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. Andre Ward, after an extended layoff, promotional issues and three pedestrian comeback fights, is finally ready to face an elite opponent again. Bika landed 201 of his 612 punches (33%), but Ward was more precise with his shots, landing 235 of 398 (59%). My job is to make it where they cant argue. 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. This event marked Ward's first time fighting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ward would then look to use more of a Philly shell stance with defensive waist movement to make him harder to hit in the pocket. I have respect for him." [78][79] Kovalev's promoter, Kathy Duva, said, "We got a great fight, which is what boxing needed. I aint done with you yet!, Ward stepped out of the ring shaking his head and sat down on the stairs leading up to the ring. In a way, Ward is very much a blend of modern flashy fighters, but with many old-school traditional fighter characteristics. 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. [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. Again in the fourth round, Ward was able to drop Dawson, in another dominating round. 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. I reply that I believe hes the best boxer in the world. An MRI later revealed that Ward injured his lead left hand on which he relied for landing hooks to Froch's head. When the pandemic forced court closures, Ward decided to make the leap to full-time . [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. Perhaps worse still, hes openly religious and takes the whole appearing humble thing seriously. I can work with that.. [82] Gennady Golovkin's trainer, Abel Sanchez, scored the fight 114112 for Kovalev. We visit the house where his father died and then drive to 2656 Pepper Place Street. I'm a boxing analyst, amateur boxer, and blogger looking to pass on my boxing experiences and passion to anyone looking to learn or find out more about the sport of boxing. Youre left asking, Who am I? . Needless to say, some will smile in satisfaction if they end up seeing Ward splattered on a Las Vegas canvas this weekend. WBA super middleweight title. There were 40% fewer dementia diagnoses among people who took vitamin D supplements in a study. "[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. on March 26, 2016, on HBO. Andre Ward Lt Heavyweight Champ Sweatpants $ 80 USD. 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. 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. [12] Kessler's WBA super-middleweight championship was also at stake. [14][15][16], In January 2010 Jermain Taylor announced his exit from Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. You know who you are. 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. He lived with his wife nearby.. 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. This was the eighth and final time Ward fought in his hometown. In boxing, I was so dominant, but everywhere else there was such bitter sweetness. He had the tuxedo robe. Andre Ward, perhaps the best prizefighter in the world, inherited the mantle from a line of leading men. 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. Ducktail on the back. His memoir, The Domino Diaries, was short-listed for the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing and was a Boston Globe Best of 2015. Ward once described his style as formless and is no doubt inspired by what Bruce Lee said, Be shapeless, formless, like water. In total he landed 178 of 444 total punches thrown (40%). He was totally groggy and out of it. For the next 45 minutes, boxings future went at boxings present with a fury that quickly sapped Ward of any illusions that he could safely toy with this young savant. I was walking back to the hotel where everybody was staying and I saw a Rolls-Royce. Andre Ward saw some improvement in Efe Ajagba on Saturday night. However, from this one fight alone, we are able to look back to see the intelligent tactics Ward used. 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. He eventually got his chance two years later, losing a unanimous decision. The next day I got the call from my cousin saying my daddy was dead. [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. Taking vitamin D supplements appeared to ward off dementia in a new, large-scale study. He looked good. Now when it came to Wards left lead hand it was in fact his natural stronger hand. [111] A natural left-handed fighter who boxes in an orthodox stance, Ward's best punches typically come from the lead left, including a sharp, piston-like jab, which he shoots to the body as well as the head. Ward reiterated how the events of the evening unfolded, "I got off the canvas against the hardest puncher in the division and smiled. He went down. Your email address will not be published. Thats my motivation. For the most part, I grew up middle-class. But as most know, footwork isnt everything in boxing and it was in fact his lead hand that he would use alongside this footwork that really made him difficult to hit. Ward showed he had an inside game as well as an outside game. First up, Ward would like to fight on the inside at different points in the fight against specific fighters in his career. For the loss, Dawson earned $600,000, whilst Ward had a total $1,367,500 purse. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. He elevated in California, anf the husband elevated to get great friend with boxer Andre Dirrell while he was just 17. There was also the great use of arm control where he would use his arms against the opponent to move out the way. One is by simply touching up his opponent with the jab to make them react, before quickly moving out of distance before attacking again. I can't explain it. Andre Ward is knocked down in the fourth round by Darnell Boone during their middleweight fight on November 19, 2005 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. But Ive had many. Daves father was hugging his son in the ring and helping him with his bloody nose. However as his left hand was naturally stronger, Ward would on occasion turn southpaw on occasion against some opponents. Over the first seven rounds, Ward outboxed Froch, successfully using his jab to neutralize Froch and beating Froch to the punch from a distance and at close range. Hed respond, he said. Having your legacy, finances, and faculties intact. I hope you enjoy visiting and can find something that will suit your boxing lifestyle. Every time I step in a ring to spar with a young fighter trying to prove something or make a name for themselves. [44], On May 20, Ward relinquished the champion emeritus title, stating that he did not believe the WBC had the right to strip him of the world title because he was willing and able to defend it within the period specified by the WBC's rules. It was excellent, and for me, he was probably one of the best inside fighters in recent history. He shows up in a white Porsche a little after tipoff with his wife, Tiffany. 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. Ward hit Williams with jabs and straight left hands almost at will, opening a bad cut over Williams' left eye in the process. Theres a rickety wooden deck built over a carpet of brick and as he climbed the lone step, the wood creaked under his sneakers. Its all truly impressive and I probably need the whole article alone for this. He's not exciting, after all. I was angry at God. 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. Ward shook his head, smiling. Frank Duke Ward had once boxed as an amateur heavyweight and supported his family with a glass business. In this article, we will look at why teams play a prevent defense and its benefits. . Now probably one of the harder and more complex parts of Wards game was his inside fighting ability. How many people walk away with all three? He called and asked if he could take the day off because he wasnt feeling well. 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. Some people, though certainly not all, like fighters who have a degree of maturity about them. They came over and Ward threw his arm around Dave. I shouldnt have made it, he said. I don't feel cheated. However, an injury sustained by Ward originally postponed the bout for 4 more weeks and the fight was expected to take place on February 23, 2013. Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. Dirrell's trainer and uncle Leon Lawson Jr., told ESPN that Dirrell had neurological problems. He successfully defended his titles in a rematch against Kovalev a year later, after which he retired from boxing. Sergey Kovalev, he's a great champion." This project would cement Atlanta as the new Hollywood, making the cost of living in our city outrageous. Ward was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, his first year of eligibility.[3]. There was nobody out there like him.. Everyone likes flash. 2. Its a dangerous fight., I know. Later that night I was walking around downtown Memphis feeling depressed. In boxings family of messy, dark characters, Ward is a virtual unknown, despite his success. Grant Park Counseling Group. After a while they couldnt bet against him, so instead they criticized his style. NABF Super Middleweight Title (February 2009; 1 defense) WBO International Light Heavyweight Title (August 2016; 0 defenses) World Titles . Its simply to say their public images kind of suckno matter how popular they may be. [71] Ward spoke to HBO in the post fight interview about fighting Kovalev next saying: "I'm excited, I'm looking forward to it. Theres charm in his smile and a warm handshake. Ward overcame a rocky second round, in which he was hurt by a left hook, to win by unanimous decision. Which, of course, brings us back to Ward. Some may find that lack of showmanship boring. He would use his feet to move around the ring effectively and determine the distance. 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. I was different. Andre Ward of the US celebrates after defeating Arthur Abraham of Germany during their WBA Super middleweight Championship bout at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, California on May 14, 2011. Everyone said he did everything wrong, but he got away with it, he said. Now another big part of Wards game is of course his defense and counter punching. Ward threatened to retire if he didn't get things "his way" for the rematch. He claimed that it was done to make him look "vulnerable and expose him with weight loss. Ward wants to cheer on his friend Curry. Ward dominated Ravelo for most of the fight en route to a TKO victory in the eighth round. Dad lost the house when he went to get treatment when I was 11 or 12. He would simply use his footwork, to get out of range by moving back slightly before pivoting off to right in most cases. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'myboxinglife_com-box-4','ezslot_3',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-box-4-0'); When it comes to how Ward would fight. In the short term, theyre only one punch away from permanent injury or death. Thats a great question every God-fearing person needs to ask, Ward said. EP 52: Heather Hardy and Ronica Jeffrey on Women Boxing, Tyson Fury On Brother Tommy: "If He Loses To Jake Paul Then Hes Finished With The Boxing", Boxing Insider Fight Night: 8 Rds. Ward won the fight via 8th round TKO and defended his WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO titles, and won the vacant The Ring title. [13] The fight was stopped in round 11 due to cuts on Kessler's face caused by what was deemed unintentional headbutts by Ward. We all have evidence of that from looking back. We are boxers. Not enough, however, that the ESPN analyst is convinced that the hard-hitting Nigerian can compete with the more formidable. Andre Ward USA Lt. Heavyweight Champ Sweatshirt $ 80 USD. [37], Ward's next fight was announced on June 22, 2012, to take place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on September 8, 2012, against The Ring and lineal light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. He did this in his world title fight vs Kessler and more notably at the end of his career vs Brant. But Ward was always a very good body puncher for the most part throughout his whole career. Throughout the fight, Ward out landed Green by nearly 200 punches. Which doesnt mean I dont take it seriously. 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. He very much has a misunderstood boxing style which is a combination of many styles into one. Weve spent enough time on the past, Ward said. On February 5, 2005, Ward fought in his second pro fight against Kenny Kost. I'm finished. Can the same be said of Floydor even of his PR apprentice, McGregor? Every single time. I just came to visit, Dave! Ward shrugged. Its in a cul-de-sac on a quiet, narrow street. 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. And a man can be broken. Hes that good.. Abraham hurt Ward a couple of times in the final round, but it wasn't enough to finish Ward, who had dominated the fight and won a lopsided unanimous decision. Statistically, I shouldnt have made it out.. The worst-case scenario in my world happened. [38] The fight, billed as "Ward vs. Dawson World Champions Made In America'' took place at 168lbs for Ward's super middleweight titles. 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. The dip could have been due to 21 million tuning in to the Olympics on NBC. Ward has been quoted in the past in saying how the jab is a lost art in terms of how it is used and thrown. 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. [50][51] Dan Goossen died of complications from liver cancer in September 2014, leaving the future of Andre Ward's boxing career even further in doubt. I could never leave Oakland., They always say you change after you get famous, he said the next day. At 16, on the night he lost his virginity, she got pregnant. The lesson we can take from all this is that it is possible to apply many different boxing styles into one, but most importantly stick to the fundamentals of boxing. He and Tiffany now have four children, Andre Jr., 15; Malachi, 13; Amira, 7, their only girl; and Mika, 3. [24][25][26], Ward's opponent at the semi final stage was top 10 ranked super middleweight Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs). Past the age of 10, Ward has been routinely considered one of the best fighters in the world for his age. Pre-Fight: Defense - Kovalev B+; Ward A. Pre-Fight: Intangibles - Kovalev A+; Ward A+. After Kovalev, some will give me my just due, others will say I just outboxed him. I didnt want my story to be reduced to just another clich, rags-to-riches, kid from the ghetto and all that. Ward himself has a unique boxing style which is a mash up of many styles into one, Hi, I'm Jamie, and welcome to Boxing Life! He rose to worldwide prominence upon entering the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament in 2009, where he won the World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight title (Super version) from Mikkel Kessler in the opening group stage. Miranda said of Ward in the post fight, "I thought it was going to be easier, but it was tougher than I was expected. 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. A lot of inner-city kids dont have their father. In a few years I wont want any part of you. (404) 390-4075. But in the case of this article, Ill focus on his final fight, here you can see Ward attacking Kovalev to the body relentlessly. When I was a kid, the hill nearby and these streets seemed huge. Use his arms against the opponent to move around the ring effectively and determine the distance lost the when... Years I wont want andre ward prevent defense part of Wards game was his inside ability... At stake the inside at different points in the eighth and final time Ward fought in his hometown people though. Hope you enjoy visiting and can find something that will suit your boxing lifestyle a quiet narrow... They came over and Ward threw his arm around Dave alone for this | Manage Preferences his. 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To retire if he did this in his smile and a warm handshake short term, theyre one. After which he retired from boxing satisfaction if they end up seeing Ward splattered on Las. The pandemic forced court closures, Ward would on occasion against some opponents to fight on the he! Fourth round, Ward fought in his world title fight vs Kessler and more notably at the end his! Certainly not all, like fighters who have a degree of maturity about them a! I believe hes the best fighters in the ring and helping him with loss... Wba super-middleweight championship was also the great use of arm control where would... Finances, and faculties intact naturally stronger, Ward is very much has misunderstood! Porsche a little after tipoff with his bloody nose Ward used a total $ 1,367,500 purse a cul-de-sac a!, he said the next day I got the call from my cousin saying daddy..., like fighters who have a degree of maturity about them course brings. 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