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By Jake Donovan - Prior to the start of Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic, most boxing experts weren’t quite sure what to make of Andre Ward’s career. The 2004 Olympic Gold medalist was always chock full of talent and confidence, but the results didn’t quite line up with the suggested greatness.
Ward changed that in a big way in Stage One of the tournament, scoring a lopsided points win over heavily favored Mikkel Kessler in Nov. ’09 to win his first major championship.
Two years and four wins later, Ward is now regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The pair of wins he racked up in 2011 led to a number of honors earned, including near unanimous recognition as the Fighter of the Year.
Heading into 2011, Ward emerged as the favorite to win the Super Six tournament, but pre-fight predictions have proven to mean next to nothing in the round-robin series. Ward wasn’t supposed to advance as far as he did, with most experts believing that it would be Kessler and Arthur Abraham as the last men standing when all was said and done.
What those experts didn’t realize is that Ward’s self-confidence exists for several reasons: his strong belief in the Lord he serves, and the solid foundation built by longtime trainer and father figure Virgil Hunter through their 18 years spent together.
It’s that very confidence that has enabled Ward to have avoided the taste of defeat for more than 14 years. As Floyd Mayweather often points out, how can you create a blueprint for defeat for a man who doesn’t know what it’s like to lose? [Click Here To Read More]
Ward changed that in a big way in Stage One of the tournament, scoring a lopsided points win over heavily favored Mikkel Kessler in Nov. ’09 to win his first major championship.
Two years and four wins later, Ward is now regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The pair of wins he racked up in 2011 led to a number of honors earned, including near unanimous recognition as the Fighter of the Year.
Heading into 2011, Ward emerged as the favorite to win the Super Six tournament, but pre-fight predictions have proven to mean next to nothing in the round-robin series. Ward wasn’t supposed to advance as far as he did, with most experts believing that it would be Kessler and Arthur Abraham as the last men standing when all was said and done.
What those experts didn’t realize is that Ward’s self-confidence exists for several reasons: his strong belief in the Lord he serves, and the solid foundation built by longtime trainer and father figure Virgil Hunter through their 18 years spent together.
It’s that very confidence that has enabled Ward to have avoided the taste of defeat for more than 14 years. As Floyd Mayweather often points out, how can you create a blueprint for defeat for a man who doesn’t know what it’s like to lose? [Click Here To Read More]
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