ANDRE WARD is ready to end his EIGHT YEAR retirement to fight Anthony Joshua.
Ward left the sport in 2017 as an undefeated super-middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion.
AFPAnthony Joshua accepted Andre Ward’s call out[/caption]
But he took to social media to call out AJ, stating: “There is a lot of names out there but there is not a lot of names that make sense. But, there is one name that I’ve brought up before that when you say that name, I can see myself fighting him, present day, today.
“If the business was right and everything was right on that front, me and Anthony Joshua.
“That is a fight that I would take at Wembley Stadium, it’s a dangerous fight for my legacy, it’s a dangerous fight across the board, but that’s a fight that would get me in the gym and get me into the mindset that I need to be in, to go to war.”
Joshua accused 32-0 Ward of wanting a “pay day” but responded with: “Don’t come asking for multi-millions to fight me.
“Put your pride before your ego and let’s rumble.”
Ward retired after two controversial wins over Sergey Kovalev and revealed Joshua would be his top pick to return against.
He said on Ariel Helwani’s show: “It wasn’t a call out, I was just honest about who I would come back against if I came back and I normally don’t have a name.
“I get asked this all the time. Who? Who? For some reason, people think I can still make 175. That’s out. It wasn’t easy making ‘75 in 2017.
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“I’m 41 now. But that’s the type of situation that is dangerous enough to make you prepared but it’s the right situation if I had to come back.”
Joshua, 35, has been out of the ring since September 2024 when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois, 28.
He underwent elbow surgery in the summer and was in talks to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
But AJ is set to look elsewhere for a 2026 comeback bout after Paul, 26, announced a November 14 exhibition with lightweight Gervonta Davis, 30.
Ward meanwhile has taken up punditry in retirement – but continues to fight the urge to fight one more time.
He said: “I’ve been eight years in. It comes in waves. Most days I’m content being right where I’m at. Most days I’m okay doing what I’m doing.”
Ward is ready to end his eight year retirementGetty Images – Getty Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
