Ramos vs Rigondeaux: Andre Ward to Join ShoBox Commentary Team

by Waldo Rastel on Jan 19, 2012 10:09 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Can you see Andre Ward having a fruitful career as a boxing analyst? (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

Andre Ward continues to further his post-boxing career with another appearance on Showtime as a commentator. This will be the second time that Ward will be rubbing shoulders with the Showtime team. He was in the booth for the Super Six semifinal between Carl Froch and Glen Johnson.

On that occasion, Ward was the fourth member of the team, whereas now he will be replacing Antonio Tarver for the first two fights. Past experience for Andre includes announcing work for the World Series of Boxing series on Versus. If I remember correctly, this would be either Andre's third or fourth time being a commentator on a nationally televised fight.

It is very obvious that he wants to be a boxing commentator after he retires from fighting. However, I really can't remember anything noteworthy from his performance on the Super Six semifinals. Yet, if his interview style shows us anything, he should be a natural. In his interviews, he is very relaxed and will try to answer most questions even if they are a little insulting. On the other hand, talking about yourself is always a little easier than trying to break down two guys you don't know.

I hope some of Virgil Hunter's analytical skills will transfer over to his star pupil. If Ward can give the audience a solid analytical breakdown of each fighter before and during the fight, then he would be a welcome addition to any announcing team in boxing. I think that he can eventually become a good analyst once he retires, but I'm not sure of what the point of doing these things are when he is still boxing. I guess it's good practice, but it will be hard to make significant progress if he isn't fully committed to the job day in and day out.

One natural question from this discussion is which current fighter would make the best analyst? I think Bernard Hopkins could be great.

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Ward’s a very, very good commentator. Maybe the best of the active fighters, though Tarver is also quite good. If Ward wants to do it full-time someday, he’s going to — he’s a natural.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jan 19, 2012 10:16 PM EST reply actions

Froch is good on Sky but by the time hes done boxing he might be too punch druck for a role on TV.

Tarver’s the best for me, never heard Ward though.

by Shitali Klitschko on Jan 20, 2012 1:55 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Froch is excellent. He’ll be on Sky in the future.

Nate Campbell expresses himself well (last I heard). Bu he does’t have the name value to attract HBO/SHO.

by DPlainview on Jan 20, 2012 9:09 AM EST up reply actions

Hopkins would definitely be a good commentator, only if it was in a skit on the Chapelle show.

A firestorm to purify.

by RyanSexton on Jan 20, 2012 2:34 AM EST reply actions

I know this is slightly off-topic and out of left field, but how much time until Ward retires, in your guys’ opinion?
I for one feel a slight lack of motivation in Ward’ speech after the Super 6. I think he thinks he’s proved all he wanted to prove, I fear he’ll only be in it for the money from now on and as soon as he thinks he’s made enough for the rest of his life he might retire to save himself from damage. Ward is a smart guy, he will want to keep himself safe and whole for his family.
… Maybe I’m just reading him all wrong.

by Radu on Jan 20, 2012 5:01 AM EST reply actions

I think that he really wants to P4P number 1 and probably won’t stop until then. I see him fighting at 168 next year, picking up a few titles at 175 in the two years after that, then maybe picking up a title at cruiserweight or even heavyweight against some kind of John Ruiz-level heavyweight. Then retire at around 31-32. I don’t think he will carry on much beyond that unless there are massive legacy-defining fights to be had.

Oh and I predict that the following fights will not happen:

Bute, Dawson, Cloud, Martinez, Andre Dirrell. Not saying that I don’t think Ward would win (I would heavily favour him in all of them), I just think that negotiations for said fights would forever be stuck ‘development hell’.

On the commentary side, it wouldn’t surprise me if he became a semi-regular addition to the team. Could be maybe a good way to keep him on Showtime and keep him from becoming an HBO fighter.

Nobody will read this and care and why should they?

by Eoin_not_ian on Jan 20, 2012 6:27 AM EST up reply actions

Ward has very high aspirations and it will take work/time to get there. Like Eoin said, he has #1 p4p as a lofty goal which is reasonable. I can see him retiring early but I can also see him retiring late. Remember that Bernard Hopkins is a mentor to him. Ward also fights a physical style that doesn’t necessitate him taking a boatload of abuse, so he could maintain a high level of boxing for a good number of years. Yet, he really does like commentating and is very comfortable in front of a microphone. So I could see him leaving the sport early if the right opportunity popped up.

"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi

by Waldo Rastel on Jan 20, 2012 1:24 PM EST up reply actions

I really think it’s a matter of losses for him. I could see him taking 2 or 3 losses and calling it quits to maintain a professional level and a good looking record.

A firestorm to purify.

by RyanSexton on Jan 20, 2012 8:51 PM EST up reply actions