Andre Ward, two-weight world champion retires from boxing
Ward, 33,
held titles at super-middleweight but moved up a weight division and unified
the WBA, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight belts in 2016.
In a
statement he said his body could not "put up with the rigors" of
boxing.
"If I
cannot give my family, my team, and the fans everything I have, then I should
no longer be fighting," he said.
Earlier in the week Ward posted an image to
social media showcasing titles he had earned during his career.
He last
fought in June when he stopped Sergey Kovalev in a Las Vegas rematch to defend
the titles he had won in a unification bout with the Russian seven months
earlier.
Ward inflicted the only defeats of Kovalev's
career and his perfect 32-fight record also boasts victories over names such as
Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler during time spent at super-middleweight.
"To the sport of boxing - I love
you," wrote the 2004 Olympic gold medallist. "You've been by my side
since I was 10 years old. You've taught me so much. You've humbled me. You've
promoted me.
"As I walk away from the sport of boxing
today, I leave at the top of your glorious mountain, which was always my vision
and my dream. I did it. We did it."
After turning professional after his Olympic
success in 2004, Ward took five years to land his first world title with a
shock victory over Kessler.
That success arrived in the Super Six World
Boxing Classic tournament, where Ward later beat Arthur Abraham and Froch to
take the trophy and unify the WBC and WBA belts at super-middleweight.
In his tribute to Ward BBC Sport boxing
correspondent Mike Costello said “Ward's decision comes as a huge surprise and as with any such
announcement in boxing will be greeted with scepticism.
He is ranked by many as the best
pound-for-pound boxer in the world today and he is the last American male to
win Olympic gold.
His win against Froch in 2011 was high amongst
the best performances I have seen as a commentator at ringside”.
FROM BBC.com
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