Undefeated Boxing Champion Andre Ward Announced His Retirement Today With This Moving Video
Less than a month removed from Floyd Mayweather Jr. finalizing his retirement by defeating Conor McGregor, another undefeated boxing superstar is hanging up the gloves as well.
This morning, Andre Ward took to his Instagram and Twitter accounts and posted a moving video, in which he can be heard saying, "All I want to do is be a fighter ... all I want to be is an Olympic champion ... all I want to be is a world champion" through three different stages of his life, before he walks out of a boxing gym saying the words, "I did it."
After some boxing fans expressed doubt over his controversial unanimous-decision win over Sergey Kovalev last November, the "S.O.G. (Son of God) left zero doubt in their rematch this past June when he scored an eighth-round TKO, improving his record to 32-0 (with 16 knockouts). He also leaves the fight game regarded as the sport's No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
In addition to the video, the 33-year-old Ward also released a statement entitled "Mission Accomplished," in which he explained, "I am leaving because my body can no longer put up with the rigors of the sport and therefore, my desire to fight is no longer there."
Here's Andre Ward's retirement announcement video, his official statement and the phone interview he had on ESPN's First Take this morning, with some very special fans saluting him on a hell of a career. Congrats, champ!
Andre Ward announced his retirement by posting this moving video onto his Instagram and Twitter accounts
We tip our hats to the "Son of God," one of the best pure boxers the Sweet Science has ever had.
He also further explained his decision to hang up the gloves at the age of 33
Hey, he can always say that he went out undefeated and on top — something that a majority of boxers cannot boast.
Ward also chopped it up with 'First Take' to shed more light on his decision to retire now
"My goal has always been to walk away from this sport and to retire from the sport and not let the sport retire me and I have that opportunity today," Ward explained, adding that even the lure of making millions of more dollars in future fights couldn't affect this decision.
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that being said, everyone from LeBron James to the Jordan Brand and more saluted Ward on his brilliant career
Happy retirement, indeed. You've earned it, Andre Ward.
