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By Thomas Gerbasi - Though Andre Ward currently resides with the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Nonito Donaire, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, and Sergio Martinez on the pound-for-pound list, it wasn’t that long ago that he was being ridiculed and criticized for the level of competition he was facing in the few years following his appearance in the 2004 Olympics.
At times, you would have thought Ward had committed murder the way he was once discussed in boxing circles. But as 2009 dawned, Ward, now four full years into his pro career, began making his move, with each successive fight pitting him against tougher and tougher opposition. By the time he made it to the Super Six super middleweight tournament in 2009, he was ready for the elite, and his performance in that tourney and beyond established him as one of boxing’s best.
Four years of an apprenticeship, with the fifth year beginning the time when you sink or swim among the sharks.
Demetrius Andrade knows all about that, about Ward, and about dealing with the criticism that often comes with being an ultra-talented former Olympian who many believe should have been fighting killers a lot sooner than now. [Click Here To Read More]
At times, you would have thought Ward had committed murder the way he was once discussed in boxing circles. But as 2009 dawned, Ward, now four full years into his pro career, began making his move, with each successive fight pitting him against tougher and tougher opposition. By the time he made it to the Super Six super middleweight tournament in 2009, he was ready for the elite, and his performance in that tourney and beyond established him as one of boxing’s best.
Four years of an apprenticeship, with the fifth year beginning the time when you sink or swim among the sharks.
Demetrius Andrade knows all about that, about Ward, and about dealing with the criticism that often comes with being an ultra-talented former Olympian who many believe should have been fighting killers a lot sooner than now. [Click Here To Read More]
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