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Boxing: Andre Ward retires...
Posted on 9/21/17 at 10:53 am
Posted on 9/21/17 at 10:53 am
LINK
quote:
Pound-for-pound king and unified light heavyweight world titleholder Andre Ward said in a statement on his website that he is "leaving" boxing.
"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," the statement said. "If I cannot give my family, my team, and the fans everything that I have, then I should no longer be fighting."
On Thursday, Ward told First Take more of the thought process behind his decision to retire.
4
Posted on 9/21/17 at 11:46 am to The Egg
Supposed to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world. 95% of MSB posters have no idea what he even looks like, let alone anything else about him.
(and I count myself among that group, I just heard on the radio that he's considered the best p4p)
(and I count myself among that group, I just heard on the radio that he's considered the best p4p)
This post was edited on 9/21/17 at 11:48 am
Posted on 9/21/17 at 11:51 am to SECSolomonGrundy
I'm familiar with him and seen him fight a few times but you're right, most casual boxing fans don't know much about him.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 11:56 am to The Egg
Sad he retired without fully unifying ... But anyways good for him to get a ton of money then just relax before he lost his undefeated record or got real hurt. Maybe he can go on HBO as another commentator.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 12:00 pm to GeauxHouston
He's had two meaningful fights in the last five years (Kovalev x2). He had a great run through the Super Six Tourn. and then one KO win over Kovalev (Ward lost the first fight imo).
Very meh career for a great talent.
Very meh career for a great talent.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 1:22 pm to The Egg
Ward is a classic example of a guy who doesn't understand the salesman side to being a successful boxer. He was always a guy who thought his great fights should sell themselves and because he was a great fighter he was entitled to adulation and extensive coverage.
The problem was that he made it a point to never say or do anything interesting outside the ring. Instead of marketing himself, he would just lash out at those around him for not promoting him or covering him enough. He's not a bad guy. In fact, he's got a fascinating and harrowing backstory. But it seems like the guy just did everything he could to make it as hard to root for him as possible.
It's a shame because inside the ring, he's always been to me one of the most compelling and elegant boxers of the past decade. And while he was a dick at the negotiating table, he was a tough SOB. He took on that tough bastard Carl Froch when nobody wanted to fight Carl Froch. Kovalev was the most dangerous knockout artist in boxing this side of GGG when he took him on. He was the last US Olympic boxing gold for over a decade.
He seemed to have this odd contempt for fame, while being indignant that he wasn't as famous as he thought he should've been. Personally, I hope this isn't the last we've seen of him in the ring because I just love watching him box.
If anyone's interested in a longform piece on Ward, one of my favorite boxing writers Brin Jonathan Butler spent a week with him and did a really insightful piece on him about a year ago. LINK in case anyone is interested.
The problem was that he made it a point to never say or do anything interesting outside the ring. Instead of marketing himself, he would just lash out at those around him for not promoting him or covering him enough. He's not a bad guy. In fact, he's got a fascinating and harrowing backstory. But it seems like the guy just did everything he could to make it as hard to root for him as possible.
It's a shame because inside the ring, he's always been to me one of the most compelling and elegant boxers of the past decade. And while he was a dick at the negotiating table, he was a tough SOB. He took on that tough bastard Carl Froch when nobody wanted to fight Carl Froch. Kovalev was the most dangerous knockout artist in boxing this side of GGG when he took him on. He was the last US Olympic boxing gold for over a decade.
He seemed to have this odd contempt for fame, while being indignant that he wasn't as famous as he thought he should've been. Personally, I hope this isn't the last we've seen of him in the ring because I just love watching him box.
If anyone's interested in a longform piece on Ward, one of my favorite boxing writers Brin Jonathan Butler spent a week with him and did a really insightful piece on him about a year ago. LINK in case anyone is interested.
This post was edited on 9/21/17 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 9/21/17 at 1:42 pm to SECSolomonGrundy
quote:
Supposed to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world. 95% of MSB posters have no idea what he even looks like, let alone anything else about him.
(and I count myself among that group, I just heard on the radio that he's considered the best p4p)
Even in boxings Golden era Light Heavyweight wasn't a glamour division & tended to be overlooked unless you moved up & fought( & had some success) against the big boys.
Heavyweight Champion of course was arguably the Greatest title in sports .
Welterweight & Middleweight historically speaking were the glamour divisions as well.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 2:25 pm to sugar71
He only fought his last 4 fights at LHW. He hung around Super Middleweight for most of his career, which was a killer group during that time.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 2:34 pm to Jamohn
quote:
Ward is a classic example of a guy who doesn't understand the salesman side to being a successful boxer. He was always a guy who thought his great fights should sell themselves and because he was a great fighter he was entitled to adulation and extensive coverage.
The problem was that he made it a point to never say or do anything interesting outside the ring. Instead of marketing himself, he would just lash out at those around him for not promoting him or covering him enough. He's not a bad guy. In fact, he's got a fascinating and harrowing backstory. But it seems like the guy just did everything he could to make it as hard to root for him as possible.
It's a shame because inside the ring, he's always been to me one of the most compelling and elegant boxers of the past decade. And while he was a dick at the negotiating table, he was a tough SOB. He took on that tough bastard Carl Froch when nobody wanted to fight Carl Froch. Kovalev was the most dangerous knockout artist in boxing this side of GGG when he took him on. He was the last US Olympic boxing gold for over a decade.
He seemed to have this odd contempt for fame, while being indignant that he wasn't as famous as he thought he should've been. Personally, I hope this isn't the last we've seen of him in the ring because I just love watching him box.
If anyone's interested in a longform piece on Ward, one of my favorite boxing writers Brin Jonathan Butler spent a week with him and did a really insightful piece on him about a year ago. LINK in case anyone is interested.
So he should beat more women to sell more fights? That's basically what you're saying.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 3:15 pm to KosmoCramer
quote:No. I can't tell if you're joking so I'll answer. He was a notorious pain in the arse whenever trying to fill any promotional obligations (known to blow off or show contempt for media appearances and 24/7 type stuff). He was so controlled in interviews and careful never to say anything interesting, introspective, or self-aware in any way. He's basically a more antagonistic version of Russell Wilson in how he answers questions with boring platitudes and talking points.
So he should beat more women to sell more fights? That's basically what you're saying.
Something about his makeup just made him so careful to let anyone in or allow fans to connect with him in any way.
I don't know why your mind first went to beating women but that's kind of weird.
This post was edited on 9/21/17 at 3:17 pm
Posted on 9/21/17 at 3:39 pm to The Egg
Momentarily again, Bret Favre knows the feeling
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