Andre Ward Doesn’t Think Boxing Will Ever Adopt Dana White’s UFC Model: “Too Many Egos”

Published 02/22/2024, 2:44 AM EST

Would professional boxers benefit if a single body governed the sport of boxing? What if professional boxing adopted the model followed by the UFC? Well, unlike the UFC, four major sanctioning bodies, WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF govern the sport of boxing. In this connection, while he lauded Dana White and the UFC, former unified Light-Heavyweight champion Andre Ward explained why boxing could not follow the UFC’s model.

In his latest interview with Jonathan Gonzalez from Boxing Scene, Ward shed light on the obstacles that professional boxing faces, unlike the UFC. And so, he explained that with so many promoters and managers, a single person couldn’t run the sport. Well, here is what he said.

Andre Ward votes for a single governing body in boxing

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Several times boxing fans as well as boxers expressed frustration at the fact that boxing was governed by multiple bodies. Only last year, months after Terence Crawford became the undisputed Welterweight champion, the IBF stripped ‘Bud’ while he still maintained possession of the WBC, WBA, and WBO Welterweight belts ahead of his expected rematch against Errol Spence Jr. At this, many thought ‘Bud’ would have retained his undisputed status had a single body governed the sport. In addition, several fans suggested boxing should adopt the model followed by the UFC.

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In his response, Andre Ward said, “I know people float that idea of [a UFC model], and I respect what Dana [White] and the UFC have done. [But,] I think it is a little too much control.” Additionally, the former unified Light-Heavyweight champion mentioned he would have to first “see someone put something together”. In Ward’s opinion, “It would have to be a person with billions of dollars to get all the promoters to agree to come under that.”

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However, the 39-year-old who feels Joe Calzaghe exceeds Anthony Joshua, fears, “There are too many egos in boxing, from the promoters to the managers to agree to just let one person run it.” As a result, Ward concluded that a single body would govern boxing when pigs fly. With that said, do you think boxing would benefit from a single governing body? In addition, do you agree that there are too many egos in the sport? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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I feel combat sport is a representation of life inside a cage or ring. There is fear, struggle, and the will to be free. It has a poetic quality.

Andre Ward Doesn’t Think Boxing Will Ever Adopt Dana White’s UFC Model: “Too Many Egos”

Andre Ward votes for a single governing body in boxing

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