He attended Hayward High School. In a few years I wont want any part of you. [90] On April 4, Roc Nation Sports and Main Events confirmed that terms were agreed for the rematch to take place on HBO PPV. Ward reiterated how the events of the evening unfolded, "I got off the canvas against the hardest puncher in the division and smiled. 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. The scores were 116112, 119109, and 119109 for Ward. Ward, who fought his biggest name to date said, "This is kind of a bittersweet victory. Ward showed he had an inside game as well as an outside game. Dad lost the house when he went to get treatment when I was 11 or 12. I think Im the same shy guy Ive been all my life.. Sergey Kovalev, he's a great champion." Then of course create opportunities up top. 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. In the short term, theyre only one punch away from permanent injury or death. Those guys appear to stand for themselvesand not much else. Its a dangerous fight., I know. Responds Boxing News", "Andre Ward vs Chad Dawson at Oracle: 'Made In America' Boxing News", "Ward vs Dawson Results: Andre Ward Dominates, Stops Chad Dawson in Oakland", "Andre Ward-Kelly Pavlik fight to be canceled, Ward to have shoulder surgery ESPN", "Andre Ward Decides to Relinquish WBC Super Middleweight Emeritus Title", "Andre Ward tells the WBC to get lost, and hopefully he is the first of many", "Ward to return to action with fight vs. Rodriguez", "Ward dominates Rodriguez with unanimous decision", "Andre Ward speaks out on Dan Goossen, lawsuit The Ring", "Boxer Andre Ward's longtime promoter Dan Goossen dies The Mercury News", "Ring Ratings Update: Andre Ward stripped of title, dropped from ratings The Ring", "Press Release: BET To Air Andre Ward vs Paul Smith, Plus 9 "Throne boxing" events with Roc Nation | BoxingInsider.com", "Ward to face England's Smith in June 20 return", "Andre Ward: Undefeated champion to fight Paul Smith", "Andre Ward beats Paul Smith in comeback fight in Oakland", "Ward TKO's Smith in return from 19-month break", "Paul Smith blows weight for second time for Ward fight", "Ward vs. Smith nets low ratings of 323k in viewership", "Ward vacates belt, eyes moving up weight class", "Andre Ward-Sullivan Barrera Being Finalized For March 26", "Andre Ward: I'm Daring To Be Great By Moving Up To 175", "Ward routs Barrera in light heavyweight debut", "Andre Ward Drops, Dominates Sullivan Barrera in 175 Debut Boxing News", "Ward-Barrera averages 1.064M viewers on HBO Boxing News", "Andre Ward vs. Alexander Brand Officially Revealed By Roc Nation Boxing News", "Ward takes WBO Intercontinental light-heavyweight title from Brand in decision", "Andre Ward outpoints Alexander Brand in California stroll", "Ward routs Brand, setting up Kovalev showdown", "Andre Ward vs. Alexander Brand Averages 742k Viewers on HBO Boxing News", "Kovalev-Ward to take place Nov. 19 in Las Vegas", "Ward-Kovalev was no robbery and everything boxing needed", "The Kovalev-Ward decision was about boxing's fine margins, not corruption", "Andre Ward scores controversial points victory over Sergey Kovalev", "Andre Ward Beats Sergey Kovalev By The Slimmest Of Margins: Live Results And Reaction (VIDEO)", "Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev Deliver Drama, Controversy and an Instant Classic", "[VIDEO] PAULIE MALIGNAGGI DETAILED ANALYSIS OF KNOCKDOWN AND ANDRE WARD'S VICTORY OVER KOVALEV || FIGHTHYPE.COM", "Sergey Kovalev predicts knockout ahead of Andre Ward showdown", "Ward Recovers from Knockdown to Score Close Win Over Kovalev", "Ward/Kovalev does just less than a million viewers on HBO replay", "Ward-Kovalev produced live gate of $3.3m", "Ward vs. Kovalev Rematch Talks Finally Underway For June 17? My dad was gone. But now it is important to go into these individual aspects he used within his style throughout his career. 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. A lot of inner-city kids dont have their father. I want to fight the best. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Ive never talked about my story before, Ward said. The symmetry is apparent in the difficulty his opponents have had in trying to penetrate his defenses. Ive had that over and over again my whole career. Statistically, I shouldnt have made it out.. But thats enough to walk away and be happy. Ward would often use the jab to get there as discussed earlier. He called and asked if he could take the day off because he wasnt feeling well. Although Abraham was somewhat passive at times, he gave an earnest effort and frequently threw combinations that were mostly blocked by Ward. 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. Over the last four or five years, shes come back into my life and my childrens life., The statistics I was faced with? The current president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association also became a certified mediator in 2016. My job is to make it where they cant argue. Seriously, guys like Mayweather, McGregor, and others behave like kids sometimes. Ward wants to cheer on his friend Curry. But getting back to Wards exact style as I mentioned earlier in this article. Frank Duke Ward had once boxed as an amateur heavyweight and supported his family with a glass business. but this itself definitely gave Ward an advantage by giving him a much more powerful lead hand earning much respect from opponents. Had enough? Ward hollered. I whispered in his ear, Im going to finish what we started. That night is the first game of the Western Conference Finals for the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Wards identity to those outside his private circle has been just as elusive as where he trains. Theyd get into a knock-down, drag-out fight. He was out cold. We were probably here for three or four years. But he never did. Its just that they like something more than mere showiness. Ward ended his career undefeated with 32 wins, 16 of which came inside the distance. If he wins as expected, Ward is slated to fight Russian light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, in what many believe could be professional boxings best fight in well over a decade. I was different. He lived with his wife nearby.. To me, Jones went on, Wards been the model student, person, and citizen in the sport that I always expected him to be. But Ive taken punishment. He confirmed that he was still under contract with Roc Nation Sports, but rumours indicated that he could sign with Top Rank. Ill never forget that day. Past the age of 10, Ward has been routinely considered one of the best fighters in the world for his age. [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. This was all while attempting to control and hold at least one arm. Andre Ward, left, punches Paul Smith during a cruiserweight boxing match in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, June 20, 2015. [24][25][26], Ward's opponent at the semi final stage was top 10 ranked super middleweight Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs). 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. Ward was knocked down for the first time in his career in round four. Andre Ward saw some improvement in Efe Ajagba on Saturday night. He has perfected a combination of boxing styles over many years. Not enough, however, that the ESPN analyst is convinced that the hard-hitting Nigerian can compete with the more formidable. Andre Ward H.O.F. And in a word of grownup problems, its nice to see the grownups take center stage every once in a while. "[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. I rushed to the hospital and had to see him lying on that cold slab. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. A green-eyed, 85-pound 12-year-old named Dave Lopez was glaring from behind the ropes of an elevated ring at the center of the gym. Ward dictated the pace for the vast majority of the bout, showcasing good strength and ring generalship against Barrera. Sometimes sticking it straight out will help you create the time to move out the way or force your opponent into a punch. Still, he concluded that Kovalev faded late in the fight. Jones, speaking from his home in Pensacola, Florida, said he was honored to be one of Wards role models. 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. Now another big part of Wards game is of course his defense and counter punching. 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. (see below). 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. Hes Roy! They did that to Roy Jones his whole career. Much like Joe Louis, he would do it while fencing with his jab, before unleashing his huge power shots. Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. Froch also praised Ward in winning the tournament, "Fair credit to Andre Ward. [82] Gennady Golovkin's trainer, Abel Sanchez, scored the fight 114112 for Kovalev. [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. In the third round, Ward dropped Dawson with a left hook and dominated the round. 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. 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. Staying in control, its abundantly apparent, is one of the fundamental obsessions of his life. [47] The fight started with rough tactics until Jack Reiss made an unprecedented move, penalizing both fighters two points each and warning them that he would end the fight if it did not clean up. 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