Sergio Mora thinks it’s a “ridiculous” idea for 41-year-old Andre Ward to return from retirement to fight heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. He warns that Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) could be seriously hurt taking on the much bigger, two-time champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) after being away from boxing for eight years.
Andre Ward, a former two-division world champion at super middleweight and light heavyweight, retired in 2017 after defeating Sergey Kovalev. Although he had mentioned a possible comeback in the past, he decided against it. Now, Ward appears more interested in returning only if he can fight Anthony Joshua, whom he recently challenged on social media.
‘Ridiculous and Risky’ – Mora on Ward’s Potential Fight with Joshua
Sergio Mora said on the Chris Mannix channel that Andre Ward would be much smaller than Anthony Joshua, making the fight “ridiculous.” Boxing is a sport for younger athletes, and moving up to fight a much bigger opponent could be dangerous.
If Ward does fight Joshua, he would earn a huge payday that could make his retirement more comfortable. He could move from Dublin, California, to the wealthy Atherton neighborhood and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. At 41 and after being retired for eight years, Ward would likely have little chance of beating Joshua. Mora added that Joshua is still a much bigger, top-level fighter, and fighting him now would be extremely risky for Ward—but financially, it would be the biggest payday of his career.
Ward wouldn’t have any real chance if he came out of retirement to fight cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia or light heavyweights like Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, or David Benavidez. By choosing Joshua, Ward can explain a loss by saying he was beaten by a heavyweight in a division he never fought before. “People in boxing must really think Joshua is past his prime. Jake Paul thinks he can beat AJ, Tony Yoka thinks so too, and now Andre Ward, who hasn’t fought in eight years, also believes he has a shot against AJ,” said Mannix.
WARD’S RETURN FOR MILLIONS
It’s not that fighters like Jake Paul, Tony Yoka, or Andre Ward think Anthony Joshua is past his prime. The main reason they want to fight him is money. Facing Joshua offers a huge payday that they couldn’t get against other opponents. Everyone knows Joshua is nearing the end of his career and is focused on earning as much as possible before retiring.
“Being out of the ring for eight years matters. Moving up to heavyweight matters. Facing a strong puncher like Joshua matters,” said Mannix. “At Ward’s size, going up to that weight class, it’s almost certain he’ll take a heavy punch. Even against Sergey Kovalev, he got hit hard and went down.”
It’s clear that Ward would likely survive only two or three rounds against Joshua, even in the best-case scenario. He would have to keep moving and try to clinch, but he would still be at serious risk of getting hit clean and knocked out. Ward wouldn’t have the strength to stop the much bigger Joshua from landing powerful shots.
FAQ
What did Sergio Mora say about Andre Ward fighting Anthony Joshua?
Sergio Mora called the idea of Andre Ward coming out of retirement to fight Anthony Joshua “ridiculous,” highlighting the risks Ward would face after eight years out of the ring.
Why does Mora think the fight is dangerous?
Mora pointed out that Ward would be the smaller man moving up to heavyweight, facing a powerful puncher like Joshua. He said Ward would likely struggle to survive more than a few rounds.
How long has Andre Ward been retired?
Andre Ward retired in 2017, meaning he has been out of professional boxing for eight years.
Is money the reason Ward is considering a comeback?
Yes, part of the motivation is financial. A fight with Anthony Joshua could earn Ward a mega-million payday that he wouldn’t get against other opponents.
What are the risks for Ward in this fight?
Ward risks serious injury due to Joshua’s size and punching power. Even with movement and clinching, he could be hit cleanly and knocked out.
