Andre Ward Calls For An Anthony Joshua Fight

Andre Ward has suggested that he could come out of retirement to box Anthony Joshua if the money is right. 

Ward, who is now 47-years-old, would be following in the footsteps of other fighters to have come out of retirement at this last stage. The most recent one was Manny Pacquiao, who boxed Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight Title which ended in a majority draw. The 46-year-old has now said that his next fight will take place in December. 

Ward walked away from the sport in 2017 after defeating Sergey Kovalev. Warde ended his career by unifying at super middleweight and light heavyweight. To face Joshua, though, Ward would be taking a massive risk by moving up to heavyweight. However, given that Joshua is in discussions to face Jake Paul, Ward senses there is an opportunity for a big purse. AJ replied by stating that Ward was wanting a payday, as it remains to be seen if this bout happens. 

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“I get asked on a day-to-day basis. ‘Do you miss boxing, and if you came back, who would you fight? Most days I don’t miss it. I’m very content doing what I’m doing in life right now. Who would I fight? That’s the problem. There’s a lot of names out there, but not a lot of names that make sense.

“But there’s one name that I brought up before. When you say that name, I could see myself fighting him present day today. If the business was right and everything was right on that front. Me and Anthony Joshua. That’s a fight that I would take at Wembley Stadium. It’s a dangerous fight for my legacy. It’s a dangerous fight across the board, but that’s a fight that would get me in the gym and get me in the mindset that I need to be in to go to war,” Ward said

Should It Happen?

A fight between Ward and Joshua would be a captivating spectacle. The narrative of “The Boxer vs. The Puncher” is a classic in combat sports. For Ward, a comeback fight against a heavyweight like Joshua would solidify his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his generation. Winning at three different weight classes, especially with such a massive jump from light heavyweight to heavyweight, would be an unprecedented feat in modern boxing.  

The most significant concern is the size and weight difference. Ward fought his last professional bout at 175 pounds, while Joshua weighs well over 240 pounds. Ward, at 47 years old, would be facing a physically prime, powerful heavyweight. The danger of a knockout loss, or worse, is a serious consideration. 

Additionally, the timing of the callout—after a long retirement and with the prospect of a massive payday—lends credence to the accusation that Ward is simply “chasing a payday.” This perception could tarnish his reputation as a competitor who fought for legacy, not just money. For Joshua, a victory over a much smaller, older, and long-retired fighter might not be seen as a significant achievement, especially given the criticism that he is considering a bout with Jake Paul.