Boxing Hall of Famer would consider unretiring for potential Jake Paul fight
In an interview on “The MMA Hour ” on Monday, Andre Ward — a retired Hall of Fame boxer — expressed his willingness to fight Jake Paul.
“I would be open to both [a pro fight or exhibition],” Ward said. “I’m not a Jake Paul basher, I really respect what he’s doing.”
Ward, who retired in 2017, competed in the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions throughout his undefeated 32-fight pro career. The former two-division champion is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of his era.
Since making his debut in January 2020, Paul (6-1) has made a significant impact on the boxing world. The YouTuber-turned-boxer has huge wins over prominent MMA stars, including Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.
A Ward-Paul matchup holds mutual benefit for the two stars. Similar to boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Ward could return to the boxing ring in an exhibition format, reigniting exposure and appeal to fans.
Paul would get an opportunity to elevate his stock by facing an experienced boxer, countering the critics that have slandered him.
The 39-year-old also praised Paul for his contributions to boxing.
“[Jake Paul] is really trying to get better, he’s really trying to grow,” Ward said. “I don’t look at it like he’s taking anything away from boxing … he built a platform and built a fanbase on the other platform and then brought it to boxing.”
Ward is currently a boxing analyst and commentator, sharing his expert insights on fights and boxing in general while Paul is scheduled to fight former UFC star Nate Diaz on Aug. 5 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
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