WARD EXPANDS ON FIGHT WITH BIKA & DRINKING URINE!
Ring Talk (RT) – The champ is just days away from his title defense against Sakio Bika. We’re talking about World super middleweight (168 lbs) champ Andre Ward folks. First off, what does Sakio Bika bring to the dance Dre?
Andre Ward (AW) – Sakio Bika is very tough guy, he comes to fight. He’s very wild, very unpredictable and at times he can be a dirty fighter. That being said I won my title about a year ago and you know I’m just not ready to give my title up. He’s just another fighter, we’re going to have to find a way to beat and get the victory. We’re prepared for anything Sakio Bika brings to the table and like I said during the press conference I fully expect Sakio Bika to bring it and I’m going to bring it to, it should be a great fight Saturday night.
RT – When you look at this tournament right now the people that are left are you got Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, and now Glen Johnson stepping into the fray. But after you beat Mikkel Kessler you were the world champ. You do realize that don’t you. All these other guys should have asterisks next to their titles, after you beat Kessler you are the man.
AW – I believe all that should be true, I understand that
we have several different belts out there. Only two in this tournament, my belt, the WBA belt which Kessler brought in and the WBC belt which is now vacant for the time being. I agree with you 100 percent, because Kessler was the man but when you take the nature of this sport when you beat the man a lot of excuses are kind of put out there but you just know it’s just part of the game. But I do believe we beat the best guy one of the best in the division, so I believe that I should be considered the champion in the division.
Andre Ward
RT – Andre Ward is our guest here folks, course this Saturday he goes at the Oracle Arena, the place i call, “the house I call that Andre built.” Now its three fights in a row at home, I’m sort of happy about this because I’m obviously a local media area guy and you’re my local guy end everything like that. Man it took us a long time before we got you at home, it had been 18 or 19 fights.
AW – It’s been a long time coming. My promoter Dan Goossen tells everyone that I’ve been screaming to fight at home from day one and I just think it’s a natural fit. I live in the Bay Area, I can feel the buzz; people are always asking when are you fighting in the bay area. I wanted it to a big event. Here we are, not only is it exciting, an honor and privilege but a great responsibility I’m taking very seriously. I want give the viewing and paying audience a tremendous show and I’m prepared to do that.
RT – I try to tell people that you are the fourth franchise in the Bay Area. A happy Oakland franchise when all the others aren’t, the A’s aren’t happy, the NBA Warriors just got bought by Mr. Oracle, so they are now content, the Raiders are always talking about moving. Here we have Andre Ward filling up the Oracle Arena, God bless you.
AW – Thank you.
RT – You’ve come a long way. Olympic Gold Medalist, this young man was a skinny 90 lb. or so kid fighting in Oakland when I met him. He had obscure training methods, pushing cars, station wagons and trucks around parking lots. Our guy Andre has been through it all and is now is at the top his game. He is the world super middleweight champion and will be defending his title Saturday on SHOWTIME but more importantly in the house that Andre built, the Oracle Arena. Tickets are available at all ticketmaster locations, Pedro’s hot-line might as well call me ticketmaster Pedro, and of course you can go to the Oracle Arena to buy tickets, great seats with no extra charges so that’s what I recommend you do. Tickets will be available the day of the fight, so don’t expect a sellout, but the place is going to be packed. We’re expecting 10-12,000 people maybe more, of course this being Andre’s third fight in a row at the Oracle Arena. Dre’ you know when I used to fight at home, I didn’t like it because people were always hitting me up for tickets, do they hit you up too?
AW – Yeah, but Pedro I think setting the tone early and over the years we have been able do that. Even as an amateur, locally people used to call for tickets. But just as I said to my family, this is a serious business, people who can get taken care of will I tell people if there was any other event at the arena you would buy a ticket, so buy a ticket for this one. And the fans do that so I don’t have any problems with that.
RT – Now to the super-six tournament started off as a great great idea now it was going to be fantastic with the guys all fighting eachother. Now guys are out and guys like Glen Johnson are in. First of all what’s your opinion on Glen Johnson beating Allan Green last week.
AW – I think he did what he had to do, take nothing away from Glen, he made the weight. Alot of people wanted to know how his body would handle dropping down from 175, which he has fought at for the last decade, to 168. He fared well, he did what he had to.
RT – Isn’t Glen one of the most determined brothers you’ve ever met?
AW – He’s very determined, Glen Johnson is a monster, has come from small beginnings, and became a professional with little fanfare. He did great two years back when he knocked out Roy Jones surprisingly and came right back to beat Antonio Tarver to get “fighter of the year.” From there he’s made, um some people think he may be a hall of famer one day. So I think he has a real appreciation for the opportunities given to him and he had made the most of them.
RT – Have any plans after this fight, any adventure you’re planning, or a social event on the calendar outside of boxing.
AW – You know it’s kind of wild but I’m literally in camp for two months and I use the analogy that I eat, sleep, and drink this every day. I’m literally disconnected from the outside world except for the occasional trip to the store or talking to my family I’m totally immersed in this fight. Focused I’m locked in and we’ll take care of that stuff after we take care of business two weeks from tonight.
RT – I got one question, now don’t laugh, Juan Manuel Marquez, I know you’re into the latest training techniques right….
AW – (Interrupting) Yeah, but I’m not drinking pee!!!
RT – (Laughing) I was going to ask him, folks if he wanted to follow Juan Manuel Marquez and drink urine before a fight, but it didn’t work. Andre Ward, I love you, see ya soon brother.
AW – Thanks.
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Transcribed by Edwin “Ace” Ayala