by David P. Greisman
Andre Ward’s lengthy periods of inactivity have been covered and opined on countless times. He fought just once in 2012, once in 2013, and not at all in 2014, dealing with injury and an extended attempt at parting ways with Dan Goossen, a promoter who has since passed away.
Ward signed with Roc Nation Sports last year, fought Paul Smith in June, took on Sullivan Barrera this past March, and will stay busy with a bout on Aug. 6 against Alexander Brand ahead of a Nov. 19 clash with light heavyweight titleholder Sergey Kovalev.
They haven’t been the most notable years for Ward following his triumph in the “Super Six” tournament in late 2011, barring his technical knockout of Chad Dawson in 2012. But Ward believes the lack of time in the ring may have helped him in the long run.
“With those layoffs, I may have gained a few years to my career,” he said on a July 12 media conference call. “I wasn’t getting hit in the head. I wasn’t taking any punishment to the body. I was working out, but I wasn’t working out at the level that I would be if I had a fight coming up. I probably preserved my body for a couple years and gained a couple years.”
Earlier in the call, when asked about rumors of an injury, Ward said he was fine while also acknowledging the potential ravages of time.
“I’ve put in my time in this sport. I’ve been a professional for over 10 years now. I fought as an amateur for over 10 years,” said Ward, who is 32 years old. “I put in the time. I’ve pounded the pavement. I’ve gone the rounds. You’re going to have things that happen. You manage it the best that you can and move on. The rumors, wherever they’re coming from, aren’t accurate. I feel good, and hopefully I’m going to stay that way.”
Later on, he referenced another top boxer who had sabbaticals and remained in great form.
“A layoff is not always a bad thing, especially at a certain point in your career,” Ward said. “If you look at Floyd [Mayweather], he’s taken probably two or three long hiatuses, and I think they were probably necessary for him, mentally but then also physically, because you cannot grind the body down for 10, 15, 20 years and expect to be whole, and expect nothing to ever happen or to not have any chronic issues. Sometimes the only thing that gets those issues better is rest. I got that. Involuntarily, but I got it.”
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