TALES OF OLYMPIC GLORY: ANDRE WARD

With the 2012 London Olympic games underway, FightHype UK presents it’s “Tales Of Olympic Glory” series.  This series will focus on a number of boxers all over the world who have represented their countries at the Olympic games before progressing to the professional ranks.

Understandably, not all boxing legends went to the Olympic games, but they still went on to have a successful career within the sport. For many, however, the Olympic games proved to be a platform maximize the exposure of individuals, which ultimately translated to success in the pro ranks. While fight fans will have their eyes firmly fixed on the Olympic games to see if they can identify a superstar in the making, it is important to note that the success of previous athletes is what inspires most of the young prospects today. Names like Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr, Lennox Lewis, Sugar Ray Leanord, and Amir Khan, are just a few of the successful Olympians from both the past and present.  You will notice not all of those guys won Olympic gold, but all went on to have to successful careers as world champions and beyond.

Part 3 of our “Tales of Olympic Glory” gives you a look at the progression of undefeated Super Middleweight king Andre Ward.

 

Andre Ward has been widely regarded by many in the boxing world as an immense talent with the ability to go on to achieve great things in the sport, right from the early days of his boxing career. In the past eight months, we have seen the undefeated American’s rise to prominence after some scintillating performances in the super middleweight Super Six tournament, which saw Ward resoundingly beat Britain’s Carl Froch in the finale to add the WBC crown to his already captured WBA title. The 28 year old boasts an impressive amateur and professional background, and is regarded by many as a future P4P king.

At the age of 9, Andre Ward first stepped into the boxing world when father Frank took him to a boxing gym and instructed coach Virgil Hunter to teach his son how to “hit but not get hit”.  Hunter, now Ward’s godfather, has been a big part of his life, developing the 9-year-old newcomer into one of the best fighters in the world today with the potential to go on to be amongst the best ever to lace up a pair of boxing gloves.

Progressing through the amateur career with an impressive record of 115 wins and only 5 defeats, which included an unbeaten record from 1998 to 2004, Ward was recognized as a blossoming prospect destined for big things in the sport and was crowned U.S National Boxing Middleweight Champion in 2001, followed by the under 19  National Championship in 2002 and capturing the U.S National boxing championship again in 2003 in the Light Heavyweight division.  Ward qualified for the 2004 Olympic team for the games in Athens.

2004 OLYMPIC GAMES – GOLD MEDAL

The 2004 Olympic games in Athens was the platform for the 20 year old to showcase his enormous talent.  In the first round, Ward was given a bye, but would then go on to face Italian Clemente Russo in round 2.  Ward comfortably won the bout 17-9 and progressed to face Russian Evgeny Makarenko in what proved to be an entertaining bout, with Ward emerging victorious 23-16.  Utkirbek Haydarov of Uzbekistan was next up in what turned out to be Ward’s closest and arguably toughest encounter.  Ward emerged victorious 17-15 to progress to the gold medal match where he would face Belorussian Magomed Aripgadjiev, who would prove no match for the talented American as Ward was a 20-13 winner to become USA’s first boxer to capture gold for eight years and quite possibly one of the most accomplished performances seen by an American boxer at any Olympic games.

In December 2004, Ward joined the professional ranks facing two unbeaten fighters in three months, firstly against Chris Molina (2-0-0), a fight which Ward won by a 2nd round knockout, and then a unanimous points decision victory Kenny Kost (8-0-0) .  Ward’s career progressed nicely, racking up victory after victory, and in 2008, the opportunity for Ward to compete for his first professional title presented itself as he took on Jerson Ravelo (18-2) for the vacant WBO NABO Super Middleweight Title.  Ward stopped Ravelo in the 8th round to capture his first professional title in what was his 16th fight, and then added the NABF Super Middleweight title eight months later, defeating Henry Buchanan (17-1-0) by unanimous decision. Three months later, Ward was then presented with his toughest test in the form of experienced Columbian Edison Miranda (32-3).  The Columbian had been in with the likes of Allan Green, Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham already, and in what was Ward’s 19th fight, would prove a tough test, one which Ward would come through with flying colors, defeating Miranda via unanimous decision (119-109, 116-112, 119-109).

 

To finish 2009, Ward was presented with the opportunity he dreamed of, a world title shot, and against the top ranked guy in the division, WBA title holder Mikkel Kessler (42-1).  Kessler entered the bout as the strong favorite and off the back of three impressive knockout victories.  In Ward’s 21st fight, and almost 5 years after turning professional, he captured his first world title belt with a technical decision victory over the popular Dane. The fight was stopped in the 11th round due to a cut over Kessler’s right eye caused by an accidental headbutt, which the Dane complained about.  There was little room for complaint, however, as Ward dominated the fight from the first bell, opening Kessler up in the 8th above the left eye and well ahead on the scorecards. This fight, without question, was the turning point of Ward’s career, taking out the highly rated Kessler who had only previously lost only one fight, and really raised awareness to the special talent we had on our hands.  Ward continued through the Super Six tournament with unanimous decision victories over Allan Green, Sakio Bika and Arthur Abraham, barely losing a round in the process.  This set up a final showdown with Carl Froch, who in recent years had racked up impressive wins over Jean Pascal, Arthur Abraham, Andre Dirrell, Jermain Taylor, and a close call against Glen Johnson, with the only blemish coming against Mikkel Kessler in what is considered a controversial decision.  Despite the fight originally being postponed due to an injury suffered by Ward, the fight did go ahead in December 2011 with Ward proving to be far too quick and too good for Froch, winning resoundingly, despite two judges having it 115-113, but I suppose everybody is allowed a few beers on a night out.

Andre Ward is scheduled to return to the ring in September against Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, which would without question be his toughest test to date, proving that Ward is willing to take on all comers. It has been apparent from the early days in his amateur career that Ward is very slick with the ability to adjust well in a fight. Andre still speaks fondly of his days in the Olympics and the part it played in proving a springboard for success and now has his very own blog on FightHype.com sharing his thoughts on the London 2012 Olympic games.

Check out our gallery from Andre Ward’s Amateur Career 

Check out FightHype.com’s exclusive footage as Andre Ward trained at the Mayweather Boxing Gym.

 

 

 CHECK OUT: TALES OF OLYMPIC GLORY: FLOYD MAYWEATHER

CHECK OUT: TALES OF OLYMPIC GLORY: MUHAMMAD ALI

CHECK OUT: WARD’S CORNER…WARD’S ROAD TO GLORY

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