Andre Michael Ward was born on February 23,1984 and is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017.
70 Facts About Andre Ward
2.
Andre Ward retired with an undefeated record and held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified super middleweight titles between 2009 and 2015, and unified light heavyweight titles between 2016 and 2017.
3.
Andre Ward rose to worldwide prominence upon entering the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament in 2009, where he won the World Boxing Association super middleweight title from Mikkel Kessler in the opening group stage.
4.
In 2011, Andre Ward defeated World Boxing Council champion Carl Froch in the tournament final to unify the titles, as well as winning the vacant Ring magazine and lineal titles.
5.
That same year, Andre Ward was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers' Association of America.
6.
In 2016, following a long period of sporadic in-ring activity, Andre Ward moved up to light heavyweight and won the WBA, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization titles from then-undefeated Sergey Kovalev.
7.
Andre Ward successfully defended his titles in a rematch against Kovalev a year later, after which he retired from boxing.
8.
Andre Ward was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, his first year of eligibility.
9.
Andre Ward finished his amateur career with a record of 115 wins and 5 losses.
10.
Andre Ward made his pro debut on December 18,2004, by scoring a second round TKO over Chris Molina.
11.
On February 5,2005, Andre Ward fought in his second pro fight against Kenny Kost.
12.
Andre Ward overcame a rocky second round, in which he was hurt by a left hook, to win by unanimous decision.
13.
Andre Ward defeated Roy Ashworth on April 7,2005, by disqualification.
14.
Andre Ward won his next three fights, all by knockout, before going up against Darnell Boone on November 19,2005.
15.
Andre Ward was knocked down for the first time in his career in round four.
16.
On November 16,2007, Andre Ward beat undefeated Roger Cantrell by fifth-round TKO in Saint Lucia.
17.
At this point, Andre Ward's record was 14 wins, no losses.
18.
Andre Ward was ready to step up to his biggest challenge against big American puncher Allan Green, with the fight scheduled to take place on February 2,2008, on HBO.
19.
Andre Ward eventually got his chance two years later, losing a unanimous decision.
20.
On March 20,2008, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, Andre Ward defeated Rubin Williams by seventh-round TKO.
21.
Andre Ward hit Williams with jabs and straight left hands almost at will, opening a bad cut over Williams' left eye in the process.
22.
Andre Ward faced Jerson Ravelo on June 20,2008, in Georgetown, Cayman Islands, for the vacant regional NABO super-middleweight title.
23.
Andre Ward dominated Ravelo for most of the fight en route to a TKO victory in the eighth round.
24.
On May 16,2009, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, Andre Ward defeated former prospect Edison Miranda by unanimous decision.
25.
Andre Ward showed he had an inside game as well as an outside game.
26.
On September 12,2009, at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, Andre Ward defeated Shelby Pudwill by TKO in the 3rd round.
27.
Andre Ward defeated Kessler to via technical decision in round 11 to win his first world title.
28.
Andre Ward, defending the WBA super middleweight title, outclassed an opponent who spent most of the fight with his back against the ropes.
29.
Andre Ward defeated Green by unanimous decision on June 19,2010.
30.
Bika landed 201 of his 612 punches, but Andre Ward was more precise with his shots, landing 235 of 398.
31.
Andre Ward later admitted it was his toughest fight to date, since he became professional.
32.
Andre Ward started out slow with Abraham, trying to find a way to penetrate his tight defense.
33.
Andre Ward won the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament via unanimous decision.
34.
An MRI later revealed that Andre Ward injured his lead left hand on which he relied for landing hooks to Froch's head.
35.
Andre Ward noted extreme pain in the sixth round of the fight as well as one week prior, though the initial X-ray came back clear.
36.
CompuBox statistics showed that Andre Ward landed 243 of 573 punches thrown, whilst Froch landed 156 of 683 punches.
37.
Andre Ward won the vacant Ring and lineal super middleweight titles with his Super Six World Boxing Classic win against Froch, despite some independent sources rating then-undefeated IBF champion Lucian Bute at number one or two at the time.
38.
Andre Ward's next fight was announced on June 22,2012, to take place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on September 8,2012, against The Ring and lineal light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.
39.
Again in the fourth round, Andre Ward was able to drop Dawson, in another dominating round.
40.
From fifth round until the end of the fight, Andre Ward was able to neutralize Dawson's jab and work rate, seemingly out boxing and frustrating Dawson throughout.
41.
Andre Ward was scheduled to defend his super middleweight titles against former unified middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on January 26,2013, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
42.
However, an injury sustained by Andre Ward originally postponed the bout for 4 more weeks and the fight was expected to take place on February 23,2013.
43.
Andre Ward claimed a shoulder injury that required surgery was the reason for his inactivity, but the WBC claimed that Andre Ward had not provided any medical evidence or even given them a rough availability date.
44.
Andre Ward spent most of 2013 recovering from injuries, and feuding with promoter Dan Goossen, over the inclusion of a co-manager in Andre Ward's promotional contract.
45.
Andre Ward defended his WBA and Ring titles against unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez in Ontario, California in November 2013 with a wide unanimous decision.
46.
Andre Ward spent all of 2014 inactive, still feuding with Goossen.
47.
Andre Ward signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports in January 2015 and this was announced to be the first event under the Roc Nation banner.
48.
Roc Nation did reach out to HBO, where Andre Ward had worked as an analyst previously, but upon hearing his opponent, they passed on the opportunity to showcase Andre Ward's long-awaited return.
49.
On November 12,2015, in advance of his upcoming move up to the light heavyweight division, Andre Ward vacated his WBA super middleweight title.
50.
Andre Ward originally claimed the belt in November 2009 with a victory over long-time champion Mikkel Kessler in his opening fight of the Super Six tournament.
51.
En route to a wide unanimous decision victory, Andre Ward dropped Barrera to the canvas in the third round as he turned a left hook while on the ropes.
52.
Andre Ward dictated the pace for the vast majority of the bout, showcasing good strength and ring generalship against Barrera.
53.
Andre Ward landed 166 from 463 thrown whilst Barrera landed 111 of 722 punches thrown.
54.
On June 28,2016, Roc Nation Sport confirmed that Andre Ward would fight once more before his mega fight with Kovalev on July 30 against 39 year old Colombian boxer Alexander Brand.
55.
In front of 8,653 hometown fans, Andre Ward unanimously outpointed Brand to claim the vacant WBO International light heavyweight title.
56.
Andre Ward looked slow in the victory, not looking like the same fighter he was in 2011.
57.
Andre Ward landed 190 of 490 punches thrown, and Brand landed 45 of 285.
58.
Andre Ward earned a purse of $850,000 compared to the small amount of $30,000 earned by Brand.
59.
Andre Ward fought the unified IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev at the T-Mobile Arena on November 19,2016.
60.
CompuBox stats showed that Kovalev landed more punches, 126 of 474 punches; Andre Ward landed 116 out of 337 thrown.
61.
Andre Ward threatened to retire if he didn't get things "his way" for the rematch.
62.
CompuBox stats showed that Andre Ward landed 80 of 238 punches whilst Kovalev landed more punches with 95 of his 407 thrown.
63.
Andre Ward is a great fighter, and when you fight great fighters, you have to raise your game.
64.
Andre Ward confirmed that he was still under contract with Roc Nation Sports, but rumours indicated that he could sign with Top Rank.
65.
On September 21,2017, via his website, Andre Ward announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 33.
66.
On December 15,2020, Andre Ward was announced as being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, his first year of eligibility.
67.
Andre Ward makes effective use of the jab to the body while out of punching range.
68.
In 2009, Andre Ward married his high school sweetheart Tiffiney, with whom he has three sons and a daughter.
69.
In 2015, Andre Ward made his acting debut in the American sports drama film and Rocky franchise spin-off, Creed, as the light heavyweight boxer Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler.
70.
Andre Ward reprised his role in Creed II, released on November 21,2018.