Carl Froch-Andre Ward
NEARLY 14 YEARS SINCE ANDRE WARD LOST
San Francisco, CA- On occasion, I’d venture to amateur boxing events around the Bay Area. During one of those cards, either at the East Oakland Boxing Club or King’s Gym, I saw a skinny kid with little or no “street” in him breeze to victory. Maybe he was 14, but in the dressing room afterwards and many times thereafter I never heard him holler or cuss something I might have done either win or lose. Ward’s climb up the amateur ladder was well behaved, cultured, and by 15 he was already P.C. (politically correct) as a young teenager.
HAILS FROM OAKLAND BUT BORN IN FRISCO
Although Andre Ward’s mother is Black, his father Frank Ward , who died unexpectedly in 2002 was Caucasian. Billed from Oakland, CA, Andre went to school in another rough city 15 miles away in Hayward, CA where the San Franciscan born in Ward became a football star who started on both Offense & Defense. Beginning his boxing career in 1994, Ward lost his last fight in 1997, a decision that Charles King, owner of King’s Gym on 35th Ave. in Oakland said was a “robbery.”
WON THREE NATIONAL TITLES BEFORE OLYMPICS
Winning three straight National titles at middleweight in 2001, 2002, & 2003, when Ward won the right to go to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, the local sports media scoffed. That skinny kid from Oakland was not going to win the Gold Medal. When I tried to convince Gary Radnich, whose father was a darn good heavyweight in the 40′s, while appearing on his radio show, basically accused me of “shilling” for the local kid. When I explained to Gary that I was taught not to “shill” for fighters, especially local pugs, this by International Boxing Hall of Fame boxing member writer Jack Fiske, something I have adhered to for 25 years. When Andre completed his amateur run with the Olympic championship his record was 110-5.
POST OLYMPICS LOCAL PRESS STILL DIDN’T BELIEVE IN WARD
With Radnich and the Bay Area media were forced to, but never admitted having to eat crow, Gary pointed out that Ward was knocked down in one of his early televised professional fights against Darnell Boone. I tried to explain that even Muhammad Ali went down early (Sonny Banks), Radnich again expressed doubts. A professional, Gary took notice when Andre took apart recognized World (168 lb) champion (42-1) Mikkel Kessler in November 2009, that accomplishment finally sold the local media that Andre was the Northern California boxing savior I for years said he was.
WHERE KESSLER CHEATED A LITTLE BIT, HOW, & WHY!
Since defeating Kessler 25 months ago in the first round of the Showtime Super Six 168 lb, (super middleweight) with Technical Decision in 11 rounds even through there were only 10 completed rounds. Kessler was busted up pretty good. You could see the confidence building in Ward and the feeling that Andre was close to the closing the show on a swollen and cut eye. Instead, Kessler opted out after ten fistic stanzas. Ward was up 98-92 twice & 97-93 on the scorecards. Some of the nay-saying media that showed up changed their minds with Andre’s performance over the then-baddest dude at 168 having lost once and only to retired World champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) who packed it in 2008 after schooling Roy Jones. Had Ward won by what was painted on the Oracle Arena walls, a TKO stop on cuts or a ten-count, Ward have received an “extra point” in the Showtime Super Six Classic tournament that Ward is leading as he goes into the finale this Saturday on Showtime from Atlantic City against Carl Froch.
PART TWO ON THURSDAY COVERS THE TIME LEADING UP TO SATURDAY
In the final segment of Andre Ward, I’ll bring you up to December 2011 on Friday. How he’s handled the media, a seemingly pristine personal life, and all the while, Andre propelled himself to the lead in the tournament and an undefeated record. See you tomorrow here at www.RingTalk.com
Pedro Fernandez