In the Red Corner 11.20.09: Andre Ward Is Ready and Willing

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 11.20.2009

Ward readies for the biggest fight of his career against Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night. Despite the pressure and high expectations, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist is ready to roll.


Photos by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com

With a stoic look and a quiet yet focused demeanor, Andre Ward pounds away at the mitts alongside trainer and godfather Virgil Hunter. Only days away from the biggest fight of his career, Ward seems like a cool customer as he awaits his first world title shot when he faces WBA super middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler in his hometown of Oakland, California.

"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," exclaimed Ward as we sat down inside King's Gym in Oakland.

The first chapter was no doubt a successful one as Ward took home Olympic gold in 2004 as a light heavyweight when he defeated Magomed Aripgadjiev in Athens. To say his amateur career was exceptional wouldn't be an understatement as he went unbeaten from 1998-2004 before heading into the Olympics. Despite all the success however, Ward remained humble – a feat not easily attained for a young fighter with such achievements and he quickly turned pro soon after attaining the gold.

As with any fighter coming out of the Olympics with a medal, expectations have been high since being signed by Goossen Tutor Promotions and though the pressure of succeeding rapidly can prove overwhelming, Ward has handled it with poise. Over the last few years, the public has increasingly wondered when Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) would step up to the elite level of the boxing world and although it's come at a slow and steady pace, Andre has been content to let things play out. Perhaps it's a little unfair to expect so much so quickly from a fighter who's only recently turned 25 but as his promoter Dan Goossen has been saying, his time is coming.

Earlier this year, Ward took on his toughest opponent to date in Edison Miranda – a hard punching Columbian who likes to give it all he's got. Questions arose about Ward's chin which hadn't really been tested and about his ability to handle the pressure of a big fight. Needless to say, we got the answers to all of those emphatically as Ward completely dominated the former world title challenger over twelve impressive rounds. Had Ward finally arrived? Would it be Andre's time for a title shot in 2010?

That time of course came a little unexpectedly as Showtime threw the boxing world a big league curveball when it announced its Super Six World Boxing Classic, pitting six of the best super middleweights in the world in a round robin tournament. One of those fighters just happened to be Andre ‘S.O.G.' Ward. As luck would have it, his first bout in the tournament also turned out to be for a world title. Though having to take on Mikkel Kessler in the first round of a tourney, let alone having to face him at all, is a tall task it's one that Ward is eager to tackle. That the fight is at Oracle Arena in Oakland is a cherry on top to what Ward hopes will be his coming out party.

At 42-1 with 32 KOs, Kessler has come into this tournament as one of the favorites to be in the finals and it's tough to see why. He's an accomplished pro with multiple title reigns and brings an imposing and highly skillful style into the ring. His lone loss was at the hands of the now retired and unbeaten Joe Calzaghe. That 2007 fight aside, Kessler has dominated his other 42 opponents and the prime age of 30 appears to be getting better.

When Ward walks down that aisle on Saturday, all the amateur titles, Olympic gold and alphabet trinket he's piled up over his career all goes out the window. The only thing that will matter is the knowledge and skills he's developed since he was that 9-year old boy with high hopes and dreams and the fire that burns in him to finally reach the mountain top. Whether he gets there this weekend or not is anybody's guess but one thing's for sure - he's not coming to lie down.

"I'm just counting down the days," admits Ward. "I want to be in that tunnel, getting ready to step in the ring. I've sacrificed a lot [to be here] and I can't be denied."