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Andre Ward Named BWAA Sugar
Ray Robinson Fighter Of The Year
At the end of the year, when several highly respected
publications, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Yahoo!
Sports named Andre Ward their Fighter of the Year, it seemed
that the people around the 2004 Olympic gold medalist were
even more thrilled than he was. Though grateful for the
awards he had earned, the WBA and WBC super middleweight
World Champion was waiting for "the big one."
That wait came to an end yesterday, when the Boxing Writers
Association of America announced that the 27-year-old Ward
was to receive the 2011 BWAA Fighter of the Year award named
after one of the greatest of all-time, Sugar Ray Robinson.
The BWAA stated "Ward was chosen by an overwhelming margin
over nominees Nonito Donaire, Wladimir Klitschko, Floyd
Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao."
Not a bad list of pugilists to be associated with.
In 2011, en route to capturing the inaugural SHOWTIME Super
Six World Boxing Classic, Andre showcased a dominant victory
over Arthur Abraham in the semi-finals in May, and followed
it up with a masterful performance over Carl Froch in the
tournament finale on Dec. 17. An MRI after the fight
revealed that he had entered the bout with a double fracture
in his left hand, making his victory all the more special.
"I want to thank God for giving me the strength to put in
the work year after year to get to this point," said the
humble champion. "I also want to thank my manager, James
Prince, my promoters Antonio Leonard and Dan Goossen,
everyone who is a part of Team Ward, including all of my
family, friends, and loyal fans who have been behind me all
these years. This award is just as much for them as it is
for me.
"Even in the midst of receiving this tremendous award, Team
Ward is not going to let up. In 2012 and beyond we're going
to push forward, and God-willing we can be considered for
these awards every year. Its easy to get comfortable at a
time like this, but I can assure everybody that I'm going to
continue to put in the work to be the best that I can be.
I'm going to stay humble, keep God first, and with that: the
best is yet to come."
"Since the day we signed Andre from his Olympic gold medal
performance, to this past December beating Froch, he has
been a complete joy to work with, as well as his whole
team," said Goossen. "The crazy thing is I don't believe
Andre has scratched the surface of where he's headed. Inside
the ring he's vicious; outside the ring he's classy and
humble. Simply said, he's the future."
The accolades for Team Ward continued when the BWAA also
acknowledged the man who has trained Andre since the first
day he stepped into a boxing gym, voting Virgil Hunter
winner of the Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year award.
"I'm very happy for my trainer and Godfather, Virgil, for
winning this prestigious award," said Ward of the man who
has taught him his craft. "I'm probably more excited for him
than I am for myself. I've always wanted him to win this
award because he is one of the hardest working trainers in
the game."
"I'm thrilled for Virgil," Goossen further stated. "He
deserves to be mentioned with the top trainers in the sport
today, and like Andre, I believe the best is yet to come."
Andre, who is expecting his fourth child with his wife
Tiffiney, was certain not to forget the media, stating:
"Last but not least, I want to thank the boxing writers,
because without them, this would not be possible."
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