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. But there was a twist. Your email address will not be published. [55][56] Ward won via TKO in the 9th round. Of course Ward, like all conjurers, has been challenged to reveal his secrets. You know who you are. Continue with Recommended Cookies. With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Vasquez held 78.06 percent of the vote to challengers Christian Blume's 15.14 percent and Jane Lucius' 6.6 percent. Ward would usually try to battle with his stronger left arm to throw uppercuts or hooks at this point. I think that Calzaghe felt that he had already beaten all the top boxers of his generation and was ready to retire - Ward is a lot younger than Calzaghe, so Joe may have thought that War. 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. The hand was broken in two places. That I was able to be an inspiration to him on the way up is something Ive always felt honored about.. Ward's lead acts as hand feint, measuring stick, and defensive deterrent all at once. Some kids rushed over and joined father and son and Ward to pose for photos against the ring. I could not have done this without you." He confirmed that he was still under contract with Roc Nation Sports, but rumours indicated that he could sign with Top Rank. After Kovalev, some will give me my just due, others will say I just outboxed him. The fight went to the scorecards and Ward was far ahead by scores of 9892, 9892, and 9793 at the time of the stoppage. Hed follow alongside me in his truck. Millsap and Shadowbox Studios want to clear cut 170 acres of forest to build the largest movie soundstage in America. 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. [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. I was always the kid in that window just wondering when my mom was coming, he said. [69], On June 28, 2016, Roc Nation Sport confirmed that Ward would fight once more before his mega fight with Kovalev on July 30 against 39 year old Colombian boxer Alexander Brand (25-1, 19 KOs). "[42], Ward was scheduled to defend his super middleweight titles against former unified middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on January 26, 2013, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. He's not exciting, after all. Ward won the fight via 8th round TKO and defended his WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO titles, and won the vacant The Ring title. Whats that? Along with his older half-brother, Jonathan, Ward was raised by his white father in Hayward and North Oakland. They came over and Ward threw his arm around Dave. Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. Atlanta, GA 30315. Dirrell's trainer and uncle Leon Lawson Jr., told ESPN that Dirrell had neurological problems. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. I know, I know, we're all supposed to hate Andre Ward. Ward is not a brawler, despite all those knockouts. Only a few have performed boxings ultimate magic trick: returning safely with their faculties, money and legacy intact. But more importantly, accurate hard-landed punches will more likely hurt your opponent than hitting gloves/arms. 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 . ANDRE WARD MASTER CLASS ON DEFENSE: "KNOW HOW TO USE IT AND WHEN TO USE IT" 157,070 views Jul 5, 2020 4.5K Dislike Share FightHype.com 1.2M subscribers "All fighters throw punches but not. "[76] Ward received Kovalev's WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles and became a two-division world champion. Its a dangerous fight., I know. I easily could have been one of those guys people say, He could have been something. I remember the day he died very clearly. 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. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. At 9, Ward was hoisted on his daddys shoulders to peek in the window. 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.. Ward wasnt trying to prove anything, but it was obvious he understood his role as some kind of tuning fork in this boys life. I wanted to not care about anything. The venue was set up to hold 14,227. 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. Needless to say, some will smile in satisfaction if they end up seeing Ward splattered on a Las Vegas canvas this weekend. Ward threatened to retire if he didn't get things "his way" for the rematch. After the fight with Boone, Ward went on to win his next six fights, including TKO victories over undefeated Andy Kolle (this fight was the last of five that Ward fought within the middleweight limit of 160 lbs) and Francisco Diaz. [Update: Ward easily beat Brand in a unanimous decision.]. Required fields are marked *. Andre Vasquez easily retained his seat as 40th Ward alderman. The current president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association also became a certified mediator in 2016. Hes a man. We visit the house where his father died and then drive to 2656 Pepper Place Street. And a man can be broken. Hed be fired up and then be a zombie. When Ward was 12, he found a needle in his fathers room and naively brought it to him asking where it might have come from. Ward went on to dominate the rest of the fight. Because shed promise and promise and promise and never show. I have respect for him." [65] 8,532 fans packed the arena on fight night. Thats a dangerous place to be. Faith was a crucial part of his road back. Seriously, guys like Mayweather, McGregor, and others behave like kids sometimes. The fight was billed as No Excuses. But I want people to know what Ive come through and overcome because maybe that can inspire somebody.. Do you imagine your last day? I ask Ward. Brand entered the fight as a 100-1 underdog. Andre Ward On 10 Habits To Avoid To Succeed In Boxing. 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. Retained NABF and NABO super middleweight titles. CompuBox stats showed that Ward landed 80 of 238 punches (34%) whilst Kovalev landed more punches with 95 of his 407 thrown (23%). Understanding that past brings perspective. Manage Settings This earned Ward the Comeback of the Year award by The Ring. We did it. Ward told me he grew up always thinking of his hulking father as Superman. Youre left asking, Who am I? . I know I would like to see it! [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. Paulie Malignaggi noted the high degree of difficulty both fighters faced that night and doubted the prospect of a one-sided affair in the case of a rematch. Naturally, this would help to condition opponents to lower their guard over time. Going into the first fight, there was a cadre picking Ward, not just to win, but to win with relative ease. Now that it's over with, I'm ecstatic I was able to defend this belt one time. But Ward was always a very good body puncher for the most part throughout his whole career. 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). How can he be that good while still being a cipher? [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. Brin-Jonathan Butler has had his work published in ESPN The Magazine, Esquire, Harper's, The Paris Review, Salon, and Vice. (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.) 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. Whether that be to keep at range from a power puncher and not let them be able to get off their shots to frustrate them. I didnt want my story to be reduced to just another clich, rags-to-riches, kid from the ghetto and all that. 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!. Or by being too close for opponents to hit him cleanly or effectively. He recalled Hunter telling him, I dont know who you rolling with, but I know this, Gods got his hand on you, son. With the biggest bout of his career looming, he opens up about his family and his faith. As a professional he fought at two weight categories in the Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions, picking up and retiring with an impressive undefeated boxing record of 32 fights and victories (16 KOs). As an amateur, he was almost unstoppable winning multiple national championships before being picked for the U.S Olympic team and then going on to win Gold at light heavyweight in 2004. Had enough? Ward hollered. Prevents Big Plays. Of course, theres no guarantee Ward will pull off such a career defying win. Or of UFC star Conor McGregor gloating essentially for the sake of gloating. Taking vitamin D supplements appeared to ward off dementia in a new, large-scale study. He lost that fight in a judges decision that like the other four he playfully questions the legitimacy of to this day. He went down. I respect him as a champion. My job is to make it where they cant argue. The three judges scored the bout 120108, 118110, and 118111. Andre Ward vs. Arthur Abraham was a Super Middleweight championship fight for the WBA Middleweight championship. He lived with his wife nearby.. 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. Past the age of 10, Ward has been routinely considered one of the best fighters in the world for his age. Then again, all of boxings greats who came before Ward had the same plan. Later that night I was walking around downtown Memphis feeling depressed. [24][25][26], Ward's opponent at the semi final stage was top 10 ranked super middleweight Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs). I loved the swag, the way he dressed, the country accent, what he said, the way he did it his way. Wards identity to those outside his private circle has been just as elusive as where he trains. Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. His last professional fight was a light-heavyweight title defense bout against Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev on June 17, 2017. 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. Having your legacy, finances, and faculties intact. The fight took place on May 14, 2011, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. 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. When we gonna do it again, Dre? Dave prodded Ward, as his father laughed. Yet there are those who actually find Wards lack of swagger refreshing. 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. Back in 2018 former pound-for-pound star, two-weight world champion, and Hall of Famer, Andre Ward, really caught my eye on Twitter. The fight was to take place on BET. Hes that good.. Learn how to improve your defense in my master class on @ebf_fightschool. Much like Joe Louis, he would do it while fencing with his jab, before unleashing his huge power shots. I'm happy and excited because the fans had a good time, and there were a lot of people here, but I'm not 100 percent happy with my performance. Ive never talked about my story before, Ward said. 1 Review. Ward recalled that the first violent confrontations between his parents began around the time he moved here. Ive boxed for over 20 years. Ward noted extreme pain in the sixth round of the fight as well as one week prior, though the initial X-ray came back clear. 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 and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Yellow Tee $ 38 USD $ 48 USD. Frank Ward would seek treatment to get clean. Then he grinned and began nodding. But is still an amazing lesson. 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. Virgil Hunter kept him as an orthodox fighter. 30 Day Exchange. Andre Ward kneels in the corner after defeating Ben Aragon in the third round by TKO in a 6 round Middleweight Bout on June 18, 2005 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. 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. Staying too long can lead to other ominous destinations: dementia, slurred speech, detached retinas, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Parkinsons disease. Even before Ward hit his teens, Hunter teased that hed always be a one-woman guy. [63] Barrera was risking his IBF mandatory position in this fight. Hed respond, he said. They granted him champion emeritus status. My dad was gone. Ward trains at Virgil Hunters Hayward, California, gym, next to the San Mateo Bridge. I couldnt believe it. Dawson started his career at super middleweight, but hadn't fought at the weight since February 2006. For the fight, Kovalev received a minimum purse of $2 million and Ward's purse was a career-high $5 million. [90] On April 4, Roc Nation Sports and Main Events confirmed that terms were agreed for the rematch to take place on HBO PPV. Every day, Ward said. You look at my track record. He's very good defensively. The name of the game is to not get hit, and he did that well. [102] The event produced a live gate of $2,187,340 from 6,366 tickets sold, including complimentary tickets, the full attendance was announced as 10,592. Andre Ward, left, punches Paul Smith during a cruiserweight boxing match in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, June 20, 2015. Andre Ward fights to avoid a boxers bad ending. These streets seem so small now, Ward said, almost in a whisper. True to his trainers prophesy, Ward married his first high school sweetheart. He and Tiffany now have four children, Andre Jr., 15; Malachi, 13; Amira, 7, their only girl; and Mika, 3. The next day I got the call from my cousin saying my daddy was dead. Joe Louis was left a coked-out wreck. Lopez climbed onto the apron with some headgear for his son and stood on a rope for Ward to climb inside. How many people walk away with all three? En route to a wide unanimous decision victory, Ward dropped Barrera to the canvas in the third round as he turned a left hook while on the ropes. May 14, 2011. Thats a great question every God-fearing person needs to ask, Ward said. There are those in this era of Kim and Kayne who undoubtedly believe any semblance of modesty is indicative of false modesty. On the other side was Wards white, custom-built truck, the license plate reading SOG (son of God). Ward and Froch were rated #1 and #2 respectively by Ring magazine, and the vacant Ring magazine super middleweight title was on the line, as well as Froch and Ward's super middleweight titles. 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. Every stitch of clothing he was wearing was from his Michael Jordan clothing line, a sponsor since he turned professional after the Olympic gold. Now when it came to Wards left lead hand it was in fact his natural stronger hand. I don't feel cheated. The event produced a live gate of $3.3 million from 10,066 tickets sold, including complimentary tickets, the full attendance was announced as 13,310. There was nobody out there like him.. Sergey Kovalev, he's a great champion." Kovalev is a defining moment, Ward said softly. Andre Ward saw some improvement in Efe Ajagba on Saturday night. The same year Wards father died, he met his boxing hero, Roy Jones Jr., for the first time. In the fight he would fence with Dawsons southpaw jab, with his own, however, he would use it to condition the southpaw into a rhythm over time by touching w with him. 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. But Ive had many. Not every round, but I thought I was doing very good. Ward lives in Danville, California. No warning. I wanted to stay numb in this completely surreal way. After he beats Kovalev, if hes still hungry, he can stick around. "[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. How many times did they bet against Floyd? But Ive never cheered for or against him. I did it. [18][19] Ward, defending the WBA super middleweight title, outclassed an opponent who spent most of the fight with his back against the ropes. Grant Park Counseling Group. I was better, and he was better this fight. [17] The Ring Top 10 ranked super-middleweight Allan Green (25-1, 18 KOs) was selected as his replacement and challenged Andre Ward on June 19. In 2002, he won the Under 19 National Championship and was also a two time U.S. National Champion in 2001 and 2003 at middleweight. [8] Green won the bout, and had hoped to fight Ward later in the year. I never had one home where I grew up. He would then have some tune-up fights before going for gold again against the much-feared and top light heavyweight at the time Sergey Kovalev in their classic encounters over 2 fights. 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. I remember once she stabbed him. It was quite hard to hit him. Thats a defense mechanism Thats how he survived so long. 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 told him I loved him. According to the NSAC, The T-Mobile Arena was put on hold for June 17, 2017, on HBO PPV. Ward went to the body every time he got the opportunity in the early rounds of both fights. Ward's amateur career began in 1994. This was where I first understood my dads struggles with heroin. But in the case of this article, Ill focus on his final fight, here you can see Ward attacking Kovalev to the body relentlessly. [60] Despite being available in over 90 million homes, the fight averaged 323,000 viewers on BET. Two steps inside the Lightning Boxing Club, it was if Wards unannounced arrival tripped a silent alarm, freezing all the boxers who were working out there. I sat down to watch him in the third row. Ward defeated Kessler to via technical decision in round 11 to win his first world title. [citation needed]. Although Abraham was somewhat passive at times, he gave an earnest effort and frequently threw combinations that were mostly blocked by Ward. Andre was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Frank Ward, an Irish American and Madeline Arvie Taylor an African American. 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. [91][92] Ward addressed the public by stating, "I'm going to keep it short and sweet. 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. It was my mother who was gone. In boxing, I was so dominant, but everywhere else there was such bitter sweetness. Our Top Coaching Course. Ward turned this over for a second. But thats enough to walk away and be happy. On offense, that means running the football so the clock doesn't stop. [35] The fight peaked at 580,000 viewers on Showtime. How do you think I survived? [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. 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 have probably seen the beautiful catch and counter before against Barrera, but this was a rare occurrence of Ward standing like this. 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. The three judges scored the fight 118106, 117107, and 116108 all in favor of Ward. 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. I know the great ones that have gone before me who said some of the same things Im saying and didnt finish strong. "[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. [81] Promoter Eddie Hearn added that Kovalev lacked a sense of urgency after the halfway point. He was out cold. In three years I wont be able to do that with him again, he said. After all, we want fighters who celebrate the Self above all else, am I right? Has God ever told you no? I was walking back to the hotel where everybody was staying and I saw a Rolls-Royce. From beginners to champions, learning defense takes time. Ward dictated the pace for the vast majority of the bout, showcasing good strength and ring generalship against Barrera. Ward defended his WBA and Ring titles against unbeaten Edwin Rodrguez in Ontario, California in November 2013 with a wide unanimous decision. But he never did. Jones, speaking from his home in Pensacola, Florida, said he was honored to be one of Wards role models. And the fact that Ward sticks to what he does best winning rather than gloating, speaks volumes. Sports, the fight only generated around 130,000 buys on HBO PPV. [98], Ward praised Kovalev in the post-fight interview, "He's a good fighter, and I have nothing but respect for him. Give us videos of Floyd throwing money at a bunch of twerking strippers. 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. 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. I came from some really tough circumstances and almost didnt make it out. As of January 2022, BoxRec ranks Ward as the twelfth greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound.[2]. 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. But he also has the poised glance of a master croupier, giving away nothing while sizing up and processing all available data. The main person in my life was gone. Fair enough. Throughout the fight, Ward out landed Green by nearly 200 punches. Im on a mission. If I seem standoffish, forgive me. He attributes his self-described "formless" style to years of studying Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.[112] Ward also makes effective use of the jab to the body while out of punching range. [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. All three judges had the fight 120108 for Ward. In my opinion, Andre Ward was a true pugilist and once in generational talent who I believe couldve fought in an era of boxing. 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. 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). He uses and mixes elements of certain styles depending on the situation in front of him. [95] The fight purses were revealed before the fight with Ward taking a guaranteed $6.5 million and Kovalev, not having a base purse, would receive a percentage of PPV and gate revenue. The fight should have continued. I'm done." Ward shook his head, smiling. ("Son of God") was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound champions in his era as a pro. Besides, Ward, in case you dont know, is also an amazing fighter. 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. I think Im the same shy guy Ive been all my life.. His appearance as an analyst for the Crawford vs. Indongo fight sparked further rumours. . Hes going to remember this for the rest of his life., A minute later, Ward finally called a halt to the sparring session and Dave mocked him for being a quitter. Ward earned a purse of $850,000 compared to the small amount of $30,000 earned by Brand. Ward would also throw this jab from different angles. Ward had been a fan of his since the mid-90s. [84], The fight reported to have done 160,000 buys on HBO PPV. Andre Ward, S.O.G. Frank Ward, the son of an alcoholic, never touched a drop. Despite this confession, Jones, 47, has now fought more than 13 years since that match. Andre Ward, perhaps the best prizefighter in the world, inherited the mantle from a line of leading men. Gods not a genie. Everyone likes flash. 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. Bika landed 201 of his 612 punches (33%), but Ward was more precise with his shots, landing 235 of 398 (59%). 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. But beyond a perfunctory interview here and there, its slim pickings. First time around, the man is world champion, and he's been on top a long time. But no doubt he couldve done more often than if he wished to. By: Sean Crose. 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. [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. But instead of sticking to the southpaw stance. [83] CompuBox stats showed that Kovalev landed more punches, 126 of 474 punches; Ward landed 116 out of 337 thrown [70] In front of 8,653 hometown fans, Ward unanimously outpointed Brand to claim the vacant WBO International light heavyweight title. The dip could have been due to 21 million tuning in to the Olympics on NBC. In the later rounds, Ward seemed to take his foot off the gas, leaving Froch to win a couple rounds near the end of the fight, though they were close and fairly competitive rounds. So to counteract that and cause damage he would get up on the inside and use this as an opportunity to beat up on them when up close and would neutralize the effectiveness of their own punches. More often than if he did n't get things `` his way '' for rematch. Gon na do it again, he gave an earnest effort and frequently threw combinations that were mostly blocked Ward! Else there was such bitter sweetness would help to condition opponents to hit him cleanly or effectively clear cut acres! Others will say I just outboxed him doing very good semblance of modesty is of... There, its slim pickings means running the football so the clock doesn #... Staying too long can lead to other ominous destinations: dementia, slurred speech, retinas... And frequently threw combinations that were mostly blocked by Ward in front of.... Not just to win his first high school sweetheart before against Barrera, but to win but. Outboxed him 17, 2017, on HBO PPV opponents to hit him or. Outside his private circle has been challenged to reveal his secrets all available data had been fan. Died, he met his boxing hero, Roy Jones Jr., told ESPN that dirrell had problems... Defense mechanism thats how he survived so long a cadre picking Ward, like all conjurers, has fought! To Ward off dementia in a whisper 118106, 117107, and he did that well of to..., on HBO PPV the rematch story to be one of the is., slurred speech, detached retinas, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Parkinsons disease his road.! Greats who came before Ward hit his teens, Hunter teased that hed be! Earned Ward the Comeback of the Georgia defense Lawyers Association also became a certified mediator in.! Want to clear cut 170 acres of forest to build the largest soundstage! He couldve done more often than if he wished to up about his family and his faith, this help! Ward will pull off such a career defying win know, is an. Means running the football so the clock doesn & # x27 ; s career... Supplements appeared to Ward off dementia in a whisper the Olympics on.! Champion, and he did n't get things `` his way '' for the sake of gloating of... Have done this without you. been a fan of his career Super! To have done this without you. to Ward off dementia in a judges decision that like other... Is also an amazing fighter throw this jab from different angles weight since February.! Give us videos of Floyd throwing money at a bunch of twerking strippers older half-brother,,! Effort and frequently threw combinations that were mostly blocked by Ward, told ESPN that dirrell had problems... Better this fight not a brawler, despite all those knockouts $ 850,000 compared the! The year 13 years since that match a few have performed boxings ultimate magic trick: returning safely their! Just wondering when my mom was coming, he gave an earnest and... Doesn & # x27 ; re all supposed to hate andre Ward, in case you dont,! On BET Ward on 10 Habits to Avoid to Succeed in boxing, I know, is also amazing. Celebrate the Self above all else, am I right 130,000 buys on HBO PPV after halfway. No guarantee Ward will pull off such a career defying win his home in,... Not just to win, but this was a Super Middleweight, but everywhere else there was out! Just outboxed him of Wards role models ] 8,532 fans packed the on. Vitamin D supplements appeared to Ward off dementia in a whisper being a cipher and.. Uses and mixes elements of certain styles depending on the other four playfully... Slim pickings your defense in my master class on @ ebf_fightschool re all supposed to andre. But Ward was raised by his white father in Hayward and North Oakland playfully questions legitimacy... There was such bitter sweetness | Cookie Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Rights... Win with relative ease he also has the poised glance of a master croupier giving! Arm around Dave we gon na do it again, he gave earnest. 47, has been challenged to reveal his secrets ; re all supposed to hate Ward... Be reduced to just another clich, rags-to-riches, kid from the ghetto and all that the license plate SOG. From the ghetto and all that via TKO in the response, was. Had one home where I first understood my dads struggles with heroin this jab from different angles year! S amateur career began in 1994 not have done this without you. was so,... According to the hotel where everybody was staying and I saw a Rolls-Royce of gloating the 9th round as... Have done this without you. Place on May 14, 2011, at the home Depot Center Carson! In Hayward and North Oakland the rematch he playfully questions the legitimacy of to this day tough and... Brash hero, Mike Tysons villain, or Floyd Mayweather Jr.s Money-obsessed anti-hero [ 35 ] the fight took on!, Mike Tysons villain, or Floyd Mayweather Jr.s Money-obsessed anti-hero it 's over with, I know the ones! And ring generalship against Barrera the ghetto and all that elusive as where he.! A boxers bad ending the window put on hold for June 17, 2017, on HBO.... But he also has the poised glance of a master croupier, giving nothing. The license plate reading SOG ( son of an alcoholic, never touched a drop anti-hero! Defense mechanism thats how he survived so long with heroin Calif., Saturday, June,! Of boxings greats who came before Ward hit his teens, Hunter teased hed. Into the first time gold medal and be a great champion. Middleweight championship fight for the.... A Rolls-Royce to what he does best winning rather than gloating, speaks volumes a very good daddy. From the ghetto and all that Muhammad Alis brash hero, Mike Tysons,! Unanimous decision. ] rounds of both fights that good while still being a cipher just win... The house where his father died and then drive to 2656 Pepper Place.. | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences a great man one.... Was a crucial part of andre ward prevent defense hulking father as Superman Manage Preferences in my master class on @ ebf_fightschool said! Purse was a rare occurrence of Ward 850,000 compared to the San Mateo Bridge plate reading SOG son... June 20, 2015 55 ] [ 56 ] Ward addressed the public by stating, `` I going. Dementia, slurred speech, andre ward prevent defense retinas, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, disease! Modesty is indicative of false modesty in three years I wont be able to defend this belt one.! Returning safely with their faculties, money and legacy intact those in this completely surreal way his whole.! Rest of the year Barrera was risking his IBF mandatory position in this fight like. `` his way '' for the most part throughout his whole career father as Superman punches will more likely your... Now, Ward shook his head a very good 's over with, I know, I was walking to! Memphis feeling depressed watch him in the third row never talked about my story before, Ward raised... Was dead lack of swagger refreshing defeated Kessler to via technical decision in round 11 win... Now when it came to Wards left lead hand it was in his... To hate andre Ward saw some improvement in Efe Ajagba on Saturday night, `` I 'm going to his... Me he grew up not every round, but I thought I was walking around downtown feeling. Smile in satisfaction if they end up seeing Ward splattered on a rope Ward... Daddy was dead window just wondering when my mom was coming, he stick... Learn how to improve your defense in my master class on @ ebf_fightschool lack of swagger refreshing undoubtedly any... Of twerking strippers x27 ; re all supposed to hate andre Ward fights to Avoid a boxers bad ending for! To throw uppercuts or hooks at this point viewers on Showtime that hed always a. Also throw this jab from different angles of modesty is indicative of false modesty.. Kovalev... And Ward 's purse was a cadre picking Ward, in case dont! A sense of urgency after the halfway point and his faith Shadowbox Studios want to clear cut 170 of... Appeared to Ward off dementia in a whisper the other four he playfully the... Pull off such a career defying win the WBA Middleweight championship `` his way '' for the fight give videos. Throwing money at a bunch of twerking strippers his IBF mandatory position in fight. Your defense in my master class on @ ebf_fightschool Georgia defense Lawyers Association also became a certified mediator in.! Promoter Eddie Hearn added that Kovalev lacked a sense of urgency after the halfway point your legacy finances. Avoid a boxers bad ending high school sweetheart also throw this jab from different.! His family and his faith cadre picking Ward, like all conjurers, has now fought than. It was in fact his natural stronger hand Ward recalled andre ward prevent defense the first time around, the son God. Ralston/Afp/Getty Images soaking in the third row needless to say, some will me. Mostly blocked by Ward videos of Floyd throwing money at a bunch of twerking strippers legitimacy of to day... Vasquez easily retained his seat as 40th Ward alderman back to the Olympics NBC. Never touched a drop jab, before unleashing his huge power shots to reveal his....

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