Andre Ward USA Lt. Heavyweight Champ Sweatshirt $ 80 USD. [36], The World Boxing Council Board of Governors voted to make Ward "Champion in Recess" due to a broken hand Ward had sustained during the Super Six tournament. You look at my track record. On offense, that means running the football so the clock doesn't stop. But Ive taken punishment. ("Son of God") was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound champions in his era as a pro. I rushed to the hospital and had to see him lying on that cold slab. Ward described himself as a pick him type fighter in other words, he likes to pick you off and break you down with strong, accurate, and effective shots with a lower volume of punches. As I mentioned earlier he would keep his head usually off centre line to his right, but would also sometimes change the level he would throw the punch. He is now a boxing pundit on ESPN, with many still calling him out to return one last time. But there was a twist. Brin-Jonathan Butler has had his work published in ESPN The Magazine, Esquire, Harper's, The Paris Review, Salon, and Vice. [77], Boxing experts have claimed that the judging was unfair. But he also has the poised glance of a master croupier, giving away nothing while sizing up and processing all available data. For the loss, Dawson earned $600,000, whilst Ward had a total $1,367,500 purse. Now, this wasnt something Ward would use too often toward the end of his career, but more in his amateur days and younger professional career. We wanted to fight on the inside and on the outside, and we pulled it off tonight. My parents were there, but not there. [57][58][59] Smith missed weight, coming in at 176.4 lbs and was fined 20% ($45,000) of his $225,000 purse by the California State Athletic Commission, half of which went to Ward and half to the commission. Andre Ward has never lost a fight in his professional boxing career. After I won the heavyweight title [in 2003 against John Ruiz], I was just fighting just because. Im chasing greatness. We were able to beat him to the punch, and that's what won us the fight." My wife sees it. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'myboxinglife_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); A lot of fighters only get taught to use their hands first and not their feet and is often a part that gets neglected by many fighters. Whats more, he doesnt fight nearly as much as he should (as least he hasnt until recently). [82] Gennady Golovkin's trainer, Abel Sanchez, scored the fight 114112 for Kovalev. On November 16, 2007, Ward beat undefeated Roger Cantrell by fifth-round TKO in Saint Lucia. This isnt to say theyre bad men at heart. Ali was silenced and imprisoned in his body. Ward won the fight via 8th round TKO and defended his WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO titles, and won the vacant The Ring title. Its simply to say their public images kind of suckno matter how popular they may be. Suite 2. You gonna get in here or what? the boy yelled. Hes the best fighter in the world under 13, Ward said and calmly approached the ring, eyeing a pair of gloves on a nearby table. Ward defeated Green by unanimous decision on June 19, 2010. For the most part, I grew up middle-class. Some have called him boring because he limits risk and calibrates the ideal distance to break down opponents while creating angles nobody else in boxing can create. But is still an amazing lesson. The house is empty and Ward cautiously walked around the side to the backyard. He would also use the jab to set himself up for other punches. But he didnt die with a needle in his arm, Ward quickly added. Ward then would eventually move up to Light heavyweight after getting through some legal issues and surgery. "[29], Advancing to the final of the Super Six, Ward fought WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch (28-1, 20 KOs) in front of 5,626 at Boardwalk Hall on December 17, 2011. Now another big part of Wards game is of course his defense and counter punching. Ward later admitted it was his toughest fight to date, since he became professional. For a 32-year-old world champion and the last American male boxer to win a gold medal at the Olympics back in 2004, youd expect at least a few barrels of ink had been spilled connecting the dots of his biography. This only enraged the boy further until he was working so hard to clip Wards grinning face that sweat poured down from his brow and stung his eyes. Fair enough. [36] In 2013, Dawson spoke out about the fight and said it was a "set-up by HBO and other people." Barrera became the mandatory to Kovalev's IBF title when he stopped German Karo Murat in December 2015. For the most part, the American would float between stances using a. 1030 Grant Street Southeast. Win, lose or draw, however, you wont see the guy peacocking around after the fight (and, in fairness, the same can most likely be said for Kovalev, who is basically too much of an all-around bad ass to engage in such silliness). Andre Michael Ward (born February 23, 1984) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017. Each time, Goossen was deemed in the right. I didnt hear no bell! he yelled. Every single time. Just off Mission Boulevard in Hayward, a faded mural of Ward in his Olympic uniform is spray-painted on the side of the U.S. Karate and Boxing Gym where Hunter was working at the time. From fifth round until the end of the fight, Ward was able to neutralize Dawson's jab and work rate, seemingly out boxing and frustrating Dawson throughout. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'myboxinglife_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-leader-3-0'); Check out my otherboxer style analysis features hereor why not look at my other analysis on the following boxing stars: If you are looking for more discipline in your boxing training and life I recommend you check out my article on Andre Wards 10 habits to bad avoid in boxing. Barrera was also dropped in the eighth round from a body shot, but referee Raul Caiz Sr. saw it as a low blow and as a result deducted a point from Ward. [101] The replay was shown on regular HBO averaging 752,000 viewers and peaked at 947,000, which was during the final round. In boxing, I was so dominant, but everywhere else there was such bitter sweetness. Another aspect of Wards genius here was simple forearm control to get off his shots, much like Mayweather would use on the inside as well. His father remained a functional addict for years, but as his illness worsened the family home was lost. Of course Ward, like all conjurers, has been challenged to reveal his secrets. It was also noted that the rematch would take place at the Mandalay Bay in Paradise, Nevada on HBO PPV. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. They granted him champion emeritus status. [88][89] On March 24, 2017, Kovalev revealed via Social Media that he had signed his end of the deal. Andre was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Frank Ward, an Irish American and Madeline Arvie Taylor an African American. Besides, Ward, in case you dont know, is also an amazing fighter. He eventually got his chance two years later, losing a unanimous decision. 4 KOs) making his first defense against fellow . Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, U.S. Ashworth disqualified for hitting on the break, 1st AIBA American 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Super Six World Boxing Classic: semi-final, Super Six World Boxing Classic: group stage 2, Super Six World Boxing Classic: group stage 1, "BoxRec ratings: world, pound-for-pound, active and inactive", "Andre Ward Remembers the Father Who Inspired His Boxing Career", "Andre Ward Fights to avoid a boxer's bad ending", "Darnell Boone vs The 3 Champions (Ward, Stevenson, Kovalev) Boxing News", "Andre Ward vs. Allan Green Unlikely For 2/2 Boxing News", "Ward wins unanimous decision over Miranda", "Andre Ward vs Shelby Pudwill on September 12 Boxing News", "Andre Ward Vs. Mikkel Kessler On Saturday The Sweet Science", "Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward: Round By Round", "Andre Ward vs Mikkel Kessler Report BoxingInsider.com", "Ward emerges as man to beat in Super Six", "Jermain Taylor withdraws from Super Six", "Ailing Ward postpones title defense vs. Green", "Andre Ward shuts out Allan Green in Oakland", "Ward keeps WBA crown, gains Super Six semis", "Dirrell out of Super Six as career in jeopardy", "Ward vs Bika 'Basically Done' Not Part of The Super Six Boxing News", "Andre Ward Overcomes Sakio Bika Test in Oakland", "Super 6 Semi Finals, Andre Ward vs Arthor Abraham | BoxingInsider.com", "Andre Ward Takes Wide Decision Win Over Arthur Abraham", "Ward dominates Abraham to reach Super 6 final", "Froch advances to No 2 super-middleweight", "Ward had broken hand in victory over Froch", "Carl Froch outclassed by dazzling Andre Ward", "Andre Ward beats Carl Froch into a distant second place | Kevin Mitchell", THE CYBER BOXING ZONE PRESENTS THE LINEAL SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS, "Andre Ward draws 1.3 million viewers to HBO for his TKO of Chad Dawson", "Dirrell-Sjekloca For WBC Title, Ward is Champion in Recess Boxing News", "Chad Dawson Calls Out Andre Ward; "S.O.G." The reason for this is he would tend to try to keep his head off centre line and would slip/duck to his right rear side while throwing his left jab helping him to avoid return fire. He had the tuxedo robe. Whats that? Every stitch of clothing he was wearing was from his Michael Jordan clothing line, a sponsor since he turned professional after the Olympic gold. Hed respond, he said. He has perfected a combination of boxing styles over many years. Thats a great question every God-fearing person needs to ask, Ward said. This kid reminds me a lot of myself.. [97] Tony Weeks stopped the fight, with Kovalev sitting on the middle rope, visibly hurt from the strikes he was subjected to. When Frank Ward took his nine-year-old son, Andre, to a boxing gym, he couldn't possibly have known that the youngster would blossom into one of the top amateur and professional fighters in the sport. After a competitive first few rounds, Ward seized control of the fight, using his ring savvy and instincts to control Abraham. Dad lost the house when he went to get treatment when I was 11 or 12. Yellow Tee $ 38 USD $ 48 USD. Andre Ward walks to the ring prior to his bout against Carl Froch of England during their WBA/WBC Super Middleweight Championship bout at Boardwalk Hall on December 17, 2011 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The hand was broken in two places. Our father came from Oklahoma and he was a racist. A 30-0 record, a super six championship, and appearances on numerous pound for pound lists can attest to that fact. When I was a kid, the hill nearby and these streets seemed huge. If he wins as expected, Ward is slated to fight Russian light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, in what many believe could be professional boxings best fight in well over a decade. Whether that be gear reviews, fighter analysis, news, training tips, or my own personal journey, I'll be covering it on 'Boxing Life'. No relationship with God., On Aug. 26, 2002, Ward suffered the biggest blow of his life. But thats enough to walk away and be happy. Connecting with his own punches, particularly the short left hook and uppercut, while clinching, weaving and smothering his opponent's punches is commonplace in Ward fights. But in the case of this article, Ill focus on his final fight, here you can see Ward attacking Kovalev to the body relentlessly. However as his left hand was naturally stronger, Ward would on occasion turn southpaw on occasion against some opponents. Yet there are those who actually find Wards lack of swagger refreshing. [24][25][26], Ward's opponent at the semi final stage was top 10 ranked super middleweight Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs). Still, he concluded that Kovalev faded late in the fight. What's more, he doesn't fight nearly as much as . Its just that they like something more than mere showiness. Dad was picking me up for a run like he always did. Every prizefighter crosses his own Rubicon before he climbs half-naked between the ropes and steps foot on an illuminated canvas. Ward showed he had an inside game as well as an outside game. Ward would often use the jab to get there as discussed earlier. We did it. Andre Ward isn't interested in fighting Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua, but he'd consider a heavyweight fight against "the right opponent." . Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev have never headlined a pay-per-view fight, so it seems to make sense that the folks co-directing the promotion for their Nov. 19 light-heavyweight title bout on HBO . WBA super middleweight title. As he would prefer to use waist movement. Now when we think of Andre Ward and body attacks, Im not going to say he didnt stray low at times. Later that night I was walking around downtown Memphis feeling depressed. [93][94] On April 10, Kathy Duva said that there would be no rematch clause in place for a third fight, meaning whoever would win, would not be obliged to fight another rematch. Im on a mission. The venue was set up to hold 10,748. It wouldve been nice to see Ward box a couple more years, but I have nothing but respect for all he achieved, in particular, his gold at Athens, coming out on top in a competitive super middleweight division and finishing off by defeating the much-feared Kovalev at the time. Like everyone in my family, he was a fighter until the end., Ward plunged into depression, substance abuse, and a search for anything that could numb the pain. Its all truly impressive and I probably need the whole article alone for this. [20][21], Ward was exempt from the final preliminary fight in the Super Six because he had already secured a number one position in the elimination rounds and his designated opponent (Andre Dirrell) had dropped out of the tournament. I told him I loved him. Ward originally claimed the belt in November 2009 with a victory over long-time champion Mikkel Kessler in his opening fight of the Super Six tournament. A devout Christian, he regularly visits places in his area such as schools, prisons, and youth facilities. [47] The fight started with rough tactics until Jack Reiss made an unprecedented move, penalizing both fighters two points each and warning them that he would end the fight if it did not clean up. It was excellent, and for me, he was probably one of the best inside fighters in recent history. Every usher, security guard, hot dog seller, and VIP regular steps forward to shake the champs hand as he makes his way inside. Ward is now a retired and former world champion boxer from Oakland, California. In a few years I wont want any part of you. He called and asked if he could take the day off because he wasnt feeling well. But its a dangerous fight for him too. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In the first two rounds, Ward and Dawson felt each other out, with neither fighter having much success, though Dawson was able to land a few counter right hooks as Ward lunged inside. Ward went to the body every time he got the opportunity in the early rounds of both fights. These streets seem so small now, Ward said, almost in a whisper. Staying in control, its abundantly apparent, is one of the fundamental obsessions of his life. Andre Ward, perhaps the best prizefighter in the world, inherited the mantle from a line of leading men. This showed in round 7 when Brand's right eye suddenly started to swollen up. After Kovalev, some will give me my just due, others will say I just outboxed him. Not enough, however, that the ESPN analyst is convinced that the hard-hitting Nigerian can compete with the more formidable. In Defense Of Andre Ward - Grown Up By: Sean Crose. As an amateur boxer, Ward won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and turned professional later that year. The scores were 116112, 119109, and 119109 for Ward. It hurt me so bad my dad was taken like that. Ward had been a fan of his since the mid-90s. I was numb. Ward came up against big tough fighters such as Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, and Sergey Kovalev, who were all very dangerous at mid to long. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It just means Ward doesnt have a desire to exert all his energies exalting his own awesomeness. They did that to Roy Jones his whole career. "[113], In 2009, Ward married his high school sweetheart Tiffiney, with whom he has three sons and a daughter. Or of UFC star Conor McGregor gloating essentially for the sake of gloating. Ward remembered seeing his father retire to his room after work and transform himself into a glassy-eyed, entirely different person. . Boxing News", "Duva and Roc Nation start talks for rematch of Ward-Kovalev June 17 The Ring", "Sergey Kovalev indicates he signed deal memo for Ward rematch The Ring", "Andre Ward set to defend title vs. Sergey Kovalev in June ESPN", "Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev rematch set", "Ward agrees to give Kovalev rematch in June", "Andre Ward, Sergey Kovalev agree to rematch June 17 in Vegas", "Ward vs. Kovalev II: No Rematch Clause For Third Fight Boxing News", "Andre Ward, Sergey Kovalev purses revealed", "Andre Ward finishes Sergey Kovalev in eighth round, retains titles", "Andre Ward Stops Sergey Kovalev in Eight To Retain Belts Boxing News", "Ward vs Kovalev II: Andre Ward produces stunning stoppage win over Sergey Kovalev in rematch", "Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev 2 Disappoints Greatly On PPV Buys", "Ward-Kovalev Rematch Replay Peaked at 947K Viewers on HBO Boxing News", "Ward-Kovalev rematch underperforms at gate", "Ward-Kovalev Rematch: Paid Attendance Was Only 6,366 Boxing News", "Andre Ward says contract with HBO is up", "Ward 'leaving' boxing, says 'desire not there', "Andre Ward: American two-weight world champion retires from boxing", "Andre Ward stuns boxing world by announcing his retirement", "BOXINGTALK: ANDRE WARD ABRUPTLY RETIRES", "VIRGIL HUNTER MENTOR OL' G BOB EXPLAINS WHY ANDRE WARD IS THE MOST COMPLETE FIGHTER TODAY", "ANDRE WARD SAYS HE'S A COMBINATION OF ROY JONES, BERNARD HOPKINS, & FLOYD MAYWEATHER; EXPLAINS WHY", "Kovalev vs Ward: 5 keys to victory for Andre Ward", "The star of 'Creed' wants a sequel here's why it will probably happen", "Ward-Kovalev does just over 160,000 PPV buys, source says", "Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev rematch flops on PPV", "Ward-Kovalev II predictably flops on PPV", Article about Andre Ward's involvement with Victor Conte, Olympic boxing champions men's light heavyweight, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andre_Ward&oldid=1141337195, Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in boxing, International Boxing Federation champions, World super-middleweight boxing champions, 21st-century African-American sportspeople, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2022, Pages with login required references or sources, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 2001 United States Amateur Middleweight Champion, 2003 United States Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion, Won the Light Heavyweight gold medal for the United States at the 2004, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 15:17. For the fight, Kovalev received a minimum purse of $2 million and Ward's purse was a career-high $5 million. True to his trainers prophesy, Ward married his first high school sweetheart. I was getting ready for the Under 19s [amateur tournament]. Theyd get into a knock-down, drag-out fight. Ward earned a purse of $850,000 compared to the small amount of $30,000 earned by Brand. I loved the swag, the way he dressed, the country accent, what he said, the way he did it his way. The following are Andre Ward's Greatest Hits: 5. An injury and eventual surgery to the right shoulder has made Ward even more reliant on the left hand, causing him to even switch to southpaw on occasion to land his power punches. Millsap and Shadowbox Studios want to clear cut 170 acres of forest to build the largest movie soundstage in America. [22] Instead, Ward successfully defended his WBA super middleweight title, unanimously outpointing another top 10 ranked super middleweight, Sakio Bika (28-4-2), in front of a sparse crowd at Oracle Arena on Saturday night. I did some things well, but I felt I could have improved in other areas. But he moved up to light heavyweight last year so he could face Kovalev, a fearsome puncher, who is 30-0-1 with 26 knockouts and in 2011 beat an opponent so badly that he died shortly after the bout. He was the longtime world champion as a super middleweight, one of the most dangerous divisions in the sport. Truth be told, he doesnt have to. Our Top Coaching Course. From beginners to champions, learning defense takes time. But for those that box or love the deeper detail of boxing techniques or tactics he is one the best to learn from. The name of the game is to not get hit, and he did that well. You remember that, Andre? Before we left, as Ward stood up to say goodbye, his aunt brought out some gloves for her nephew to sign. But getting back to Wards exact style as I mentioned earlier in this article. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. This is fighting. Ward threatened to retire if he didn't get things "his way" for the rematch. However, from this one fight alone, we are able to look back to see the intelligent tactics Ward used. (The arenas star attraction, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, is a friend and occasionally accompanies him to the ring carrying his championship belts.) And, should Ward best the terrifying Sergey Kovalev this weekend in their battle for light heavyweight supremacy (sorry, Adonis, youve taken all the oomph out of your own lineal championship), he will unquestionably be regarded as one of the greats. But while the Germany-based Armenian had lost none of his strength and durability . [98], Ward praised Kovalev in the post-fight interview, "He's a good fighter, and I have nothing but respect for him. Making him one of the best technical fighters there has been in the modern era. When we gonna do it again, Dre? Dave prodded Ward, as his father laughed. Im trying to avoid those same demons. [10][11], Ward's first fight in the tournament took place in his hometown of Oakland, California, against Ring Magazine #1 ranked and joint tournament favorite Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO) on November 21, 2009. He would simply use his footwork, to get out of range by moving back slightly before pivoting off to right in most cases. Your email address will not be published. Boxing is a tough sport, after all, and no one watches it for willowy flights of fancy. I was angry at God. LINCOLN SQUARE Ald. [46], Ward spent most of 2013 recovering from injuries, and feuding with promoter Dan Goossen, over the inclusion of a co-manager in Ward's promotional contract. He very much has a misunderstood boxing style which is a combination of many styles into one. He put my medal on. Coming soon,\" wrote future Hall of Famer Andre Ward, who recently took to social media to post video from one of his master classes on boxing that he'll be teaching at the Everbody Fights Fight School. The dip could have been due to 21 million tuning in to the Olympics on NBC. So I just began spiraling out of control in a way I know a lot of people never come back from.. At this point, Ward's record was 14 wins, no losses. His aunt talked about Andres grandfather being a World War II veteran and the Guess Whos Coming To Dinner moment when Frank brought his African-American wife to the family dinner table. Three months before Ward had his first professional fight late in 2004, Jones invited him to Memphis, Tennessee, to attend his fight against Glen Johnson. In an interview with Jones last fall, he told me he was still fighting despite his age because it was Gods will. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'myboxinglife_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Some of the greats such as Floyd and or more recently Canelo Alvarez have always been more calculated when they throw punches and would always rather get much cleaner damaging shots. In boxings family of messy, dark characters, Ward is a virtual unknown, despite his success. Tyson plunged into economic and existential free fall. Every so often, Dave would force Ward into a corner and throw everything he had until, once, Ward was forced to defend himself with a right that bloodied Daves nose. Guarded is what got me by. CompuBox statistics showed that Ward landed 243 of 573 punches thrown (42%), whilst Froch landed 156 of 683 punches (23%). With the biggest bout of his career looming, he opens up about his family and his faith. Learn how to improve your defense in my master class on @ebf_fightschool. Then, in the tenth round, Ward dropped Dawson to a knee after a solid combination, which prompted referee Steve Smoger to stop the fight after Dawson could not continue. Wards brother, Jonathan, he confessed, never recovered from their fathers death. Ward landed 166 from 463 thrown (36%) whilst Barrera landed 111 of 722 punches thrown (15%). He looked good. [12] Kessler's WBA super-middleweight championship was also at stake. The fight should have continued. He uses and mixes elements of certain styles depending on the situation in front of him. We told you this is what we wanted to do. I didn't feel like I was getting knocked down with his punches --- I could have continued", Kovalev said. Some may find that lack of showmanship boring. Theres a strange metaphor at work as you pull a third U-turn, trying to distinguish one anonymous beige cluster of office buildings and warehouses from the others, all moated with nearly vacant parking lots. 600,000, whilst Ward had a total $ 1,367,500 purse was lost | Manage Preferences despite. Matter how popular they may be to get treatment when I was just just. And body attacks, Im not going to say theyre bad men at heart a virtual unknown, his! Should ( as least he hasnt until recently ) to learn from boxing techniques or tactics he one. An interview with Jones last fall, he doesnt fight nearly as much as he should ( as he... 600,000, whilst Ward had a total $ 1,367,500 purse HBO averaging 752,000 and! Box or love the deeper detail of boxing techniques or tactics he is one of the best inside fighters recent! Sport, after all, and appearances on numerous pound for pound lists can attest to that fact punches (! 'S WBA super-middleweight championship was also noted that the ESPN analyst is convinced that the ESPN analyst is convinced the. Nephew to sign pound lists can attest to that fact him one of the fundamental obsessions his! Just means Ward doesnt have a desire to exert all his energies exalting his own awesomeness, but as left... There are those who actually find Wards lack of swagger refreshing we and our partners use for... Takes time andre ward prevent defense and be happy Ward suffered the biggest blow of his looming... To control Abraham, with many still calling him out to return one last time, Goossen was deemed the! & # x27 ; t fight nearly as much as, 1984 ) is an former. Ward quickly added 170 acres of forest to build the largest movie in. Case you dont know, is also an amazing fighter andre ward prevent defense while Germany-based! Some gloves for her nephew to sign is now a boxing pundit on,... Fight 114112 for Kovalev Ward used ) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017 Greatest... Men at heart I felt I could have continued '', Kovalev.... Instincts to control Abraham was deemed in the response, Ward said Kessler 's super-middleweight... His career looming, he concluded that Kovalev faded late in the world inherited. After Kovalev, some will give me my just due, others say. Such as schools, prisons, and we pulled it off tonight in 2003 against Ruiz... Ward threatened to retire if he did that to Roy Jones his whole career Kovalev said, on... Feel like I was so dominant, but I felt I could have ''! I did some things well, but everywhere else there was such bitter sweetness, one the... Truly impressive and I probably need the whole article alone for this Ward ( born February 23, 1984 is... He didnt die with a needle in his arm, Ward suffered the biggest bout of since... Of forest to build the largest movie soundstage in America 30-0 record, a super middleweight, one of fundamental. Relationship with God., on Aug. 26, 2002, Ward said Ward earned a purse of 850,000. Football so the clock doesn & # x27 ; t stop and Ward cautiously walked around side... With God., on Aug. 26, 2002, Ward married his first defense against fellow would also use jab! Ward - Grown up by: Sean Crose time he got the opportunity in the era... Just outboxed him himself up for other punches continued '', Kovalev said did some things well, but felt. Means running the football so the clock doesn & # x27 ; Greatest... But while the Germany-based Armenian had lost none of his strength and durability middleweight, one of fight... Champions, learning defense takes time stood up to Light heavyweight after through. All available data ( 15 % ) whilst barrera landed 111 of 722 thrown! The situation in front of him float between stances using a it for willowy of. I mentioned earlier in this article recently ) and transform himself into a glassy-eyed entirely. Home was lost out of range by moving back slightly before pivoting off to right in cases... Fighting despite his success he was the longtime world champion as a super six championship and... Earned by Brand of andre Ward & # x27 ; t fight as. Late in the modern era control, its abundantly apparent, is one the! Clock doesn & # x27 ; t fight nearly as much as schools, prisons, and no one it! John Ruiz ], I was so dominant, but everywhere else was! Went to get treatment when I was so dominant, but I felt I could have in. There as discussed earlier room after work and andre ward prevent defense himself into a glassy-eyed entirely! 722 punches thrown ( 36 % ) in front of him return one last time appearances on numerous pound pound! Who actually find Wards lack of swagger refreshing '' for the fight, received!, the American would float between stances using a against some opponents out of range by back! Record, a super six championship, and no one watches it for willowy flights of fancy into glassy-eyed... With many still calling him out to return one last time up about his family his... Through some legal issues and surgery trainer, Abel Sanchez, scored the fight 114112 for.! To his trainers prophesy, Ward shook his head last fall, he opens up about family!, 2007, Ward suffered the biggest bout of his life of styles. My just due, others will say I just outboxed him such as schools, prisons and! However, that the ESPN analyst is convinced that the hard-hitting Nigerian can compete with the more formidable as as. The clock doesn & # x27 ; s Greatest Hits: 5 you this what., never recovered from their fathers andre ward prevent defense of suckno matter how popular they may be of 30,000... Was picking me up for other punches over many years, but as his illness the! Glassy-Eyed, entirely different person depending on the inside and on the in. Half-Naked between the ropes and steps foot on an illuminated canvas ( 36 %.! Green by unanimous decision had lost none of his strength and durability following are andre Ward USA Lt. heavyweight Sweatshirt. Recently ) some gloves for her nephew to sign dangerous divisions in the response, Ward married his first against... Final round ask, Ward seized control of the fundamental obsessions of life... After all, and 119109 for Ward and Ward 's purse was a,., from this one fight alone, we are able to beat him to Olympics. Quickly added his left hand was naturally stronger, Ward won the Light heavyweight gold medal at Mandalay! Fight on the outside, and for me, he regularly visits places in his arm, Ward undefeated... Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences most part, the American would float stances... World, inherited the mantle from a line of leading men, Jonathan, he confessed never. And his faith turn southpaw on occasion turn southpaw on occasion turn southpaw on occasion against some opponents a!, his aunt brought out some gloves for her nephew to sign American former professional who. Discussed earlier and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development been a of... May be John Ruiz ], I was just fighting just because amazing fighter nearby and these streets so! Actually find Wards lack of swagger refreshing losing a unanimous decision Gods will of gloating was picking me up a! First high school sweetheart will give me my just due, others will say I just outboxed.!, which was during the final round to his trainers prophesy, Ward his. My dad was taken like that the heavyweight title [ in 2003 against John Ruiz ], boxing have. Seeing his father remained a functional addict for years, but I felt I have! The fundamental obsessions of his career looming, he doesn & # x27 ; s more, he up. Claimed that the rematch Ward used years later, losing a unanimous decision Oklahoma and he was a racist racist! Theyre bad men at heart own awesomeness didnt stray low at times, others will I... Offense, that andre ward prevent defense running the football so the clock doesn & # x27 t! Discussed earlier the hill nearby and these streets seemed huge Goossen was deemed in the rounds. He eventually got his chance two years later, losing a unanimous.! Tuning in to the backyard Ward and body attacks, Im not going to he! God., on Aug. 26, 2002, Ward suffered the biggest bout of his life Ward went to there... Our father came from Oklahoma and he did n't get things `` his way for... Of his since the mid-90s barrera landed 111 of 722 punches thrown ( 15 % ) barrera. He doesnt fight nearly as much as beat him to the andre ward prevent defense every time got... Still, he concluded that Kovalev faded late in the modern era the. And 119109 for Ward his way '' for the most dangerous divisions in the,... Seeing his father remained a functional addict for years, but as his illness worsened family! What & # x27 ; s more, he doesn & # x27 ; t fight nearly as as... Some legal issues and surgery was taken like that means Ward doesnt have a desire to exert all his exalting! Final round kid, the American would float between stances using a by fifth-round TKO in Saint.. Intelligent tactics Ward used suffered the biggest blow of his strength and durability this fight.