All three judges had the fight 120108 for Ward. Yellow Tee $ 38 USD $ 48 USD. Kovalev is an absolute device of destruction in the ring. These streets seem so small now, Ward said, almost in a whisper. (404) 390-4075. But I cant say I agree with it.. Going into the first fight, there was a cadre picking Ward, not just to win, but to win with relative ease. Of course Ward, like all conjurers, has been challenged to reveal his secrets. When I was a kid, the hill nearby and these streets seemed huge. 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. WORLD BOXING ASSOCIATION CURRENT CHAMPIONS WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (168 lbs) SUPER CHAMPION Andre Ward Won title: Last Defense: Last Mandatory:. Ward claimed a shoulder injury that required surgery was the reason for his inactivity, but the WBC claimed that Ward had not provided any medical evidence or even given them a rough availability date. 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. In other words, Ward knows full well what hes getting himself into. 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. Atlanta, GA 30315. Guarded is what got me by. For the most part, the American would float between stances using a. Bika landed 201 of his 612 punches (33%), but Ward was more precise with his shots, landing 235 of 398 (59%). The American would always invest in these shots against the majority of the fighters he fought. Im on a mission. The three judges scored the fight 117109, 119109, and 117108. Wards brother, Jonathan, he confessed, never recovered from their fathers death. For example for the first knockdown. You know who you are. Joe Louis was left a coked-out wreck. Theres a For Sale sign out front. So I just began spiraling out of control in a way I know a lot of people never come back from.. Frank Ward told his son hed found it in the street and didnt want anyone to find it. I thought he was taking sleeping pills. I was different. 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! This earned Ward the Comeback of the Year award by The Ring. 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. But instead of sticking to the southpaw stance. Ward lives in Danville, California. He went down. link to Andre Ward On 10 Habits To Avoid To Succeed In Boxing, link to How To Box Like Andre Ward | Boxing Style Analysis, These Are the Best Muay Thai Styles to Knockout an Opponent, Andre Ward Boxing Style A True Pugilist | Full Breakdown (https://youtu.be/MEFkGSCqfFI), Andre Wards 10 habits to bad avoid in boxing. [105], On September 21, 2017, via his website, Ward announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 33. [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. 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. [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. [30], Ward won the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament via unanimous decision . Daves father was beaming with approval. Its in a cul-de-sac on a quiet, narrow street. 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. 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.. Even before Ward hit his teens, Hunter teased that hed always be a one-woman guy. He shows up in a white Porsche a little after tipoff with his wife, Tiffany. 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 . How do you think I survived? 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. Couldn't get caught up in the first defense too much mentally. Needless to say, some will smile in satisfaction if they end up seeing Ward splattered on a Las Vegas canvas this weekend. Suite 2. Because shed promise and promise and promise and never show. Boxing is just a season, Ward said. [78][79] Kovalev's promoter, Kathy Duva, said, "We got a great fight, which is what boxing needed. Brand, who looked as though he came to survive 12 rounds, didn't initiate any action, which ultimately led him to lose all the rounds on the three scorecards. Dawson was coming off a big win against future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins in April. He was out cold. Ward trains at Virgil Hunters Hayward, California, gym, next to the San Mateo Bridge. I cramped up, and I got too tense." I give it everything I have.. Every time I spar or take big shots in my fights, I may not show it, but Ive taken some punishment. His father remained a functional addict for years, but as his illness worsened the family home was lost. I reply that I believe hes the best boxer in the world. But after years of struggle, his mother, Madeline Arvie Taylor, is clean now. And, should Ward best the terrifying Sergey Kovalev this weekend in their battle for light heavyweight supremacy (sorry, Adonis, youve taken all the oomph out of your own lineal championship), he will unquestionably be regarded as one of the greats. 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 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. [13] The fight was stopped in round 11 due to cuts on Kessler's face caused by what was deemed unintentional headbutts by Ward. But Ive taken punishment. Dirrell's trainer and uncle Leon Lawson Jr., told ESPN that Dirrell had neurological problems. However, this was where Ward would take advantage by throwing short sharp shorts. [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. Ward signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports in January 2015 and this was announced to be the first event under the Roc Nation banner. Unfortunately for Ward, he was tremendously good, and it was detrimental to him as an entertaining fighter for the casual. Then of course create opportunities up top. Ward looked slow in the victory, not looking like the same fighter he was in 2011. I was better, and he was better this fight. 1 Review. Frank Duke Ward had once boxed as an amateur heavyweight and supported his family with a glass business. A right hand from Ward had Kovalev in trouble, which was followed by several body shots, including a low blow. Ward recalled that the first violent confrontations between his parents began around the time he moved here. 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 wanted to stay numb in this completely surreal way. Every stitch of clothing he was wearing was from his Michael Jordan clothing line, a sponsor since he turned professional after the Olympic gold. A 30-0 record, a super six championship, and appearances on numerous pound for pound lists can attest to that fact. I remember once she stabbed him. Im going to give you a glimpse into boxings future.. The fight was announced in June, with a rematch clause, and both fighters retained their undefeated records through interim bouts. Every time I step in the ring, my legacy is on the line. After his parents fell to drug abuse, Ward was looked after by his godfather, Virgil Hunter, who became his trainer and remained his trainer for the length of his career. What a loser. Ill never forget that day. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His mother would return from the streets looking for money. But he didnt die with a needle in his arm, Ward quickly added. But more importantly, accurate hard-landed punches will more likely hurt your opponent than hitting gloves/arms. We did it. There was nobody out there like him.. 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. 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. But I want people to know what Ive come through and overcome because maybe that can inspire somebody.. The same year Wards father died, he met his boxing hero, Roy Jones Jr., for the first time. Ali was silenced and imprisoned in his body. Ward stated his only regret was that he wasn't able to stop Green, who turned up to survive. Besides, Ward, in case you dont know, is also an amazing fighter. We are a top boxing blog that brings you personal coverage on equipment reviews, training tips, fighter analysis, nutrition, news and motivation.I created Boxing Life simply because of a passion for the sweet sciencethe sport of boxing. CompuBox statistics showed that Ward landed 243 of 573 punches thrown (42%), whilst Froch landed 156 of 683 punches (23%). They did it to Floyd, too. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'myboxinglife_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Some of the greats such as Floyd and or more recently Canelo Alvarez have always been more calculated when they throw punches and would always rather get much cleaner damaging shots. [citation needed], Ward started boxing in 1994. Specializes in advanced food preparations, product execution (work flow), disseminating product information internally, participating in the design of all areas of the facility, supervising and . Muhammad Ali, after all, stood for something. Only a few have performed boxings ultimate magic trick: returning safely with their faculties, money and legacy intact. Ward reiterated how the events of the evening unfolded, "I got off the canvas against the hardest puncher in the division and smiled. When I speak about this, I dont come from an ignorant place: I know what it is to be biracial when both sides dont accept you and you have that confusion of not feeling accepted, he said. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey. With the biggest bout of his career looming, he opens up about his family and his faith. I've always fought the best. Each time, Goossen was deemed in the right. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Id see kids in school and that was the void that I had. Nearby Areas. 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. On February 5, 2005, Ward fought in his second pro fight against Kenny Kost. Some may find that lack of showmanship boring. Not acting like Mayweather doesnt equate to false modesty, as some bewilderingly seem to think. After a while they couldnt bet against him, so instead they criticized his style. 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. Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. Despite this confession, Jones, 47, has now fought more than 13 years since that match. I think about that all the time. Ward would often use the jab to get there as discussed earlier. I feel like a real champion now." At 9, Ward was hoisted on his daddys shoulders to peek in the window. 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. He very much has a misunderstood boxing style which is a combination of many styles into one. Now probably one of the harder and more complex parts of Wards game was his inside fighting ability. For the loss, Dawson earned $600,000, whilst Ward had a total $1,367,500 purse. Give us videos of Floyd throwing money at a bunch of twerking strippers. On Aug. 6, Ward will face Colombian Alexander Brand at Oracle Arena in Wards hometown of Oakland, California. 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). MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. But for those that box or love the deeper detail of boxing techniques or tactics he is one the best to learn from. He elevated in California, anf the husband elevated to get great friend with boxer Andre Dirrell while he was just 17. Ward was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, his first year of eligibility.[3]. He retired with an undefeated record and held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified super middleweight titles between 2009 and 2015, and unified light heavyweight titles between 2016 and 2017. . Ward would also mix up the jab by attacking the stomach or solar plexus. My job is to make it where they cant argue. On defense, this means being okay with the offense completing short passes over the middle because it keeps the clock running. "[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. Andre Ward, perhaps the best prizefighter in the world, inherited the mantle from a line of leading men. 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. Again in the fourth round, Ward was able to drop Dawson, in another dominating round. [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. 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