Andre Ward loses contract dispute with Goossen

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, world Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward lost his 2nd court battle to his promoter Dan Goossen in a contract dispute.

Ward’s contract with Goossen was declared valid until Nov. 8, 2016, according to Foster’s ruling.

“It’s now time to sit down with Andre and his advisers to put these legal disputes behind us and concentrate on getting Andre back to fighting consistently inside the ring,” Goossen said. “Andre and I have had success together and there’s no reason not to get back on track as a team to secure his status as the top fighter in the world behind Floyd Mayweather.”

On Wednesday night, Josh Dubin, Ward’s attorney, and James Prince, his manager, issued a statement on Ward’s behalf saying they planned to continue to fight to break the contract.

“We want to be crystal clear: the ‘legal issues’ that [Goossen] referred to are only just getting underway. It is only after a California judge or jury speaks that the legal issues will be resolved,” the statement said. “Today’s decision from the California State Athletic Commission was not unexpected. From the very start, we do not feel that the commission has been looking out for the best interests of Andre Ward, the very boxer they are supposed to protect. To the contrary, for some inexplicable reason, the CSAC has continually bent over backwards to try to accommodate a promoter who we feel is taking horrible advantage of Andre and his career. …

“This is not the end of Andre’s fight to stand up for what he knows is right, but rather the beginning. The CSAC decision has only strengthened his resolve.

“Andre’s lawsuit against Dan Goossen and his promotional company in California Superior Court is continuing to move forward. It has always been Andre’s steadfast belief, as well as ours, that the state court system, not the CSAC, is the proper venue for his dispute with Dan Goossen. It is Team Ward’s belief that the arbitration before the CSAC should not have proceeded while Andre’s lawsuit is pending, so we do not feel that the decision is ultimately going to be binding.”

Foster ruled the contract should be extended for 14 months, a clear Goossen win.

“Of course I’m pleased with the decision. It was the right result both morally and legally,” said attorney Bert Fields, who argued the case for Goossen. “Ward’s a great fighter, but it was Goossen who helped build his professional career and put him in position to command the really big bucks.”