Andre "S.O.G." Ward is returning to the ring on November 16th after a layoff of more than a year due to injuries. He will square off with Edwin Rodriguez in California, in what most boxing observers feel is a tune-up fight to shake off the rust before engaging in big-money discussions.
A name that has come up is Bernard Hopkins, who has switched his moniker from "The Executioner" to "The Alien," to reflect his inhuman stamina and lack of skill erosion at the age of 48.
Hopkins outlasted Karo Murat, a fighter 18 years his junior, on October 26th in Atlantic City, and looked downright sprightly for the majority of the fight. Now, outsiders are wondering whether Ward, who has struggled to become a crossover star, would take on the big-name.
I don't have a desire to call Bernard out, but I am a fighter. If it makes financial sense, I'll step to the plate," Ward said before admitting he'd prefer younger challengers. "I'm more interested in fighting guys from my era, but at the same time I don't back down from fights."
In March of this year, though, Hopkins said he would never get into the ring with Ward. "Andre Ward is a protégé of myself. I would never fight Andre Ward, and I even told Richard that in the ring," Hopkins said.
"$10 million dollars, $8 million dollars, $15 million dollars. ... I told him in the ring it's not the money. And I mean that. And I put that on my mom's grave."
If Hopkins is pulling his name out of the sweepstakes, who is next in line for Ward if he defeats Rodriguez as expected?
S.O.G. has expressed interest in taking on Gennady Golovkin, fresh off his fourth knockout of the year, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who won a controversial decision against Brian Vera earlier this year, or rematches with Carl Froch or Mikel Kessler.
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