Andre Ward: The Ultimate Boxing Success Story

Photo credits: ​https://www.eastbaytimes.com/

At 12 years old, Andre Ward was special.  I remember seeing him move around the ring at King's Gym and wanted to imitate his style which was so smooth.  He knew from that time, he wanted to be a world champion.  It's amazing when you think of his long reign in boxing.  He didn't lose a fight from the time he was 12.  He is an Olympic Gold Medalist and a two-division multi-belt World Champion.  He retired undefeated at the top of his game, was a boxing hall of fame inductee, and has been a successful commentator and voice in the sport.  
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I recently read his book, Killing the Image:  A Champion's Journey of Faith, Fighting and Forgiveness and not only did it take me back to 1990s Bay Area, but it was a vivid telling of the struggles and triumphs of Ward and his trainer Virgil Hunter.  Ward had two parents that loved him deeply but fought drug addiction.  Lucky for Ward his father also deeply loved boxing and found him the right coach at an early age.  

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Hunter gave Ward confidence and belief in his greatness and potential.  He taught Ward to use ALL his skills and talents effectively.  He was also impeccable at selecting fights and challenges for his fighter.  They were an unstoppable team that often didn't get the credit they deserved.  Ward started with Hunter as a little kid.  He also retired at the top of his game as a pro with Hunter at the age of 33.  That says a lot about both of them.  Just when Ward was starting to get the recognition he deserved with his rematch against Sergei Kovalev that ended in a knockout, it hit Ward one day that he didn't want to fight anymore.   Hunter was surprised, but supported him with one piece of valuable advice:  "Don't ever come back."  

Photo credit:  ​https://tss.ib.tv/boxing

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Ward's tremendous success also extends outside the ring.  He let his work in the ring speak for him instead of talking trash, but is also an incredibly articulate spokesperson for boxing with his work as a commentator even while he was boxing. Now with this book and his work as a motivational speaker, he is helping athletes learn how to do it right.   He did boxing on his terms and anyone who is considering being a professional boxer should read this book. 

One of my regrets in boxing is that I didn't ask Hunter to be my trainer when I was training at King's Gym at the same time as Ward.  I fantasize that I could have been the female Andre Ward.  I definitely got taught the skill with my first trainer and all my amazing sparring partners early on, but finding someone who was thoughtful about shaping my career would have made a huge difference.  I never got up the courage to ask him and I don't know if he would have agreed to be my trainer, even though now he has trained some top female boxers like Nicola Adams.  It was a different time for female boxers back then and that wasn't my boxing journey to have.  Regardless, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be in the same gym with Andre for a brief time and the opportunity to read his book that reveals so much about what it takes to be successful in the sport of boxing.