By Edward Chaykovsky

Olympic gold medal winner Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) is only a few weeks away from making his official light heavyweight debut when he faces Alexander Brand (24-1, 19 KOs) on November 21st at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The fight will be the co-featured attraction for Miguel Cotto's defense of the WBC middleweight championship against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Ward has received a lot of heat from the critics for his selection of Brand and very few were happy with his recent selection of Paul Smith, who was battered by the unbeaten boxer in June.

The constant criticisms will not influence any of his future decisions. Ward is focused on doing what he feels ire the best possible moves for his career.

“No disrespect, but I don’t make decisions based on opinions. Doesn’t factor in at all,” Ward told The Los Angeles Times.

Brand is the first step in Ward's recently finalized multi-fight agreement with HBO - and that agreement includes a 2016 showdown with light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, who is viewed as one of the best and most feared fighters in the sport.

“I don’t owe any explanations for anybody I’m fighting. I do feel at times like I’m always proving myself. But I also feel that I’m proven. I’ve proven I can get to the mountaintop. ... People are entitled to their opinion, I respect them, but it doesn’t mean they’re right.”

“I’m on a mission to be one of the greatest fighters who ever laced up a pair of gloves, a guy who they say fought the best and beat the best. And when it’s over, all the debaters, they can debate. I know what I dedicate to the sport and what kind of fighter I am -- with or without the support of some of the boxing media. What I’m telling you is, don’t believe how the critics are trying to leave me perceived. It’s not accurate.”