Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Friday 22 September 2017
Undefeated champ Andre Ward retires, desire no longer there

By JOSH DUBOW lights, but they don’t see tracted legal dispute with
AP Sports Writer the toil, they don’t see the his former promoter, the
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — grind, they don’t see just late Dan Goosen.
Andre Ward decided to the pain, the physical pain Ward got back in the ring
end his career on top. that you go through, not in June 2015. He won the
Ward announced Thursday just in the fights, but to pre- light heavyweight title in a
he is retiring from boxing pare and to get ready for disputed, unanimous deci-
because he no longer has those battles,” he said. sion against Sergey Kova-
the desire to fight, leaving “I felt the physicality of the lev in November 2016,
the sport at age 33 with sport, not just in the ring taking all three belts in the
an undefeated record stuff, but the training and process. Ward then beat
and the light heavyweight the preparation, start to Kovalev more decidedly
championship. take its toll on me for the in a rematch in June that
Ward released a statement last two or three years and was stopped in the eighth
on his website titled “Mis- I bit down and continued round.
sion Accomplished “ thank- to push through and at this Kovalev said Ward’s retire-
ing those who helped him point, it’s time and I know ment will be good for box-
throughout his career and it’s time.” ing because it will allow
explaining his reasons for Ward declined other inter- “good and strong” fight-
his retirement. view requests through his ers to compete for the va-
“I want to be clear — I am publicist, saying he wanted cated titles. He also said
leaving because my body to celebrate his retirement through his Main Events In this June 17, 2017, file photo, Andre Ward celebrates after
can no longer put up with with family and friends. promoter that he doesn’t defeating Sergey Kovalev in a light heavyweight championship
the rigors of the sport and Ward has won all 32 of his concern himself with the boxing match in Las Vegas. Associated Press
therefore my desire to fights, with 16 knockouts. possibility that Ward’s re-
fight is no longer there,” he He won the Olympic gold tirement won’t stick.
wrote. “If I cannot give my medal as a light heavy- “I don’t think about him lev does wonder if Ward how to live it — as a cham-
family, my team, and the weight in 2004. Ward won at all because I’m look- and his handlers are play- pion at the top,” HBO ex-
fans everything that I have, the WBA super middle- ing forward (to reaching) ing psychological games. ecutive vice president Pe-
then I should no longer be weight title in 2009 when my goals,” he said, add- “They did before second ter Nelson said. “To watch
fighting.” he defeated Mikkel Kessler ing that his last two fights rematch,” he said. “I don’t Ward was to marvel at
Ward is currently rated the and unified that title in 2011 are “history” and “I forgot it know. I don’t care at all.” constant mastery of craft
best “pound for pound” when he beat Carl Froch in already.”He said he would HBO said Ward will work in the ring, to say nothing of
boxer by Ring Magazine. the Super Six super middle- have been happy to get as an analyst on its boxing his being the consummate
But in an interview with ES- weight tournament final. a third fight, but not if he broadcasts. role model outside it. The
PN’s First Take, he said he Ward then battled shoul- had to wait and take lesser “Andre Ward ends his box- Hall of Fame will be lucky
no longer wants to do the der problems that kept him bouts in the interim. Kova- ing career as he only knew to have him.”q
work leading to his bouts. out of the ring and later
“People see what I do fight went 19 months without
night, they see under the a fight because of a pro-

Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
HIGH RISE AND LOW RISE HOTELS AND TIMESHARES.
CALL 525-7777 FOR MORE INFORMATION
LIVE POKER

GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS

1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5
$100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR
OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES
CRAPS

ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS

SPORTSBOOK

LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS