"Well, you know, it's impossible for him to be 100%. I'd say on a scale of 1 to 10, he's like an 8 right now. It's just a matter of fights. I'd like to get a couple of more fights to get into a fight groove where everything is just clicking. I mean, after the other night, if we can do that with no obstacles and no setbacks and no difficulties getting a fight, then he's going to take it up to another level...I definitely think that the super middleweight division is more lucrative in terms of opponents and new blood and guys coming into their own. We'll see how it turns out," stated world-class trainer Virgil Hunter, who shared his thoughts on the recent performance of super middleweight king Andre Ward following his lengthy layoff. Check out what he had to say about their future plans and more.
BT: Virg, I know Paul Smith didn't offer much as far as competition goes, but what did you think of Dre's performance after the long layoff?
VH: Well, you know what? He never stopped training. We just took advantage of the time. The guys I had in sparring for him, if he was rusty or had some issues, they were going to let him know. I had Antoine Douglas and some real guns in there. Young boys; 20-0 and 18-0. You know how they are; they gonna let you know. He held them off so that let me know right there because they've been active. You know what, Ben, it went good because I wanted him to get some rounds in and I didn't want him to look for no knockout, trying to get a highlight reel. Just take your time, let it come to you, and do what you're supposed to. At some point, it's just a matter of time. When you break him down and get that first crucial hit through, the first one that stuns him, then it's just a matter of a round or two after that. It kind of happened just like that.
BT: Were you satisfied with what you saw? Do you feel like he's 100% back to where he needs to be and is ready to jump in with the some of the bigger names right now?
VH: Well, you know, it's impossible for him to be 100%. I'd say on a scale of 1 to 10, he's like an 8 right now. It's just a matter of fights. I'd like to get a couple of more fights to get into a fight groove where everything is just clicking. I mean, after the other night, if we can do that with no obstacles and no setbacks and no difficulties getting a fight, then he's going to take it up to another level. He's at a stage of his career where that other level is right there. With his shoulder being healed for the first time since he was 12, it's just right there. He's coming back in the gym in a week, so, you know, he's feeling on point and he's ready to make his move.
BT: This last fight was at 172 pounds. Is he still going to fight at 168 or is he planning on making the more permanent move to 175 pounds?
VH: Well, you know what? I was in Vegas and was asked that question and I stated that he's going to be 168, but the last couple of days thinking about it and stuff, I'm just going to let it be what it's going to be. I think over the next couple of months or something like that, it'll be more obvious what direction that we'll go in. It'll be a team decision.
BT: Paul Smith came in heavy for the fight, so he was much bigger guy that Dre was fighting. Do you think he handled that size pretty easily or do you think he'd have to get a little bigger to deal with the bigger 175-pounders?
VH: You know what? Paul Smith was a cruiserweight that night, but Andre's stength is enormous and guys don't realize that until they get in there. You gotta give Paul Smith his due. He was not out of shape; he just refused to make the weight. I was getting feedback over the weeks, so I know he was training hard. Physically, I don't care who it is. I've got my ideas, but, you know, it's going to be a team decision where we're going to be at. I think over the next 6 to 8 weeks in the gym, you know, working out and things like that, monitoring his weight, and seeing what's going to happen; and I'm encouraging him to stay at a certain weight to ensure if he does what he can to stay at a certain weight, he's gonna either go down or up. That's what's going to tell. You have to get a target weight to stay at. If he does it right, then if he's truly growing into that weight class, then he'll go up or he'll go down. I think that's a better indicator than just trying to decide on which one it's going to be.
BT: After the Super Six tournament, you guys had faced pretty much every big name in the division. You mentioned George Groves already. He's got a title fight coming up with Badou Jack. James DeGale also picked up a title recently after beating Andre Dirrell. Do you feel like the super middleweight division is back to a point where it needs to be cleaned out again?
VH: Well, if he remains at super middleweight, sure. If he goes to light heavyweight, you have Kovalev, maybe Pascal, and Adonis. I'm not being disrespectful, but I don't really know everybody in the light heavyweight division like I know in the super middleweight division. I definitely think that the super middleweight division is more lucrative in terms of opponents and new blood and guys coming into their own. We'll see how it turns out.
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