[97] Tony Weeks stopped the fight, with Kovalev sitting on the middle rope, visibly hurt from the strikes he was subjected to. In an interview with Jones last fall, he told me he was still fighting despite his age because it was Gods will. But while the Germany-based Armenian had lost none of his strength and durability . By: Sean Crose. Miranda couldn't stay up with Ward's versatility around the ring. Im chasing greatness. I said hed be all right, but he was out of it, Ward recalled. The prevent defense can also be run in early-game situations. 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. Punching a clock.. You got what you asked for -- now you have to see me on June 17. But beyond a perfunctory interview here and there, its slim pickings. Stop Cop City (SCC) or Defend Atlanta Forest is a decentralized social movement in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, whose goal is to stop construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by the Atlanta Police Foundation and the City of Atlanta.Opponents of the facility are concerned about the growth of policing in the city, which has witnessed several protests against police violence . 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If I seem like Im guarded, I probably am. The fight took place on May 14, 2011, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. [108][109], On December 15, 2020, Ward was announced as being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, his first year of eligibility. One day later, Frank Ward signed both his sons into the gym. But no doubt he couldve done more often than if he wished to. The bout was held on May 14, 2011, at Home Depot Center, in Carson, California and was televised on Showtime. You look at my track record. [52], On February 19, 2015 The Ring stripped Ward of the Ring champion belt due to him not having defended his title against a top #5 contender in the last two years. Im going to win a gold medal and be a great man one day. But to see how cold and hard his body was, its something you can never forget.. Suite 2. Ward looked slow in the victory, not looking like the same fighter he was in 2011. Really down. [24][25][26], Ward's opponent at the semi final stage was top 10 ranked super middleweight Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs). [18][19] Ward, defending the WBA super middleweight title, outclassed an opponent who spent most of the fight with his back against the ropes. Whats more, he doesnt fight nearly as much as he should (as least he hasnt until recently). As Ward finished his workout, he offered to drive me around Oakland to the many homes where he lived growing up. Many claim his boxing style is boring, and to a certain degree, I do understand why people think this is the case. I just came to say hello., They circled one another for a few moments, exchanging smack until a buzzer sounded and Daves father called out, Time!. This full video can be found on my master class page (link in bio). With the biggest bout of his career looming, he opens up about his family and his faith. [71] Ward spoke to HBO in the post fight interview about fighting Kovalev next saying: "I'm excited, I'm looking forward to it. Bika landed 201 of his 612 punches (33%), but Ward was more precise with his shots, landing 235 of 398 (59%). You know who you are. Its just that they like something more than mere showiness. Staying in control, its abundantly apparent, is one of the fundamental obsessions of his life. I lost the fight, fair and square. Ward recalled that the first violent confrontations between his parents began around the time he moved here. His last task and final opponent may be breaking free from that bitter inheritance. WORLD BOXING ASSOCIATION CURRENT CHAMPIONS WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (168 lbs) SUPER CHAMPION Andre Ward Won title: Last Defense: Last Mandatory:. [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. It may not be the kind of punishment my critics expect me to have taken, lying on the canvas unconscious. While others sought the limelight, he resisted it, closely guarding his privacy and a family story that could rival any of his predecessors for pathos. "[99][100], According to Yahoo! I have respect for him." 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. Ward won all 12 rounds on one judges scorecard and was ahead 118110 on the other two. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "[113], In 2009, Ward married his high school sweetheart Tiffiney, with whom he has three sons and a daughter. Gods not a genie. [66][67][68] The fight averaged 1.064 million viewers and peaked at 1.152 million viewers. The three judges scored the fight 118106, 117107, and 116108 all in favor of Ward. We did it. Had enough? Ward hollered. I know, I know, were all supposed to hate Andre Ward. Can the same be said of Floydor even of his PR apprentice, McGregor? In 2011, Ward defeated World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Carl Froch in the tournament final to unify the titles, as well as winning the vacant Ring magazine and lineal titles. Perhaps worse still, hes openly religious and takes the whole appearing humble thing seriously. He attended Hayward High School. As an amateur boxer, Ward won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and turned professional later that year. I didn't feel like I was getting knocked down with his punches --- I could have continued", Kovalev said. His African-American mother was rarely present, battling an addiction to crack cocaine and living on the streets of San Francisco for most of 20 years. In that two- or three-year span I could have lost it all. Statistically, I shouldnt have made it out.. 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. Has God ever told you no? From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. But its a dangerous fight for him too. "I didn't feel the punch. Do you imagine your last day? I ask Ward. At the press conference, he said that it was his desire to drop down in weight and challenge Ward rather than fight lesser-known opponents at light heavyweight. "[106][107] Also in the statement read, "As I walk away from the sport of boxing today, I leave at the top of your glorious mountain, which was always my vision and my dream. And the fact that Ward sticks to what he does best winning rather than gloating, speaks volumes. You gonna get in here or what? the boy yelled. Dirrell's trainer and uncle Leon Lawson Jr., told ESPN that Dirrell had neurological problems. 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. On November 16, 2007, Ward beat undefeated Roger Cantrell by fifth-round TKO in Saint Lucia. On offense, that means running the football so the clock doesn't stop. Making him one of the best technical fighters there has been in the modern era. When its hard to get out of bed two or three days after a fight and she has to help me? When his father would refuse to give her money for drugs, Ward remembered her hitting him. Abraham entered having lost two of his previous three bouts. But for those that box or love the deeper detail of boxing techniques or tactics he is one the best to learn from. [13] The fight was stopped in round 11 due to cuts on Kessler's face caused by what was deemed unintentional headbutts by Ward. How many times did they bet against Floyd? Ward (26-0, 14 KOs), 28, of Oakland, Calif., was training for a Jan. 26 title defense against former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik when he injured the shoulder in a November sparring session. Maybe Ward has one more profound trick up his sleeve: rising to the top of his craft and claiming a happy ending, not just as his reward, but as a central part of his legacy. I didnt feel like I had to. He may not be as flashy as I was, but I wasnt as flashy as Ali was when I came up either, Jones said. On my final night with Ward, he had two places to show me before we parted ways. This is fighting. After a competitive first few rounds, Ward seized control of the fight, using his ring savvy and instincts to control Abraham. Like Ward, hes undefeated, but he can also take an opponent out with a mere jab and has boxing skills which, believe it or not, might come close to matching his power. You aint gonna get away with anything. His pastor, former NFL running back Napoleon Kaufman, has played one of the biggest roles in Wards life since he got his life back on track after his fathers death. Over 12 rounds, Ward threw 289 jabs. On defense, this means being okay with the offense completing short passes over the middle because it keeps the clock running. As Wards parents descended into addiction, domestic violence, financial ruin, bouts of homelessness, and repeated stints in rehab, Hunter would become not only Wards trainer, but soon his godfather and temporary guardian. Ward's amateur career began in 1994. Because shed promise and promise and promise and never show. In 2015, Ward made his acting debut in the American sports drama film and Rocky franchise spin-off, Creed, as the light heavyweight boxer Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler. Andre Ward, S.O.G. Super Middle Weight Andre Ward holds a media day workout at Warzone Boxing Club to promote his November 16 fight with Edwin Rodriguez on November 12, 2013 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. This Man DOMINATED Boxing's TOUGHEST Tournament | Andre Ward Motivedia - Boxing 1.09M subscribers 646K views 4 months ago A warrior who would push every boundary and dig into every reserve to. The cut would force the referee to stop the fight. [61], On November 12, 2015, in advance of his upcoming move up to the light heavyweight division, Ward vacated his WBA super middleweight title. Of course, theres no guarantee Ward will pull off such a career defying win. I finally spotted a mural of Ward on the side of a van parked behind a warehouse. That night is the first game of the Western Conference Finals for the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The case has been to court or arbitration on 3 separate occasions. Boxing is like Jazz, the better it is, the less people appreciate it.. A 30-0 record, a super six championship, and appearances on numerous pound for pound lists can attest to that fact. Andre Ward, perhaps the best prizefighter in the world, inherited the mantle from a line of leading men. I respect him as a champion. The worst-case scenario in my world happened. He might have excelled in other sports, but he chose boxing to concentrate on. He was ready to step up to his biggest challenge against big American puncher Allan Green (25-1, 18 KOs), with the fight scheduled to take place on February 2, 2008, on HBO. But Ive never cheered for or against him. To me, Jones went on, Wards been the model student, person, and citizen in the sport that I always expected him to be. 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. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Yet his role in boxing was never descended from Muhammad Alis brash hero, Mike Tysons villain, or Floyd Mayweather Jr.s Money-obsessed anti-hero. [27] Ward started out slow with Abraham, trying to find a way to penetrate his tight defense. I remember Andre and his brother going to swimming pools in Carson City with Frank and there was nearly always a fistfight with Frank defending his children from the comments from white kids at the pool. The fight was announced in June, with a rematch clause, and both fighters retained their undefeated records through interim bouts. I know Im very guarded. 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. Seriously, guys like Mayweather, McGregor, and others behave like kids sometimes. Which doesnt mean I dont take it seriously. Kovalev is an absolute device of destruction in the ring. From Smith's perspective, he sees a hand obstructing his path to the target, which can be very discouraging when he wants to initiate offense. 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. But instead of sticking to the southpaw stance. [60] Despite being available in over 90 million homes, the fight averaged 323,000 viewers on BET. Ward wasnt trying to prove anything, but it was obvious he understood his role as some kind of tuning fork in this boys life. My wife sees it. We wanted to fight on the inside and on the outside, and we pulled it off tonight. He would simply use his footwork, to get out of range by moving back slightly before pivoting off to right in most cases. I didnt hear no bell! he yelled. Then he grinned and began nodding. Now when it came to Wards left lead hand it was in fact his natural stronger hand. For the fight, Ward earned $1.85 million and Barrera earned a $450,000 purse. 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. [43], On March 23, 2013, the WBC stripped Ward of the WBC super-middleweight title belt for being inactive for a long period of time, and for failing to face a mandatory challenger. This was the eighth and final time Ward fought in his hometown. We visit the house where his father died and then drive to 2656 Pepper Place Street. Theres charm in his smile and a warm handshake. Id given my whole life to boxing and I was burned out, he recalled. The venue was set up to hold 14,227. No relationship with God., On Aug. 26, 2002, Ward suffered the biggest blow of his life. However, as Wards opponents would improve in quality over time, they would for the most part be bigger punchers, better at closing the distance and applying pressure. After Kovalev, some will give me my just due, others will say I just outboxed him. Arthur is strong, and he's a hard hitter, [but] we showed that we can win in a way other than our original game plan [] "I wish the ref had let me fight on the inside, because that's what I had planned for. It was later confirmed that he would fight on June 20, against British Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) at the Oracle Arena in California at a 172 lbs catchweight fight. I've got to go look at the tape. He uses and mixes elements of certain styles depending on the situation in front of him. "[76] Ward received Kovalev's WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles and became a two-division world champion. [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. There were 40% fewer dementia diagnoses among people who took vitamin D supplements in a study. 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. But Ill be long gone by then, he said and grinned. Not acting like Mayweather doesnt equate to false modesty, as some bewilderingly seem to think. "[32][33][34], Ward won the vacant Ring and lineal super middleweight titles with his Super Six World Boxing Classic win against Froch, despite some independent sources rating then-undefeated IBF champion Lucian Bute at number one or two at the time. But for Ward, the jab was a tool to use the opportunity to slip up on the inside on some opponents, much like the great Roberto Duran would do as well. Ward dominated Ravelo for most of the fight en route to a TKO victory in the eighth round. In boxing, I was so dominant, but everywhere else there was such bitter sweetness. He is now a boxing pundit on ESPN, with many still calling him out to return one last time. Ward went to the body every time he got the opportunity in the early rounds of both fights. At the time of stoppage, Ward was ahead 9079, 8980, and 8980 on all three judges' scorecards. Kovalev won the fight", Larry Merchant stated after the fight. Or by being too close for opponents to hit him cleanly or effectively. Back in 2018 former pound-for-pound star, two-weight world champion, and Hall of Famer, Andre Ward, really caught my eye on Twitter. You can watch my video version or continue reading below:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'myboxinglife_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-medrectangle-4-0');https://youtu.be/MEFkGSCqfFIVideo cant be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Andre Ward Boxing Style A True Pugilist | Full Breakdown (https://youtu.be/MEFkGSCqfFI). 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