The trash talking and promoting is over, and Andre Ward and Chad Dawson are ready for their Sept. 8 matchup for the Super Middleweight title on HBO pay-per-view.
It will be the first HBO main event fight for Ward, which is hard to believe considering he is an undefeated fighter looking to push his career record to 26-0.
While conventional wisdom suggests Ward will handle the fight, he can also take a page out of the Manny Pacquiao book and not take this fight for granted. After Pacman lost a split-decision to Timothy Bradley earlier this year, Ward will need to make sure he thoroughly handles Dawson if he wants to protect the belt.
For the sake of argument, let's say that Ward comes away defending his title against Dawson. In that scenario, an interesting fight exists should any promoter come along and take the risk involved.
The Fight:
Andre Ward vs. Floyd Mayweather.
The Hurdles:
I know what you're thinking: They aren't in the same weight class. That's the first hurdle for this fight, and if neither man were willing to go up or down in weight, then that stops the dream matchup in its tracks.
Mayweather has shown no inclination to budge in his demands. He and Pacquiao went back and forth on drug testing and a potential venue for their fight that has yet to materialize, so why would Mayweather budge for a man in a higher weight class?
As Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix details in this article about the under-the-radar Ward, he's not considered an entertaining fighter, either. Is there enough money involved that people would watch two undefeated champions go at it if they aren't going to see sparks fly?
Those two are enough to think that Money Mayweather would scoff at ever facing Ward. But there is also plenty to suggest that he might, given the right circumstance.
The Rewards:
Aside from Ward being a technical fighter with an ability to beat down his opponents, Mannix's article also details the belief that Ward has never really been challenged with anyone from his skill level.
That's a bold statement, but if you read more about Ward, he's an even-tempered guy with an ability to go in and do his job during a fight. It's what makes him good in the ring, and it's also what makes him liable to not being exciting enough for PPV stardom.
On Mayweather's end, is the luster of a potential Pacquiao matchup gone? From a career standpoint, both fights and fighters would put him in the consideration as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport.
From a monetary standpoint, Pacquiao-Mayweather would likely be the highest-paid, most-watched event in the history of HBO, so that has to factor in a potential decision. I think it's unlikely Money fights both.
But if Timothy Bradley defeats Pacquiao again in November, Ward might be his last shot at a winner-take-all super fight with undefeated implications on the line for both men.
Conclusion:
Ward has to get by Dawson first. Heck, Mayweather just recently got out of jail. But this would be a fight for the ages, one that Ward seems destined to achieve and one that Money Mayweather might want to take if he's out of options.
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