Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Tag: Virgil Hunter

Ward vs. Kovalev: Was this the great white hope re-mix?

This fight, Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev, felt like the Jack Johnson vs. James J. Jeffries fight of July 4, 1910, between world heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson and undefeated, coming out of retirement heavyweight contender, James J. Jeffries. Both fights were billed as the “Fight of the Century.” Both occurred during a time of hostility and escalating racial tensions between Afrikan people and people of European descent – and in a U.S. known for its Jim Crow laws and the rise of the KKK.

The Ward brand

Typically, people make mistakes about Andre “Son of God” Ward all of the time. People say he’s light (in terms of weight), but no one can push him around. They say he cannot punch, but no one can just walk right through him. The lesson is that it is always different on the outside, and until you get into a ring with him, you won’t know how hard he can punch. Once you find out, the same mistake isn’t repeated – at least not by the same people.

Ward’s Oracle: The return and the triumph

The final boxing scores were not even close. On March 26, 2016, Andre “Son Of God” Ward unanimously defeated Sullivan Barrera 119-109, 117-109, 117-108 – his debut into the light heavyweight realm of boxing an unqualified success. Oakland’s legendary Oracle Arena didn’t need a seer to predict that in point of fact, Sullivan Barrera should thank the universe that Andre Ward didn’t knock him out in the first round.

Andre Ward demolishes Paul Smith, ‘The Real Gone Kid’

Moments into the second round, it was evident that Andre “Son of God” Ward would demolish Paul “The Real Gone Kid” Smith. Smith can now return to England and let them know first hand that Andre Ward is a really dangerous man in the ring. In a decision that was unanimously in his favor even before his opponent threw in the towel, Mr. Ward easily picked apart the defenses of Paul Smith.

And still WBA champion of the world! Andre Ward outclasses Edwin...

Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez thought he’d get lucky and defeat Andre “Son of God” Ward. He talked a lot of smack. Played a lot of mind games. But in the end, it all came to nothing. He lost. Decisively. But the most interesting thing about this fight – for those who knew how to look – was not Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez’ antics. Edwin Rodriguez proved that he has no true boxing skills.

TKO! Dawson demolished at the Oracle in Andre Ward’s Oakland

When Andre Ward stood on the ropes and raised his arms in victory after demolishing Chad Dawson, I was reminded of a similar scene when a young Cassius Clay stood next to the ropes with a raised fist after demolishing “Big Bear” Sonny Liston, and said: “I shook up the world. I’m the greatest.” Both tend to beat their opponents psychologically before they get into the ring.

Knock ‘em out the box: an interview wit’ trainer Ben Bautista...

The boxing world has its eye on Northern Cali, because the area is producing champions in every division, right and left. Later on, I will talk to more of the fighters, but I wanted to write this story first, so that people could see boxing from the eyes of trainers, not just fighters.

Andre Ward shuts down Carl Froch

In a masterful display of inside fighting, Andre “Son of God” Ward ended the Super Six Super Middleweight World Boxing Classic by shutting down Carl “The Cobra” Froch physically and mentally, as what sounded like a full house of roaring fans tore down Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

‘King Arthur’ Abraham dethroned according to Ward’s rules

Armenian-born “King Arthur” Abraham’s prevailing thoughts going into the Super Six World Boxing Classic were that he couldn’t “win on points in America,” so his game plan was to attempt to knock “Son of God” Andre Ward out. But Andre Ward proved his mettle by out-punching Abraham’s heavy hands.

WBA champion Andre Ward defeats power punching Sakio Bika in old...

On fight night, Nov. 27, World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Andre “Son of God” Ward defended that title for the third time by fighting a grueling and aggressive war against the very dangerous, power punching Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika and coming out the victor in a 12-round unanimous decision fight.

On the subject of ‘jive’

The 16th of June 2010 saw Andre Ward, WBA super middleweight champion of the world, and Oklahoman-born Allan “Sweetness” Green at a pre-fight press conference in Oakland’s Oracle Arena. On June 19, they fought. Andre Ward won all 12 rounds. Green was hospitalized after the fight.