“You Got To Say My Name”: Is Ward Open To Facing Jake Paul?

Could Andre Ward Be Talked into a Jake Paul Comeback Fight?

In what is sure to have been a worldwide spectacle, boxing legend “Iron” Mike Tyson lost a soggy unanimous decision to YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul. Ahead of the contest, many were duped into believing that Tyson could best Paul by using his vast experience. In the ring however, Iron Mike simply looked vulnerable, gimp-legged and withered. Clearly, the sight of the long-retired legend in such circumstances stirred something in another long retired boxer – Andre “SOG” Ward (32-0, 16 KO’s).

It’s been seven years since Ward last laced up the gloves and repeated his thrilling win over the heavy-handed Sergey Kovalev. Until now, SOG has always maintained the position that he is happily retired and harbors no desire to broach the ring ropes again. Now however, having watched the boxing icon reduced to the helpless creature that he was, a potential fuse in Ward has been lit.

“Y’all keep talking about me fighting Jake Paul. I’m an old man now. I’ve been retired seven years, I haven’t touched the boxing gym in seven years. Why y’all want me to fight Jake? Got to say my name, though. I can’t even entertain it – you got to say my name. Ain’t nobody said my name in seven years, there is a reason for that! You got to say my name. We might be able to talk about that, that may be something I can think about.”

“But it’s time that bro [Paul] got to fight someone who is a real threat because we know that he can sell, we know all of that. But what he is after is legitimacy. He’s trying to legitimize himself and Canelo don’t want to take that fight, said he don’t want to do it. Man, you got to fight someone who is going to give you some clout, whether you win or lose. But that is all that I am going to say about that.”

BALL IS IN YOUR COURT

Clearly this was thinly disguised passive-aggressive prod of Ward’s to dare Paul into challenging him to a fight. But will Paul take him up on the opportunity? Provided that the former YouTuber did do that, SOG would be his toughest competitor by lightyears. Even with Ward having been inactive for seven years and 40 years old, he would be quite the formidable task for Paul.

Let’s see is Jake Paul has a taste for this type of problem. If so, Ward versus Paul would certainly make for a great-selling event. While Paul was certainly hoping to look like a giant killer in his last duel, he looked more like a bully at a senior living facility. A win, or even a spirited contest, would do wonders for Paul’s current image that is more fractured than formidable. So, let’s see if the domino’s to bring Ward back into action have already begun to fall.

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