Former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion, Andre Ward, has offered to return from retirement to fight Canelo Alvarez.
Ward retired from boxing in 2017, but believes he has the skill to return in the boxing ring as he showed off his speed and power. However, speaking to reporters, the 35-year-old American refused to fight any professional boxers in the future.
“I’m not coming out of retirement to fight Canelo Alvarez. There’s been a lot of talk when that fight was signed, and obviously since Canelo got the victory over Sergey Kovalev.” Ward said.
“My phone’s been blowing up non-stop. There’s been a lot of pressure from individuals in the business, entertainers, you name it, trying to pull me out and it’s just not something that I’m interested in doing.” Ward added.
Canelo moved up two weight classes on 2 November. The Mexican icon is looking for an opponent for next year after his win over former WBO lightweight champion Sergey Kovalev at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“But don’t get me wrong. I’m a fighter at heart. It’s not hard to talk me into a fight. It’s actually harder to talk me off the ledge and I have great team members.” Ward Said.
“We sit down and talk about these things and I have to keep my word – and I have to stick to my conviction that I made Sept. 21, 2017.
“I feel like I’m gonna be a better asset to the sport of boxing, my family, my church, all the things that I’m doing as a retired fighter than I would be if I came back.” he added.
Ward is an all time great, a legend of the game and his highly technical approach to boxing will be missed by boxing lovers. The thing about Ward thought is that he doesn’t seem to see boxing as his lifeline, only as a means to an end.