[36] In 2013, Dawson spoke out about the fight and said it was a "set-up by HBO and other people." Back in 2018 former pound-for-pound star, two-weight world champion, and Hall of Famer, Andre Ward, really caught my eye on Twitter. Theres only a few guys that are all-time greats in the sport, he said. I can work with that.. He was totally groggy and out of it. He dreads receiving another call like the one he received about his dad. It would give his opponent a false sense of security that he only has one arm available to use, so cant do anything. 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. After all, we want fighters who celebrate the Self above all else, am I right? Every prizefighter crosses his own Rubicon before he climbs half-naked between the ropes and steps foot on an illuminated canvas. Abraham didn't believe he had lost the fight with such wide scores. After a competitive first few rounds, Ward seized control of the fight, using his ring savvy and instincts to control Abraham. You gonna get in here or what? the boy yelled. Gods not a genie. The name of the game is to not get hit, and he did that well. Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. 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) 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. 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. [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. Only a few have performed boxings ultimate magic trick: returning safely with their faculties, money and legacy intact. No relationship with God., On Aug. 26, 2002, Ward suffered the biggest blow of his life. CompuBox stats showed that Ward landed 80 of 238 punches (34%) whilst Kovalev landed more punches with 95 of his 407 thrown (23%). The current president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association also became a certified mediator in 2016. Having your legacy, finances, and faculties intact. As Ward finished his workout, he offered to drive me around Oakland to the many homes where he lived growing up. 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. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'myboxinglife_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-myboxinglife_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Although Ward himself was a massive success in his career. Hes not exciting, after all. Still, he concluded that Kovalev faded late in the fight. [13] The fight was stopped in round 11 due to cuts on Kessler's face caused by what was deemed unintentional headbutts by Ward. [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. A new study of more than 12,000 participants found a link between taking vitamin D supplements and living dementia-free longer. There was blood everywhere, on the walls and the floor. In three years I wont be able to do that with him again, he said. Wards brother, Jonathan, he confessed, never recovered from their fathers death. 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. It hurt me so bad my dad was taken like that. That doesnt mean these individuals dont like flash. Im trying to avoid those same demons. Manage Settings I did some things well, but I felt I could have improved in other areas. [114] He reprised his role in Creed II, released on November 21, 2018. Some may find it hypocritical again, cynics will always be cynical. [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. Whether that be gear reviews, fighter analysis, news, training tips, or my own personal journey, I'll be covering it on 'Boxing Life'. Ive had that over and over again my whole career. But after years of struggle, his mother, Madeline Arvie Taylor, is clean now. But then I tried for the knockout, and I couldn't do it. But is still an amazing lesson. Virgil Hunter kept him as an orthodox fighter. 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. 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 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!. Ward UD 12 Arthur Abraham. In an interview with Jones last fall, he told me he was still fighting despite his age because it was Gods will. 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. [24][25][26], Ward's opponent at the semi final stage was top 10 ranked super middleweight Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs). Ward was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, his first year of eligibility.[3]. Abraham, a former middleweight titleholder, had moved up in weight to join the Super Six tournament. WBA super middleweight title. What's more, he doesn't fight nearly as much as . First up, Ward would like to fight on the inside at different points in the fight against specific fighters in his career. Ward lives in Danville, California. The reason for this is he would tend to try to keep his head off centre line and would slip/duck to his right rear side while throwing his left jab helping him to avoid return fire. Bika landed 201 of his 612 punches (33%), but Ward was more precise with his shots, landing 235 of 398 (59%). 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.. For the fight, Ward earned $1.85 million and Barrera earned a $450,000 purse. In Defense Of Andre Ward - Grown Up By: Sean Crose. Most opponents could really not compete with Ward when they were in this situation. Sometimes sticking it straight out will help you create the time to move out the way or force your opponent into a punch. Ward then would eventually move up to Light heavyweight after getting through some legal issues and surgery. Ward stated his only regret was that he wasn't able to stop Green, who turned up to survive. Along with his older half-brother, Jonathan, Ward was raised by his white father in Hayward and North Oakland. [105], On September 21, 2017, via his website, Ward announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 33. Ward later admitted it was his toughest fight to date, since he became professional. Kovalev is an absolute device of destruction in the ring. Grant Park Counseling Group. I could not have done this without you." Andre Ward isn't interested in fighting Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua, but he'd consider a heavyweight fight against "the right opponent." . Ward defended his WBA and Ring titles against unbeaten Edwin Rodrguez in Ontario, California in November 2013 with a wide unanimous decision. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Soaking in the response, Ward shook his head. The symmetry is apparent in the difficulty his opponents have had in trying to penetrate his defenses. He eventually got his chance two years later, losing a unanimous decision. [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). 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. Barrera was also dropped in the eighth round from a body shot, but referee Raul Caiz Sr. saw it as a low blow and as a result deducted a point from Ward. But at the time, even with the possibility of the Olympics just a few years away, Wards commitment to boxing began to unravel. Its all truly impressive and I probably need the whole article alone for this. I took the fight to him and closed the show. 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 . 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. He might have excelled in other sports, but he chose boxing to concentrate on. Of course not. How can he be that good while still being a cipher? Andre Ward Lt Heavyweight Champ Sweatpants $ 80 USD. They dont tell you that really its everyone else around you that changes. Its simply to say their public images kind of suckno matter how popular they may be. I shouldnt have made it, he said. Over 12 rounds, Ward threw 289 jabs. ("Son of God") is regarded pound for pound as one of the best champions in the last 10 years. The scores were 116112, 119109, and 119109 for Ward. 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. However, Wards footwork was exceptional at controlling his opponent. But combined with the occasional Philly shell or flashy movement from one of the previous names I just mentioned. Ward would usually try to battle with his stronger left arm to throw uppercuts or hooks at this point. She sees the aftermath. Now that it's over with, I'm ecstatic I was able to defend this belt one time. My parents were there, but not there. But no doubt he couldve done more often than if he wished to. Ward had been a fan of his since the mid-90s. Ward dictated the fight however with a strong jab. Muhammad Ali, after all, stood for something. Those guys appear to stand for themselvesand not much else. But for those that box or love the deeper detail of boxing techniques or tactics he is one the best to learn from. At the time of stoppage, Ward was ahead 9079, 8980, and 8980 on all three judges' scorecards. Some kids rushed over and joined father and son and Ward to pose for photos against the ring. [75], After being knocked down in the second round, he won a controversial decision with all three judges scoring the fight 114113 in favor of Ward. Im on a mission. Another aspect of Wards genius here was simple forearm control to get off his shots, much like Mayweather would use on the inside as well. [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. Which doesnt mean I dont take it seriously. on March 26, 2016, on HBO. When I was a kid, the hill nearby and these streets seemed huge. . Its just that they like something more than mere showiness. Not acting like Mayweather doesnt equate to false modesty, as some bewilderingly seem to think. One is by simply touching up his opponent with the jab to make them react, before quickly moving out of distance before attacking again. [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. [40][41], The fight was watched by an average 1.3 million viewers on HBO. 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. 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. He would stay at the stance for too long. Yet one face stood out. Pre-Fight: Defense - Kovalev B+; Ward A. Pre-Fight: Intangibles - Kovalev A+; Ward A+. Hell, so did Jack Johnson, for that matter. The American had an illustrious Amateur and Professional career winning multiple titles at all levels. A right hand from Ward had Kovalev in trouble, which was followed by several body shots, including a low blow. For the most part, I grew up middle-class. 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. This time leave the excuses at home." Ward was knocked down for the first time in his career in round four. But its a dangerous fight for him too. He was the longtime world champion as a super middleweight, one of the most dangerous divisions in the sport. Indeed, he has not lost a fight since 1998, when he was 13. 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. [103][104], On August 23, 2017, Ward announced that his contract with HBO had expired, making him a free agent. 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. Thats when Virgil took me in. I think about that all the time. After a while they couldnt bet against him, so instead they criticized his style. 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. The prevent defense can also be run in early-game situations. Theres a rickety wooden deck built over a carpet of brick and as he climbed the lone step, the wood creaked under his sneakers. Guarded is what got me by. [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. Boxing is a tough sport, after all, and no one watches it for willowy flights of fancy. During his reign as light heavyweight champion, Ward was ranked as the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, by The Ring magazine and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB), as well as the world's best active boxer in the division by The Ring, the TBRB, and BoxRec. Ward won all 12 rounds on one judges scorecard and was ahead 118110 on the other two. Joe Louis was left a coked-out wreck. Really down. He did this in his world title fight vs Kessler and more notably at the end of his career vs Brant. Moved up in weight to join the Super Six tournament is an absolute device of destruction the! 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