Congratulations to an unblemished 32-0 career. The time was right – Andre has decided to step away from professional boxing. We will keep a close eye on his post career activities and will post updates here from time to time.
It has been an amazing ride. And thanks for all the memories from inside the ring, outside the ring, press conferences, weigh-in’s, public appearances etc.
www.bleacherreport.com/articles/2734387-andre-ward-announces-retirement-from-boxing
Thanks to longtime press photographer and writer, Malaika Kambon for this excellent coverage of Andre’s latest fight.
TKO! Dismantling the racist machine: Ward crushes Kovalev to retain the unified light heavyweight boxing title.
When Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling via TKO 124 seconds into the 1st round of their legendary re-match, it was June 22, 1938, in a sold out Yankee Stadium arena. 70 million people listened in on their radios.
He was the heavyweight champion of the world, and a hero in Afrikan communities.
Public television was barely two years old, the U.S. was on the brink of WWII, and Hitler’s Germany had feted Schmeling as a Nazi hero and as Europe’s perfect specimen of Aryan superiority to defeat the Afrikan from the U.S.
79 years, 5 days later, Andre Ward knocked out Sergey Kovalev via TKO 129 seconds into the 8th round of their legendary rematch, it was June 17, 2017 in the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, before 10,592 fans.
The bout was produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®
Andre Ward is a two-division world champion. He is the reigning, unified WBA, WBO, IBF, and RING Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion, the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, and the best pound for pound fighter in the world. His fans love him. His star is still rising in global Afrikan communities.
Racial tensions in this country have accelerated, mirrored, and surpassed those of pre-WWII 1938.
LAS VEGAS, NV – Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” took place on Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, was produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.
Sergey Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 KOs) vs. Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs)
RESULT: Andre Ward by TKO 2 at 2:29 of the Eighth Round
Andre Ward:
“I’m ecstatic, I’m happy. I didn’t predict a knockout, but I said it could happen. I’ve been boxing a long time and, sometimes, a lot of writers and reporters they don’t take you at your word. If you look at my career and the way I’ve gone about things, I’m pretty matter of fact. I’m pretty straightforward. I don’t say anything unless I mean it. I have a lot of respect for Kovalev. He is a world champion. He’s been on top for a long time. He’s a great fighter; there’s not a lot of people that elite. I’m not going to throw him under the bus even though they did a lot of different things. But I knew the temperament that I was fighting. I don’t want to call him a frontrunner, but if he’s not having his way, he’s got to dig deep. I don’t know if he had the right answers tonight. Obviously, he didn’t because the fight got stopped.
“I was breathing, he was breathing, but I’m used to working tired. I’m comfortable being uncomfortable; that’s how we work, that’s how we train. When I saw him put his arms on the ropes in between the rounds – I watch all that stuff – that’s trouble for him. I just needed to keep being smart.
“I think it was plain to see that I broke him mentally and physically. I’m not a person that demands respect or none of that. You don’t have to respect me and I don’t demand anything, but at a certain point and time, you got to give a person their just do. I’m 13 years in and I’ve been doing it against the best.
“What’s next? Cruiserweight? Heavyweight? I dream big. Anything is possible when you have God.
“If there are questions marks after this, that has nothing to do with me. I’m going to enjoy my family, kiss my wife and we out.
Virgil Hunter:
“I told them (the media) that I only trained Andre for the knockout twice. The first was Chad Dawson. And the second was for tonight. And they laughed at me. But I knew what was going to happen because he (Ward) was healthy. Now we quieted all those who were whining and thought we didn’t take it the first time.”
Sergey Kovalev:
“He hit with four low blows. The ref didn’t call them. I felt I could have continued. This is bullshit.”
LAS VEGAS, NV (June 16, 2017) – On Thursday, June 15, Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) and former WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs), along with their teams, participated in the Fight Week Powered by Monster Final Press Conference for their highly-anticipated showdown. Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” will take place Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Andre “S.O.G.” Ward – Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Thank you everybody, before I start I just want to send my prayers out to Daniel Franco and his family. It broke my heart when I heard, and on top of that, he is a stablemate of mine. He has fought on several of my undercards. It’s the worst situation that a fighter can find themselves in so I just want to let his family know that I’m praying for him. I would love to speak to him at some point in time and I’m dedicating this victory to him and his family because he is a brother in this sport. It’s a tough situation but we are praying and I know he’s going to pull through.
“I’m excited to be here. I’m the same guy that I was last time, the guy that I was five fights before, two years before. We don’t have a lot of highs and lows in this camp. You know we’ve been grinding from the beginning, we’ve got a blue collar mentality, we put our head down, we don’t take no mess. We fight to stay humble because we know where our strength comes from and if that strength is removed, we’ve got problems. It’s no different in this fight. I’m no higher than I was last time. Emotionally, I’m no lower. I didn’t train any harder. There was no major overhaul but we’re going to make adjustments. We know his side is going to make adjustments. At the end of the day, I’m not going to be distracted by the talk. I’m not going to be distracted by the ploys. I had a couple of missions in mind when I came to Las Vegas–to glorify God with my performance and the way I act outside the ring, to defend my belts that I won back in November, and to get home and kiss my wife and kids.
“I’m locked in on what I’ve got to. I hope everyone tunes in to HBO Pay-Per-View. And those who are reading this, if you are here, come to the fight. It’s going to be a tremendous fight. I’m expecting his best. You’re going to see a different Andre Ward. I’m just going to leave it at that. You’re going to see another guy in there Saturday night; and that is my favorite time – show and tell time. All the talking is good for the fans, it’s good to build it up, it’s all good but anybody that knows me, knows that I’m about the action. About getting it done. I’m thankful to be in this position. I’ve been in this position for over a decade and I’m blessed to be at the highest level for as long as I have.
“I’m excited to see some of these young fighters on the undercard. A lot of guys who I know; that I’ve watched develop. This is [their] time to shine. This is [their] moment. And my boy, Rigondeaux, I’m always happy to be on a card with him. That’s a master. Nothing but respect.”
Continue reading Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev 2 Final Press Conference Videos, Photos & Quotes