Gamer
08-16-2010, 10:12 PM
c/p By Lem Satterfield
The super middleweight collision between WBA champion Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) and close friend Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) is very unlikely to take place on the scheduled date of September 25, although the promoters have yet to officially postpone the fight. Ward and Dirrell are set to meet in the third stage of Showtime's Super Six tournament.
The two promoters, Gary Shaw for Dirrell, and Dan Goossen for Andre Ward, have been unable to reach an agreement on the venue. Goossen would like the fight to take place in Ward's backyard at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Shaw refuses to budge, noting that Ward had fought his first two Super Six bouts at home. He wants the fight to take place in Detroit, which is Dirrell's hometown. Shaw will not agree to a neutral venue.
"There is zero chance -- no chance -- that Andre Dirrell goes to Oakland to fight Andre Ward," said Shaw. "No way. Andre Ward has been at home the whole time. He's got to come to Michigan to fight Andre Dirrell."
Goossen would officially rule out September 25, but admits the date is seeming less likely by the day. Goossen believes the fight will generate the most money in Oakland.
"I'm still working on the site with Dirrell's team. Sept. 25 is the date that we've targeted, but obviously, as the days go on, the harder it is to look at that date. I'm still arguing the fact that the most money to be made for all of us is in Oakland," said Goossen.
The super middleweight collision between WBA champion Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) and close friend Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) is very unlikely to take place on the scheduled date of September 25, although the promoters have yet to officially postpone the fight. Ward and Dirrell are set to meet in the third stage of Showtime's Super Six tournament.
The two promoters, Gary Shaw for Dirrell, and Dan Goossen for Andre Ward, have been unable to reach an agreement on the venue. Goossen would like the fight to take place in Ward's backyard at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Shaw refuses to budge, noting that Ward had fought his first two Super Six bouts at home. He wants the fight to take place in Detroit, which is Dirrell's hometown. Shaw will not agree to a neutral venue.
"There is zero chance -- no chance -- that Andre Dirrell goes to Oakland to fight Andre Ward," said Shaw. "No way. Andre Ward has been at home the whole time. He's got to come to Michigan to fight Andre Dirrell."
Goossen would officially rule out September 25, but admits the date is seeming less likely by the day. Goossen believes the fight will generate the most money in Oakland.
"I'm still working on the site with Dirrell's team. Sept. 25 is the date that we've targeted, but obviously, as the days go on, the harder it is to look at that date. I'm still arguing the fact that the most money to be made for all of us is in Oakland," said Goossen.