Andre Ward, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, still isn?t a household name, despite defeating Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Sakio Bika and Arthur Abraham during Showtime?s Super Six tournament and moving into the Yahoo! Sports Top 10.
But Ward, whose cut on the eyebrow forced him to postpone his Super Six finale match against Carl Froch from Oct. 29 until Dec. 17, isn?t particularly worried about recognition these days.
It takes time, he pointed out, and eventually the recognition for his skills will come.
?I?m kind of doing what I?ve got to do to get through this tournament and get my hand raised when it?s all said and done,? Ward said. ?I can?t worry about the particulars of how much buzz I?m getting between fights. If you look at two of the biggest money makers right now, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, it didn?t happen overnight for these guys. I can remember when Floyd Mayweather was the champion at 130, 135 pounds. Obviously, he was still a great talent, tremendous fighter, but he didn?t have the buzz that he has now.
?It takes time. And when fighters start worrying about the buzz instead of worrying about winning, that?s when problems come in. I believe the end will be better than the beginning. I came in strong as a gold medalist. I?ve beaten everybody they?ve put in front of me and that?s all I?m going to focus on now. The buzz, the hoopla, I get a lot of that now, but it?s really going to come down the road.?
