New light heavyweight champ Andre Ward claims win over former champ Sergey Kovalev puts him as pound-for-pound king. (Photo : Getty Images/Ethan Miller)
Andre Ward, the reigning light heavyweight champion of the world, has expressed interested in fighting Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev once again, though he admits his terms must be met first before the fight could happen.
Ward apparently wants more money at stake, if he ever fights Kovalev again. The American boxing star earned a guaranteed money of $5million in his title fight with Kovalev, who reportedly pocketed $2 million from the bout as well.
Ward, who is now the IBF, WBO, WBA and more importantly the universally recognized light heavyweight champion of the world by virtue of his controversial 12-round split decision win over Kovalev, threatens to walk away from the sports despite Kovalev's rematch options, if negotiations fall through.
Ward's comments via Boxing News 24:
"The rematch with Kovalev is definitely something I'm interested in, it's definitely something we're entertaining, but I'm the champion now," said Ward. "If it's not right and it doesn't make sense, you know, absolutely, that may be a sign that it's time to leave the sport and walk away and do some other things in my life.
"I have to be fair to myself. I've put in a lot of hours, a lot of time, not just in these fights, but in this gym, my whole life, so it would be unfair to me to get into a ring at any point in time in my career moving forward if I'm not happy with the terms."
Ward at 31-0 with 15 KO wins has solidified himself as one of the great champions in the last decade by dominating the middleweight division and then recapturing the big belts at light heavyweight. There's really nothing to prove for Ward at this point, so retirement might be an ideal option.
Then again, boxing is always about money. A big pay-day would certainly entice Ward to duke it out Kovalev one more time, and perhaps another one in what could be boxing's most relevant trilogy since Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez.
