When There’s Nothing Left To Prove — Andre Ward
Undefeated for more than 20 years, the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world retires at the peak of his game with nothing else to prove.
Just 3 years ago Andre Ward was stuck in disputes with his late promoter Dan Goosen. His future was unclear with indications that maybe we’d seen the last of Ward in a boxing ring. As Ward dealt with litigation and injuries, 2 monsters began to surround him on his network. Gennady Golovkin rose from the depths at middleweight and delievered a style every fight fan wanted to see. Golovkin’s dominance made it difficult for him to get competitive opponents and fans quickly began to build interest in a fight with Andre Ward.
Ward solved his legal problems and signed with newly formed RocNation Sports as their crown jewel. Golovkin was en route to a middleweight unification with David Lemieux and a megafight with Canelo Alvarez was on the horizon. When it became clear that Golovkin and Ward’s camps wouldn’t be making the fight, Ward looked at the super middleweight division and saw nothing relevant or resembling a challenge that helped him get up early to train each morning.
He then looked north. Light heavyweight. A new challenge and a man who was in conversation for the #1 spot on pound-for-pound lists. The ultra-violent, big punching unified champion Sergey Kovalev. Ward made his intention clear. He needed one year to get back on track, shake off the ring rust, and then he would face the boogeyman of boxing.
Andre Ward had a special way with boxing. Like many who come from a difficult background, boxing became a shelter for all the bad things that Ward endured in his life at a young age. He would win every single fight from the age of 13 on, including an Olympic gold medal. Shortly in his professional career he found himself in a lucky position as a young up-and-coming fighter with a chance to participate in the one-of-a-kind, now classic tournament, The Super Six.
Ward was the young underdog from America that would have to walk through the first of Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch if he was to make something of himself in boxing, or endure the Jeff Lacy comparisons for the rest of eternity. While it was lucky that Ward emerged in the division when it was packed with talent, it was also a big challenge for a young fighter to navigate.
Ward dominated the tournament, showcasing every side of his skillset, except for his power. He got a chance to show it in a fight against then lineal light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, whom he finished in the 10th round. It was clear now that the second best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing was Andre Ward. At this point it could have been the end of Ward, but he was soon to face the toughest battle of his career. With legal troubles and injuries on the horizon, Ward would need to keep himself motivated and passionate about the sport if he was to fill the void in his career.
Ward used the Super Six as a platform to establish himself as one of the best in the world, but winning the tournament didn’t exactly leave a mark in the history books. Maybe it’s because he lacked a worthy partner. The Super Six was easy for him after all.
Enter Sergey Kovalev. Maybe in an alternate reality it could have been Adonis Stevenson, but the failure to make a Stevenson-Kovalev fight made it near impossible for a Ward-Stevenson negotiation to ever work. And beside that, Kovalev was the man jockeying for the top spot on pound-for-pound lists.
A true champion is defined by bringing more than is expected of him at a time when it is most needed. In a close, competitive battle, true champions are able to come back with something more. It’s the distinguishing factor from the rest of the pack.
The first fight between Ward and Kovalev left many questions unanswered and it was unclear who had more to prove in the rematch. Both answered those questions the second time around. In a fight where both fighters pushed each other to their limits, it was Ward who found something extra. He didn’t overcome the immense talent of his rival and edge the battle, but instead he beat him into submission.
There are limits to what the human body can achieve, but the mind can push the body a little further. After 7 exhausting rounds, it looked like both were pushed to their limit. Another stalemate. Then Ward capitalized on an exhausted Kovalev mistake. A right hand to the chin was Andre Ward writing history, leaving his mark, and solidifying his legacy.
History remembers and cherishes greatness all kinds. Champions who retire undefeated, those with long and incredible title runs, men who conquer countless weight classes, and those defined by memorable wars. Andre Ward did something special. He had the opportunity to fight the best super middleweights in the world — and beat them all. He took the opportunity to fight a great undefeated champion at light heavyweight — and he beat him too.
Andre Ward has defined himself not only as a great champion, but as an extraordinary, once in a lifetime talent. He has been competing against the best he can find for more than 20 years. His career was perfect. He’s retiring at his peak with nothing left to prove and nobody else to beat. His star was born at an exciting time and he made sure it shined brightest.
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