Andre Ward talks about finest moment

Report and photos by Francisco Salazar

Andre Ward may not be the fastest or the strongest fighter today. He may not be mobbed by thousands, even hundreds of boxing fans if he were to enter into an arena. In the ring, he just gets things done and has been doing so against some of the best fighters in the super middleweight division. Even against fighters numerous boxing experts and writers (including myself) predicted he would lose to. Ward gets things done. Nothing flashy. No highlight-reel endings. Just outthink and outbox his opponents.

Now that he has 25 almost one-sided victories in his pocket throughout his professional career, world title belts, and a shiny Super Six: World Boxing Classic trophy to boot, one would think that Andre Ward expected to be where he currently sits: At or near the top of the 168-pound division.

However, Ward remains humble in a sport that at times, does not reward fighters who are humble or patient for that matter.

“I was not even picked to win this tournament. Then again, I wouldn’t have picked me,” says Ward.

Ward is familiar with that. He has heard it often throughout his professional career. One thing was winning Golden Gloves tournaments. One thing was winning an Olympic Gold Medal.

Very few people expected Ward to win world titles, let alone become a dominant fighter since turning pro seven years ago. It is almost as though he takes great pleasure in proving people wrong if one were to pick against him.

However, he never took anything written about him personal, unlike some athletes who may lose focus when they try to prove some people wrong when something is written about them.

“It was definitely motivating when I wasn’t picked to do this or win a tournament,” Ward told Fightnews.com on Wednesday. “I needed that. (Arthur) Abraham, (Carl) Forch, and (Mikkel) Kessler were the favorites. Dirrell and I were kind of like the wild cards of the tournament and Jermain (Taylor) had a name.”

“My response was to put those predictions in the back of my head. I know that it is part of the game, but I didn’t want that added pressure. I’m glad I was able to deal with it and it allowed me to focus better.”

Two weeks after defeating Froch to win another world title belt and numerous accolades, Ward is relishing in his recent success. Having appeared on numerous television and radio shows and making his rounds in the media with promoter Dan Goossen, Ward has earned the right to speak his mind on the buildup, his training, and the opponents he has faced.

Even for a fighter in Ward that does not flamboyant or likes to talk a lot.

As much as he wants to as fight often as possible, Ward will be on the shelf for a while. Ward is recuperating from multiple fractures to his third and fifth metacarpal bones to his left hand.

What was astonishing was that Ward did not suffer these injuries during his fight with Froch. He suffered the injury just days before the fight.

Rather than go through another postponement of the bout (the fight with Froch was originally scheduled for October 29th, but was postponed until December when Ward suffered a cut during training), Ward decided to go through with the fight.

“It happened eight days before the fight and I didn’t want the information to leak out. I just wanted to stay positive and ice the injury. My concern was the injured hand was my lead left hand and it was in the biggest fight of my career.”

“The first six rounds were great, until I hit Froch on the top of his head. I could feel my hand swelling up. I slowed down, but I wasn’t tired at all. I just had to get through the fight and tried to find the right spots to counter.”

While most athletes may sit out because of a significant injury like a fracture to any part of their body, Goossen, Ward’s promoter, had his concerns as well.

“I saw the puffiness to his hand. What we were very fortunate for what happen was the MRI did not catch the fracture before the fight. The amazing doctor in Atlantic City did not detect it because if the MRI caught it, there was no way that a fight would take place. Only after the fight was there a proper diagnosis of a double fracture to Andre’s left hand.”

While the injury to his hand was something he had to physically and psychologically overcome, Ward had to overcome somewhat of a scare before he had his hand raised by referee Steve Smoger. As Jimmy Lennon, Jr. announced the scorecards, Ward, Froch, and the over 5,000 fans in attendance heard that two judges scored the fight 115-113.

Ward admitted that he momentarily held his breath.

“You gotta be kidding me,” was what Ward thought when he heard those scores. “Who would have thought that the English judge saw it correctly (John Keane of England scored the fight 118-110 for Ward)? I don’t know what the other judges saw.”

“You have 12 rounds to make it right. When you’re scoring a fight, you’re playing with someone’s livelihood. Unlike other major sports, there are huge ramifications in boxing if fights are not scored correctly. Judges just have to be up to par and I’m glad the New Jersey board was able to stay on top of things. I’m just happy it didn’t have a factor.”

Ward will now rest and spend time with his family. His wife is expecting their fourth child, which will allow Ward to focus on another addition to his family. He will sit down with Goossen, co-promoter Antonio Leonard, manager James Prince, and trainer Virgil Hunter to plan their next move.

Numerous boxing fans and boxing writers are anticipating Ward fight Lucian Bute next, but that could wait until towards the end of 2012.

Although the same writers and fans consider Ward to be near the top of the pound for pound lists, Ward does not think he belongs there, stating that fighters who have fought longer professionally are more deserving of being near or at the top.

However, if he keeps winning, he may move up a spot or two.

“I’m not a pound-for-pound king yet, but I feel I’m creeping up that list. There are a lot of great fighters that deserve to be on top of those lists. All my attention is on 2012 and the best is yet to come. I feel like I’m approaching my prime.”

Ward, who uses religion in and out of the ring to get him through life, has accomplished a great deal in seven years as a prizefighter. He understands that people will continue to be critical about certain aspects of his game.

Whatever he has done since age 12, when he last lost a fight, has worked thus far. He may not be an overwhelming and popular fighter that stands out to a casual sports fan like Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.

However, he keeps winning. Whether he is more motivated to prove people wrong or not, he has finally earned and deserved the respect that he is now receiving.

Even from writers who thought he would be way over his head in certain fights. Like me.

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December 30th, 2011

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