Liverpuncher.com recently sat down with Olympic gold medalist and 168 pound World Champion AndreWard. Hear what he had to say about Jermain Taylor, Chad Dawson, Lucian Bute, and the process it took to become champion:
Manny: Here we are at Kings Gym in Oakland California with world champion Andre Ward. What’s new Andre how is training going?
Andre: Training is going good, its really my first day back, I’m just shaking off some of the cob webs. I’m slowly getting things back in order and as far as how I’m feeling, I’m feeling great.
Manny: Awesome, so did you finally receive the WBA strap from them yet?
Ward: Yes and no. I got one of the belts. Being the Super Champion they have a separate belt for that, So I have received that belt. It looks like the Ring Magazine belt, but just a lot bigger. But the official WBA belt I haven’t got that one yet. I‘m calling everyday, hopefully this week I‘ll get it. [editors note, Andre has since received the belts and posted a few pictures of them you can see below]
Manny: So how do you feel now that you are champion, and that for a couple years there were people out there saying it took too long for you to fight for a title and that you were moving along too slow. What do you have to say to those critics?
Ward: Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I don’t know who really sets the bar as far as how many years its supposed to take. I think everything is right on schedule. We didn’t just want to win a title, we wanted to keep it for a long time. You got to be a man to be able to do that. I’m 25 years old now, I’m a man, I got my physical strength even though I still have a lot of work that needs to be done, I have enough to keep my title. And that is what the process was all about.
Manny: That’s true because some guys lately have moved up too quick.
Ward: You can get a guy in position to fight for a title but I was fortunate enough to beat the Champion, not a vacant title or a guy that should be in the ring with me. It was the guy, the man. And we beat the man which is just a testament to the process of everything working out really well.
Manny: There is some speculation out there that Jermain Taylor might actually drop out of the tournament, what were you thinking when you heard those rumors out there? [ Editors note since this interview, Taylor has decided to drop out]
Ward: Right after his knockout with Abraham, I think a lot of people just assumed that he was going to drop out. At this point I just hope that if he does continue that he has a clean bill of health and that he is ready to go because when the contract is signed I got to do what I got to do. At the end of the day I really don’t care who is in there, Allen Green or Jermain Taylor you name it, my focus is at an all time high and whoever is on the other side of the ring I feel I got enough to do what I got to do to keep my title.
Manny: There are some other guys out there, even out of the tournament like Bute, whats your opinion on him?
Ward: A lot of people feel like me and him are 1 and 2 as far as the super middle weight division is concerned. I would love to have a unification bout with Bute. I would love it.
Manny: I think a lot of people would be wanting to watch that. So what do you think is down the road as of now?
Ward: Andre Direll is my third fight then we move on to the semi finals and the finals. So I’m just taking it one at a time.
Manny: How about guys like Chad Dawson? He is a little heavier, he has been around a few more years than you, but what if he were willing to come down to 168?
Ward: I’m willing to come up to 175 when the time is right. I just think its naturally going to happen. Not necessarily just to target him but whoever is at the top . I would love to go head to head with whoever is at the top, that is what the sport is about. Its not personal. Whoever is the best when that time comes I would love to do battle to capture another title in another weight class.
Manny: Thanks a lot Andre, anything you want to say to the fans?
Ward: Look forward to a great 2010, its going to be better than '09.
