"It was a no-brainer at the end of the day because anything that Jay-Z and his team touches turns to gold. Once you have a business mind in one area of business, it's not a guarantee that it'll always transfer, but I'm confident that it will transfer to this avenue in the boxing business, and if I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be signed up with Roc Nation Sports. I believe it wholeheartedly. I know they're going to do their part and I want to do my part to be all that I can be to Roc Nation...that's something as a team we're going to sit down, map out, and I think that we're not going to disappoint with whatever our next move is going to be," stated undefeated super middleweight king Andre Ward, who spoke about his recent signing with Roc Nation Sports, his future plans, and more. Check it out!
BT: Dre, what's up, man?
AW: What's up, Ben?
BT: Not much with me, but it sounds like a lot is up with you (laughing). The big news today is that you signed with Roc Nation. How did all of this come about?
AW: James Prince, my manager, a phenomenal manager who I don't think gets the credit he deserves a lot of times for what he puts in, but obviously me and him have been together for 10 years and I trust him, I believe in him, and at the right point in time, you know, he brought it to me, we talked about it, and we collectively decided that that was the best decision for my career. If you're going to be off and have a long hiatus the way that I have, you want to come back with a powerhouse like Roc Nation Sports and with an announcement like we had today, and that's what we did.
BT: Tonight is Roc Nation's first ever boxing event. Was there any hesitation in signing with them considering that they are relatively new to the sport?
AW: I don't think hesitation is the right word. I think as a businessman, you consider all things. You put it all in a pot and you make a decision from there. But again, with the collective minds that were involved, with James and how he felt about the situation, and when I had time to sit down with my wife and my family and personal advisers that I have, to me, it was a no-brainer at the end of the day because anything that Jay-Z and his team touches turns to gold. Once you have a business mind in one area of business, it's not a guarantee that it'll always transfer, but I'm confident that it will transfer to this avenue in the boxing business, and if I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be signed up with Roc Nation Sports. I believe it wholeheartedly. I know they're going to do their part and I want to do my part to be all that I can be to Roc Nation.
For me, man, as an individual and as an athelete, I've always wanted to try and do things differently, and this is what had me really excited about this relationship is because you have a company that seems to be brand new on the boxing side, but really they're hiring a lot of guys who have a lot of experience in the sport, and it's also allowed me the ability to do something different, something that's never been done before, and I relish these kind of moments, man, of just trying to be a trailblazer and somebody who starts something new. This is a perfect match for me.
BT: What does it mean to you to know that a company like Roc Nation Sports is essentially looking to make you the face of their boxing brand?
AW: Ben, that's huge. I mean, as a top fighter, you know, a guy that's been in the business for 10 years like I have, you want a company that not only really wants you, but that has the power to not just have a vision for your career, but actually carry it out. Sitting in a board room and talking about things is one thing, but to actually have the infastructure and the resources and the power to carry it out is a big deal. When they told me that that's what they wanted to do, again, at this point in my career, that's exactly what I needed to hear and that's all I needed to hear, and again, that was a major point of me signing up.
BT: One of the biggest problems that you had in the past is that a lot of guys didn't want to fight you. Now that you're with Roc Nation, do you think that will change at all or do you think it'll still be difficult to get some of the big names like Froch, Chavez Jr., or Golovkin to fight you?
AW: That's a great question, Ben. I don't really want today to be about any other super middleweight or any other name except what we're doing here and I'm doing with Roc Nation, but I will say this, now that the situation that I was in is behind me and I have a fresh start, I'm going to put pressure on these fighters to step up. It's as simple as that. I've followed this sport for 20 years and I've never seen a situation where a champion such as myself wasn't challenged around every corner. They should want what I have. And I'm not saying that I'm invincible, I'm not saying that I'll never lose, and I'm not afraid to take an L; I don't believe I will, but I'm willing to put that on the line because that's what boxing is about. Let's have the best fight the best; not just talk about it, but the best fight the best and whoever the best man is that night gets that win. That's what it boils down to. So at the right time, I'll be addressing those things and talking about those things, but yeah, they're going to have to step up or be honest with the fans about why they don't want to step up.
BT: You've been out of the ring for over a year because of the legal dispute you had going on. Now that you're back, are you looking to take a tune-up in your next fight or would you rather just jump back in with the big names?
AW: I think if you guys check my track record thoughout my career, I always fight the best and I'm fortunate enough to beat the best, you know, so that's not a concern. At the same time, you know, talking to Virg [Virgil Hunter], my coach, and looking at the reality of the layoff, he and I, we want to get into a groove. We want to get a good couple of fights to get my feet under me, man, and how that's going to look, who it's going to be against, all of those different things, that's something as a team we're going to sit down, map out, and I think that we're not going to disappoint with whatever our next move is going to be.
BT: Last question, Dre. Do you have a timetable on when you do plan on fighting again? Obviously I'm not expecting an exact date, but do you think we're talking some time in the first quarter of this year?
AW: Personally, I would like to get in the ring some time in late March or early to mid-April. But again, that's a collective effort. I gotta talk to Virg and see what he's comfortable with because he's the man with the vision and the game plan and he knows what I need, and I'll also talk to Roc Nation, talk to David [Itskowitch] and we'll figure it out collectively.
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