The postponed fight between World Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward and former Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik is now off due to Ward needing shoulder surgery according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
The bout was originally scheduled for January 26th and then moved to March 2nd after Ward suffered the injury.
Pavlik’s manager Cameron Dunkin told ESPN.com that he was notified Wednesday night by Top Rank’s Bob Arum, Pavlik’s promoter, that Ward would be sidelined for an extended period.
“Bob called me up and told me the fight was out and said, ‘What are we gonna do with Pavlik?’ He said Goossen called him and told him that Ward needed shoulder surgery,” Dunkin said. “So I don’t know what we’re gonna do, but we’re going to move forward and get Kelly a fight and get him back in the ring.
“I sent him a text to let him know what was up because I couldn’t get in touch with him.”
“I wasn’t jumping up and down for the fight,” Dunkin said. “I wasn’t excited for it, but it’s something Kelly wanted and that is my job, to create opportunities for my clients. Kelly told me that fighting Ward was what he wanted to do. He said to get the fight done, so sometimes that’s what you gotta do. And now we will look for something else.”
UPDATE
Andre Ward said Thursday that he has a tear in his right shoulder that will require surgery.
“When I first got injured, there was a lot of inflammation, and the MRI was misread by the first radiologist,” Ward said in a statement. “I’ve been doing extensive rehab and the shoulder was getting stronger, but after three-and-a-half weeks of rehab, there was still slight pain that had me concerned enough to get two additional opinions.
“It was then diagnosed that there is a small tear in my shoulder capsule. It’s not a major tear, but I can either rest it and see if it heals itself or speed up the process by surgically repairing it, and be stronger than I was before the injury and that’s what we opted to do.”
“I’m working with one of the best orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists in Northern California, and I know that I will come back stronger than before,” said Ward, a native of Oakland, Calif. “I appreciate all the support that I’ve already received and my fans can rest assured that I’m going to be back in the ring as soon as possible.
“Despite the injury, I still plan to have a big 2013 and hope to have two fights in the New Year.”
“I was really looking forward to the fight with Pavlik,” Ward said. “Everything was on board and situations happen, but I wish Kelly Pavlik and his team nothing but the best in the future.”
