411 Boxing's Exclusive Interview with Andre Ward

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 11.18.2009

Ward sits down with 411mania to talk about his upcoming fight with WBA middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler, which takes place this Saturday on Showtime.


Photos by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com

During this week's media day workout in Oakland, I had the chance to sit down and talk to 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward who is days away from his first crack at a world title against WBA champ Mikkel Kessler. The bout, which takes place on Saturday, is the final bout of the first round of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic which includes Arthur Abraham, Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch and Jermain Taylor.

411mania: So we're just days away from the biggest fight of your career but I get the sense that you're not nervous at all…that you're just genuinely excited about the fight…would that be a safe assessment?

Andre Ward: I'm excited. I've done everything I can possibly do in this 10 week span since the Pudwill fight and I keep in mind that there's so much anticipation; not because the Super Six was just made or that the fight was made weeks ago. I've been training for this since I was 9 years old and that far out, we set these goals and felt they were realistic – the gold medal and then being world champion for a long time until I retire. Now that this other chapter in my life is just beginning, I am very excited.

411mania: Speaking of the Pudwill fight, it's one that you didn't have to take but did anyway…looking back are you glad you did?

Andre Ward: I'm glad I did…I think we would've been fine if we didn't take it but it feels good to get in the ring you know and the main reason was because Kessler was taking one [voluntary fight] and though it's not a huge psychological ploy – he got one so we got one. He was showcasing that night and so we wanted to showcase.

411mania: The Super Six started off with a bang a few weeks ago. Looking back at those two fights, what did you take away from them if anything?

Andre Ward: From the Abraham-Taylor fight, I felt like if Jermain fought a disciplined fight, I though he would win and I was definitely pulling for him. This is no knock but this was a typical Arthur Abraham fight – cover up; he takes a lot of punishment and if you look at his face after fights, he's got a lot of bruises and stuff; he gets hit a lot but that's what he does. He takes punches and looks for you to open up and he tries to explode. He's very explosive and what you see is what you get with Arthur and it was a good performance and he finished strong and it's unfortunate for Jermain.

As for the Froch and Dirrell fight, I think Froch did more talking than fighting and I thought Dirrell won the fight but I also do think that there were some instances throughout the fight – just his body language and stuff that he probably allowed a lot of the close rounds to go to Froch in his hometown and that's something that as a challenger, I have to be very watchful of. You can't allow a guy to throw you on the ground; you can't complain a lot…you have to stay focused. That was the key in that fight; punch for punch he did more than Froch but body language says a whole lot and that allowed the judges to lean on Froch's side.

411mania: I agree with you there, I had Dirrell winning 114-113 but he didn't do himself any favors in some of those rounds when he was complaining and holding.

Andre Ward: Yeah and it looked like Froch was the one in control but to Andre's credit, it was his first big fight and he didn't have a Miranda fight like I had before his first title fight. He had 'Superman' Findley; a guy I fought like in my 12th fight or something like that. So you have to give him credit for going over to England to take on a guy like Froch and he did well, aside from the stuff we just talked about.

411mania: Not to look past Kessler, but your next fight will be against Jermain Taylor. Given the outcome of his fight with Abraham, do you think it's a wise choice for him to continue with the tournament?

Andre Ward: It's tough to say. I would have to be in his shoes but initially watching that fight, you have to step back and say man, that's a lot of punishment in a short period of time but I don't know what his financial situation is – if he has to box or if he loves boxing that much but if I took three concussive knockouts in the span of four fights, I would be really looking into getting into another business if I really needed the money or be content with walking away because he's got a beautiful family and at the end of the day it's not about titles; it's about having your faculties for your family.

411mania: I know the intention of the tournament was never to be the U.S. versus Europe but it's appeared that way with how the first round was shaped. That being said, do you feel any extra pressure or motivation to get the American side its first win?

Andre Ward: (laughs) Yeah but I think it's good pressure and I'm aware of it and I feel like it's my part to play; my duty. I have to give it all I got and represent the United States very well because Froch summed it up. He said that everything was going as planned. This is what everybody anticipated and I really thrive on that – when someone assumes I'm going to lie down and lose. I'm actually kind of glad it's turned into a Euro vs. USA tournament, I really am.

411mania: The last time we spoke you told me you felt your footwork would be one of the bigger factors in this fight, along with your speed. Do you still think that that will be the case?

Andre Ward: I don't know about the biggest factor but it will be one key and just look to see more out of Andre Ward than what you've seen. People look at my style and they can't figure out what it is so they use words like ‘speedy', ‘boxer'; they don't give me credit for my physical strength and my power but that's boxing and we have nights like the one I'll have in a few days where I'll have the opportunity to step up to the plate and show the world what I'm all about.

411mania: Any final thoughts about the fight?

Andre Ward: I'm just counting down the days. I want the week to go a little faster – tired of training (laughs). Camp was great; we had some good sparring partners and I really can't wait to get home to my family. This is the longest camp I've had and I just look forward to cuddling up with my wife and my daughter and a few days ago, there was a father-son donut day and I couldn't be there and it made my son cry. I look at things like that and I say, I've sacrificed a lot and I cannot be denied. I'm just looking to get the festivities under way and be in that tunnel getting ready to step inside the ring.

411mania: Well I'm sure you can't wait to cuddle up at home with the wife but are you going to make a little room on your pillow for the WBA title if you win?

Andre Ward: (laughs) Believe it! I'll probably sleep with that thing for at least….at LEAST a week! I think she'll be ok with that.

411mania: Ok Andre good luck to you and we'll see you later this week.

Andre Ward: Thank you man!

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Andre Ward faces Mikkel Kessler for the WBA super middleweight title Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Showtime will televise as part of their Super Six World Boxing Classic.