Retained NABF and NABO super middleweight titles. Jones asked Wards permission to wear his Olympic gold medal into the ring. 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. Ward advanced to the semi-finals. But I want people to know what Ive come through and overcome because maybe that can inspire somebody.. Abraham entered having lost two of his previous three bouts. He elevated in California, anf the husband elevated to get great friend with boxer Andre Dirrell while he was just 17. Im chasing greatness. His little boys were sitting there close to me and they went crazy. Ward still has a copy of the sign-up sheet. I was better, and he was better this fight. This isnt my life. Thats a defense mechanism Thats how he survived so long. CompuBox stats showed that Ward landed 80 of 238 punches (34%) whilst Kovalev landed more punches with 95 of his 407 thrown (23%). This was Ward's third fight in eight months, after only fighting three times from 2012 to 2015. This event marked Ward's first time fighting in Las Vegas, Nevada. I give him credit. Im not really sure what your agenda is, he said. Check it out! Brand entered the fight as a 100-1 underdog. 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. Just pacing around. Location. He did this in his world title fight vs Kessler and more notably at the end of his career vs Brant. 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. Suite 2. Barrera became the mandatory to Kovalev's IBF title when he stopped German Karo Murat in December 2015. His last professional fight was a light-heavyweight title defense bout against Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev on June 17, 2017. That I was able to be an inspiration to him on the way up is something Ive always felt honored about.. Nearby Areas. I hope you enjoy visiting and can find something that will suit your boxing lifestyle. The following are Andre Ward's Greatest Hits: 5. He is now a boxing pundit on ESPN, with many still calling him out to return one last time. My job is to make it where they cant argue. They dont tell you that really its everyone else around you that changes. He would touch with Dawson before instead quickly changing the route of attack by throwing a right to the body before going up top again. He called and asked if he could take the day off because he wasnt feeling well. In a statement, he said, "I want to be clear I am leaving because my body can no longer put up with the rigors of the sport and therefore my desire to fight is no longer there. Those guys appear to stand for themselvesand not much else. Kovalev is a defining moment, Ward said softly. They came over and Ward threw his arm around Dave. Hes a grownup. Muhammad Ali, after all, stood for something. Im comin, Ward said under his breath, while doffing his shirt. After all, we want fighters who celebrate the Self above all else, am I right? I sat down to watch him in the third row. Manage Settings It hurt me so bad my dad was taken like that. 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 . Dave was the only person who refused to smile. Yes, he did punch me, but he didn't hurt me. [28], In the post fight interviews, Abraham said through a translator, "I started well, and I thought I did good the first three rounds He didn't hit me, and I was blocking a lot of his shots. He had the tuxedo robe. Dad was picking me up for a run like he always did. [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. 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. I never had one home where I grew up. Your email address will not be published. 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. [12] Kessler's WBA super-middleweight championship was also at stake. (Son of God) was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound champions in his era as a pro. We visit the house where his father died and then drive to 2656 Pepper Place Street. Hes that good.. [62], Boxing Scene reported In January 2016, Ward's light heavyweight debut was set against Cuban boxer Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) at the Oracle Arena. Miranda said of Ward in the post fight, "I thought it was going to be easier, but it was tougher than I was expected. He looked good. In a way, Ward is very much a blend of modern flashy fighters, but with many old-school traditional fighter characteristics. Andre Ward On 10 Habits To Avoid To Succeed In Boxing. Hes a man. Theres charm in his smile and a warm handshake. Ward turned this over for a second. He attended Hayward High School. Had enough? Ward hollered. Frank Ward, the son of an alcoholic, never touched a drop. Its just that they like something more than mere showiness. 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. NABF Super Middleweight Title (February 2009; 1 defense) WBO International Light Heavyweight Title (August 2016; 0 defenses) World Titles . Yet one face stood out. They did that to Roy Jones his whole career. 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. 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. Birth Name: Andre Michael Ward Hometown: Oakland, California, USA Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA Stance: Orthodox Height: 183cm Reach: 180cm Pro Boxer: Record Amateur Boxer: Record Trainer: Virgil Hunter (1994-2017) Manager: James Prince (2004-2017) Now probably one of the harder and more complex parts of Wards game was his inside fighting ability. (404) 390-4075. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Ward showed he had an inside game as well as an outside game. Ward was introduced to the sport of boxing by his father at the age of 9 and then taken under the guidance of boxing trainer Virgil Hunter who became his godfather and trainer for the rest of his career. Ward looked slow in the victory, not looking like the same fighter he was in 2011. "I could never leave Oakland." There are those in this era of Kim and Kayne who undoubtedly believe any semblance of modesty is indicative of false modesty. [101] The replay was shown on regular HBO averaging 752,000 viewers and peaked at 947,000, which was during the final round. 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." if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'myboxinglife_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-banner-1-0'); Ward very much reminds me of a modern but careful version of Joe Louis. Kessler was the strong favorite going into Showtime's Super Six tournament. Andre Ward saw some improvement in Efe Ajagba on Saturday night. Sergey Kovalev, he's a great champion." I didnt hear no bell! he yelled. Ward finished his amateur career with a record of 115 wins and 5 losses.[6]. But Ive had many. Weve spent enough time on the past, Ward said. Ive never talked about my story before, Ward said. Ward threatened to retire if he didn't get things "his way" for the rematch. He was totally groggy and out of it. You look at my track record. [4] Andre's career started when his father took him to U.S. Karate School of the Arts,[5] a boxing gym in Hayward, California, when he was nine years old. On my final night with Ward, he had two places to show me before we parted ways. No relationship with God., On Aug. 26, 2002, Ward suffered the biggest blow of his life. The venue was set up to hold 10,748. Every stitch of clothing he was wearing was from his Michael Jordan clothing line, a sponsor since he turned professional after the Olympic gold. When his father would refuse to give her money for drugs, Ward remembered her hitting him. [55][56] Ward won via TKO in the 9th round. You gonna get in here or what? the boy yelled. I never wrapped my head around the heroin thing until I was a lot older.. I was always the kid in that window just wondering when my mom was coming, he said. That doesnt mean these individuals dont like flash. [64] According to Ward, he wasn't moving up in weight for the money, but rather daring to be great. I was different. 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. On Aug. 6, Ward will face Colombian Alexander Brand at Oracle Arena in Wards hometown of Oakland, California. But more importantly, accurate hard-landed punches will more likely hurt your opponent than hitting gloves/arms. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Now throughout his career, he had one notable but convincing win against Chad Dawson, who was a natural Light Heavyweight and former world champion who had dropped down in weight at the time to fight Ward. Some may find it hypocritical again, cynics will always be cynical. Though the 30-year-old gamely fought on, the knockout he needed to win never appeared remotely likely and he looked a spent man by the end as he picked up the second loss of his 31-fight pro career. Youre left asking, Who am I? . Our Top Coaching Course. Ward landed 166 from 463 thrown (36%) whilst Barrera landed 111 of 722 punches thrown (15%). "[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. Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. But at the time, even with the possibility of the Olympics just a few years away, Wards commitment to boxing began to unravel. "It was a classic hometown decision. In the third round, Ward dropped Dawson with a left hook and dominated the round. But no doubt he couldve done more often than if he wished to. This pattern was repeated for many years over the course of Wards adolescence. I was walking back to the hotel where everybody was staying and I saw a Rolls-Royce. For the most part, the American would float between stances using a. The venue was set up to hold 14,227. Hed follow alongside me in his truck. [103][104], On August 23, 2017, Ward announced that his contract with HBO had expired, making him a free agent. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Theres only a few guys that are all-time greats in the sport, he said. Joe Louis was left a coked-out wreck. I give it everything I have.. 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. You know who you are. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey. I respect him as a champion. Thats when Virgil took me in. Ward trains at Virgil Hunters Hayward, California, gym, next to the San Mateo Bridge. Retained WBA (Super) super middleweight title. It was also noted that the rematch would take place at the Mandalay Bay in Paradise, Nevada on HBO PPV. [39], The fight ended in round ten with a technical knockout victory for Ward when Dawson asked the referee for the fight to be ended with the words: "It's over. 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. Andre Ward celebrates after beating Paul Smith in the eighth round during their Cruiserweight fight at ORACLE Arena on June 20, 2015 in Oakland, California. But beyond a perfunctory interview here and there, its slim pickings. I was getting ready for the Under 19s [amateur tournament]. The fight was billed as No Excuses. His dad died suddenly of a heart attack. Of course, theres no guarantee Ward will pull off such a career defying win. [83] CompuBox stats showed that Kovalev landed more punches, 126 of 474 punches; Ward landed 116 out of 337 thrown 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. With the biggest bout of his career looming, he opens up about his family and his faith. When I was a kid, the hill nearby and these streets seemed huge. Andre Ward fights to avoid a boxers bad ending. He would stay at the stance for too long. 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). [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. Although Abraham was somewhat passive at times, he gave an earnest effort and frequently threw combinations that were mostly blocked by Ward. Was taken like that celebrate the Self above all else, am i right watch him in third... Now a boxing pundit on ESPN, with many still calling him out return... 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