Andre Ward, the retired, undefeated former boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist, is known for his technical mastery inside the ring and his thoughtful insight as a commentator. As a fighter, he was a puzzle no one could solve, and as a commentator and analyst, he continues to showcase his sharp intellect and deep understanding of the sport.

In an exclusive interview, Ward spoke about the Canelo Alvarez–Terence Crawford mega-fight, which airs on Netflix on Saturday September 13 from Alegaint Stadium in Las Vegas, his transition to boxing commentary, and the current state of the “sweet science.”

“People forget that I was an analyst even while I was an active fighter. I’m full-time now that I’m retired. I have the best seat in the house. I get to stay close to the game. I'm not outside of it,” Ward told BET. “So I'm glad that I'm able to do it, and it keeps me in a good space.”

“Most nights, I'm content just sitting ringside, listening to those punches land, and being glad that none of them are landing on me. But every now and again, that other guy starts to come on—I start to get some crazy thought to get back out there and battle. I don't know if that's ever gone, if that's ever gonna stop.”

According to Ward, the Canelo–Crawford fight is an evenly matched bout between two of the best fighters of the last 20 years. With Crawford moving up two weight classes for the bout, Ward says the fight will be even more fascinating—and exactly what boxing fans love.

“Both of these fighters have been great for a very long time. The weight discrepancy adds a nuance that’s extra special. Crawford has never lost in his career and is ultra-competitive. You really have to show the world how to beat him, because there's no real blueprint. With Alvarez, he brings a lot to the table from a popularity, ticket-selling standpoint—but also his skill set.”

“Both fighters are what I call ‘stubborn for greatness.’ You gotta have a level of stubbornness about you to be a great fighter over an extended period of time. You can do it one time and have a good night, right? I won the title—but can you keep it? Can you keep fending the rest of the division off, and then move up to another division and fend them off? You've got to be a stubborn dude for that,” Ward continued.

"Both of them bring that into the ring. When these two styles, these two mentalities, get together—man, it's going to be a sight to see.”

Ward also noted that the mega-fight is about the legacy of each fighter. Win, lose, or draw, Alvarez and Crawford will have their careers viewed through the prism of their performance against each other.

“This is a game where wins and losses mean something. Should a loss completely erase what either fighter has done? No, absolutely not. They both have a strong body of work. But the truth is, this is the last thing people are going to remember about their last fight,” Ward explained. “They'll never let you forget about it. So a loss would definitely sting, and it's going to have a lasting impact—just like a win is going to do the same in the opposite direction.”

When asked if he had a prediction for the fight, Ward said that putting Alvarez and Crawford together in the same ring would be an instant classic—a fight that boxing fans will talk about for years to come.

“I do have a prediction, but not in that way. I think this fight is going to be an all-time great fight. I don't know where it ranks on paper, but at the end of the night, I think it's going to rank up there—very high—as one of the all-time great fights, super fights, that boxing has ever seen.”