing’s true master craftsman doing what he does best.
Ward announced on Wednesday that his return to the ring will take place June 20 at the Oracle Arena in his hometown of Oakland, California–likely against a lesser known opponent as it will be his first foray in the ring since November of 2013.
Assuming Ward is able to look good in his return from a 19 month layoff, one would hope that a Froch fight could happen toward the end of the year.
