Virgil Hunter defends Andre Ward after CSAC decision
LAS VEGAS — Trainer Virgil Hunter said he was "in solidarity" with Andre Ward, following the California State Athletic Commission's (CSAC) decision to uphold the RING and WBA super middleweight champion's contract with Goossen Tutor Promotions.
The 30-year-old Ward (27-0, 14 knockouts) claims the contract is invalid for numerous reasons, and has been inactive so far in 2014 as he has tried to sever ties with Goossen Tutor. However, the CSAC's arbitrator, Andy Foster, ruled that the contract is valid until Nov. 8, 2016.
In June 2013, in a prior arbitration initiated by Ward, the arbitrator also ruled Goossen’s contract “valid.” Ward tried again in December 2013 to have the contract held invalid.
"Andre is a man of God, we have a sound foundation with God. We understand how things work in life. All that I can say out of that is that I tend to keep my thoughts to myself because it's not necessry to put it out there like that," said Hunter of Ward, who has not fought since winning a unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriguez in November. "I am in alliance with my kid. I'm in solidarity with my kid. I'm 60 years old. I understand how things work. I've been through it all. The civil rights and the whole bit. The South, the whole bit, so I understand how things work. That's all that I have to say about it."
Hunter spoke to RingTV.com after Thursday's final undercard press conference at the MGM, where his other fighter, Amir Khan,will face Luis Collazo on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather's defense of his RING and WBC 147-pound championships against WBA counterpart Marcos Maidana.
Although Khan has a victory over Maidana, Mayweather chose to face the Argentine instead.
"It was Floyd's decision, and we have to respect that. You just have to play the hand that you're dealt. So you move on. If you perform the way that I think you can perform, and you display the things that you can do, then you'll get the fight that is demanded, and you will be better for it," said Hunter. "I think that it would be based on the performance, because Floyd has pretty much depleted the division. If Amir could display something that the public recognizes as something that [Floyd] hasn't fought against or at any time at all, then Khan's particular style is unique to him."