Andre Ward has announced that he is "leaving" boxing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Undefeated light heavyweight champion Andre Ward announces his retirement
Andre Ward will hang up his gloves at a moment when much of the fighting community still considers him the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world
In a statement entitled "Mission Accomplished," the fighter said that he was beginning to recognize what boxing was doing to his body and no longer had a desire to keep fighting.
"I want to be clear – 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," Ward said in his statement. "If I cannot give my family, my team, and the fans everything that I have, then I should no longer be fighting."
At 33-years-old, Ward will hang up his gloves with a perfect record of 32-0-0 and 16 knockouts to his name, and finish his career widely considered as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
ADVERTISEMENT
Most recently, Ward fought Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev in two high-profile matches. After taking Kovalev's three belts by a unanimous decision that some deemed controversial in 2016, Ward decisively took him down again this past June, winning by TKO in the eighth round. As it stands, it will be the last time boxing fans got to see Ward in the ring.
While speaking with ESPN's First Take, Ward went into further detail as to how boxing was wearing on his body and life.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
ADVERTISEMENT