Micky Ward
Micky Ward | |
---|---|
![]() Ward in March 2011 | |
Born | George Michael Ward Jr. October 4, 1965 Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Other names | "Irish" |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Light welterweight |
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 51 |
Wins | 38 |
Wins by KO | 27 |
Losses | 13 |
George Michael Ward Jr. (born October 4, 1965), often known by his nickname, "Irish" Micky Ward, is an American former
Ancestry
![]() | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (March 2020) |
His maternal great-grandmother Annie Greenhalge (Carroll) was born in Ireland, the daughter of Michael and Mary (Flood) Carroll. His maternal great-great-great grandparents Peter McMahon and Ann Quinn were from County Tyrone, Ireland. They fled Ireland during the 1850s to escape from poverty and oppression and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts. They settled in the Acre neighborhood of Lowell, Massachusetts and worked as laborers and millworkers.[citation needed]
Career
Ward was a three-time
Ward was successful in his return, winning his first nine fights, and won the WBU's Light Welterweight Title in a fight against Shea Neary in 2000.[1] He never defended the belt once.[1]
In a 1997 match that would come to typify the exceptional power of Ward's left hook to the body, he scored a 7th-round knockout against the then-undefeated Mexican Alfonso Sanchez in a fight that Ward, up to then, was clearly losing on points. Shortly before the punch, Emanuel Augustus said the fight should be stopped (which referee Mitch Halpern had threatened to do if Ward didn't "show [him] something"); afterwards HBO boxing commentary Larry Merchant called it one of the most extraordinary things he'd ever seen in boxing.[3]
Ward's left hook to the body later resulted in a first-round knockout of Steve Quinonez, and a nine-count knockdown of Arturo Gatti in their first fight.
Ward earned a 1997
In 2000, Ward traveled to London to take on the WBU Light Welterweight Champion,
Ward vs. Gatti trilogy
On May 18, 2002, Ward faced the opponent with whom he became most identified,
The two agreed to an immediate rematch, and in November, Gatti was able to win the second wild fight, knocking Ward down in the third round, although he survived to finish the fight. Gatti paid tribute to Ward's tenacity after the fight, saying, "I used to wonder what would happen if I fought my twin. Now I know."[2]
They then agreed to a third straight fight, and again, the fight was back and forth. Gatti pounded Ward with punch after punch early on, but Ward fought back and managed a sixth round knockdown of Gatti. Before Gatti could get up, or the referee's count could hit ten, the bell sounded to end the round. Gatti was able to come back and win the fight via a unanimous decision. Again, both men needed a trip to the hospital, due to the injuries they suffered.
Ward made approximately $3 million in earnings for his trilogy with Gatti; the most lucrative fights of his career.[6]
Life after boxing
Ward still lives in Lowell, where he is part owner of both a boxing gym as well as an outdoor hockey rink.[7] Ward is married to Charlene Fleming, his longtime girlfriend, who is also a former athlete. He manages the boxing gym he owns with his half-brother and former trainer, Dicky Eklund, who trains new boxers entering its academy.[8]
In his 2012 autobiography, Ward revealed that he had been sexually abused as a child by a friend of Dicky's, another boxer referred to only by his nickname, "Hammer". The abuse began when Ward was nine years old and continued for approximately three years, until he gained the confidence to confront his attacker. Ward would eventually face off against Hammer in one of his first amateur bouts, winning by unanimous decision.[9]
In popular culture
The story of Ward's comeback and rise to fame was made into a 2010 feature film,
Lowell hip hop artist D-Tension released the song, '’One Hit to the Body'’ which Micky used as his ring entrance music for the On May 18, 2002 Ward-Gatti bout.
Philadelphia hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks released two remixes to their single, Animal Rap from their third album Visions of Gandhi (2003), dubbed the "Micky Ward Mix" and "Arturo Gatti Mix".
The album The Warrior's Code by Dropkick Murphys features Ward on the cover, and he is also the subject of the title song. A live recording of the song is heard in The Fighter.[11][12]
The game Fight Night Round 3 (2006) features Ward and Gatti on the cover (PS2 and Xbox versions only).[13]
Professional boxing record
51 fights | 38 wins | 13 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 27 | 1 |
By decision | 11 | 12 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
51 | Loss | 38–13 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Jun 7, 2003 | ![]() |
|
50 | Loss | 38–12 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Nov 23, 2002 | ![]() |
|
49 | Win | 38–11 | ![]() |
MD | 10 | May 18, 2002 | ![]() |
|
48 | Loss | 37–11 | ![]() |
TD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Jan 5, 2002 | San Antonio, Texas , U.S.
|
Split TD after Leija was cut from an accidental head clash |
47 | Win | 37–10 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Jul 13, 2001 | ![]() |
|
46 | Win | 36–10 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10), 3:03 | May 18, 2001 | ![]() |
|
45 | Loss | 35–10 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Aug 19, 2000 | ![]() |
|
44 | Win | 35–9 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (12), 2:55 | Mar 11, 2000 | London Olympia, London , England
|
Won WBU light welterweight title |
43 | Win | 34–9 | ![]() |
TKO | 10 (10), 2:40 | Oct 1, 1999 | ![]() |
|
42 | Win | 33–9 | ![]() |
RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Jul 16, 1999 | ![]() |
|
41 | Win | 32–9 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (8) | Mar 17, 1999 | ![]() |
|
40 | Loss | 31–9 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Jun 7, 1998 | Miami, Florida , U.S.
|
For vacant USBA interim light welterweight title |
39 | Win | 31–8 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (8), 1:57 | Apr 14, 1998 | ![]() |
|
38 | Loss | 30–8 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (12), 2:49 | Aug 9, 1997 | ![]() |
For IBF light welterweight title |
37 | Win | 30–7 | ![]() |
KO | 7 (10), 1:53 | Apr 12, 1997 | ![]() |
|
36 | Win | 29–7 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | Dec 6, 1996 | ![]() |
|
35 | Win | 28–7 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Jul 28, 1996 | ![]() |
Retained WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title |
34 | Win | 27–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (12), 1:28 | Apr 13, 1996 | FleetCenter , Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
|
Won WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title |
33 | Win | 26–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6) | Mar 15, 1996 | ![]() |
|
32 | Win | 25–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (8) | Jan 26, 1996 | ![]() |
|
31 | Win | 24–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (4) | Dec 30, 1995 | ![]() |
|
30 | Win | 23–7 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (10) | Sep 10, 1994 | ![]() |
|
29 | Win | 22–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (10) | Jun 17, 1994 | ![]() |
|
28 | Loss | 21–7 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Oct 15, 1991 | ![]() |
|
27 | Loss | 21–6 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | May 2, 1991 | Etess Arena , Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
|
|
26 | Loss | 21–5 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Oct 18, 1990 | Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York , U.S.
|
For vacant USBA light welterweight title |
25 | Loss | 21–4 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Apr 26, 1990 | ![]() |
For IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight title |
24 | Win | 21–3 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | Feb 3, 1990 | Boston, Massachusetts , U.S.
|
|
23 | Win | 20–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (10), 2:50 | May 23, 1989 | ![]() |
|
22 | Loss | 19–3 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Jan 15, 1989 | Circus Maximus Showroom , Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
|
For USBA light welterweight title
|
21 | Win | 19–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (10), 0:45 | Dec 13, 1988 | ![]() |
|
20 | Loss | 18–2 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Sep 9, 1988 | ![]() |
|
19 | Win | 18–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10) | Jul 9, 1988 | ![]() |
|
18 | Win | 17–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | May 19, 1988 | ![]() |
|
17 | Win | 16–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Feb 19, 1988 | Bally's Las Vegas , Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
|
|
16 | Win | 15–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (10), 2:36 | Jan 15, 1988 | ![]() |
|
15 | Loss | 14–1 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | Sep 25, 1987 | ![]() |
|
14 | Win | 14–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (8), 2:33 | Aug 25, 1987 | Bally's Park Place , Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
|
|
13 | Win | 13–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (8), 3:00 | Apr 6, 1987 | ![]() |
|
12 | Win | 12–0 | ![]() |
SD | 8 | Feb 24, 1987 | ![]() |
|
11 | Win | 11–0 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (10), 2:55 | Oct 24, 1986 | ![]() |
|
10 | Win | 10–0 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Aug 29, 1986 | ![]() |
|
9 | Win | 9–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (6), 1:12 | Jul 4, 1986 | ![]() |
|
8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | Jun 15, 1986 | ![]() |
|
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (6), 2:39 | May 30, 1986 | ![]() |
|
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (6), 2:05 | Apr 18, 1986 | ![]() |
|
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (6), 2:02 | Feb 21, 1986 | Harrah's at Trump Plaza , Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
|
|
4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
UD | 4 | Jan 24, 1986 | ![]() |
|
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (4), 1:17 | Jan 10, 1986 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey , U.S.
|
|
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (4), 1:45 | Aug 27, 1985 | ![]() |
|
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:20 | Jun 13, 1985 | ![]() |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Boxing record for Micky Ward from BoxRec (registration required)
- ^ a b c d Lidz, Franz. "Uncommon Valor", Sports Illustrated, June 16, 2003
- ^ sweetfights. "Micky Ward vs Alfonso Sanchez Amazing Knock Out Body Punching" – via YouTube.
- ^ Quinones, Rafael Garcia. "Revisiting the Fight of the Year for 2001: Micky Ward vs. Emanuel Burton", BleacherReport.com, January 9, 2010
- ^ Boehm, Mike."Arturo Gatti: Remembering Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior", ProBoxing-Fans.com, n.d.
- ^ Aranda, Ramon. "Micky Ward to Attend Martinez-Dzinziruk Card" Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine, 3MoreRounds.com, February 24, 2011
- ^ Lem Satterfield, provided by (2011-01-07). "Surprised Micky Ward's 'Honesty And Integrity' Recognized". Sfgate.com. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ^ "The Fighter" – via www.imdb.com.
- ISBN 9780425247556.
- ^ Aranda, Ramon. "Mark Wahlberg Confirms The Fighter 2 in the Works" on 1/14/2022 Archived 2012-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, 3MoreRounds.com, June 10, 2011
- ^ "The Warrior's Code. Dropkick Murphys". Dropkickmurphys.com. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ^ "Epitaph Records. Dropkick Murphys". Epitaph.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ^ Adams, David. "Ward, Gatti for Fight Night Round 3 Cover" Xbox.IGN.com, December 12, 2005
Further reading
- Halloran, Bob. Irish Thunder: The Hard Life & Times of Micky Ward (ISBN 978-0-7627-6986-5
- Cooley, Will. "'Vanilla Thrillas': Modern Boxing and White-Ethnic Masculinity," Journal of Sport and Social Issues 34:4 (November, 2010), 418–437.
- Raspanti, John J. and Taylor, Dennis. "Intimate Warfare: The True Story of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward Boxing Trilogy" [Rowman and Littlefield], (2016.) ISBN 978-1442273054
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
Media related to Micky Ward at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Boxing record for Micky Ward from BoxRec (registration required)
- Team Micky Ward Charities