Being underestimated is a source of frustration for some. Anger for others. Motivation for many. For Andre Ward, it’s been a career.
Ward promoter Dan Goossen repeated trainer Virgil Hunter’s insightful look at his intriguing and likable super-middleweight at a news conference for his title defense against Sakio Bika Saturday in hometown Oakland, Calif., in a Showtime doubleheader that starts with the Super Six bout between Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch in Helsinki.
“I believe Virgil put it best when he said people underestimate Andre,’’ Goossen said.
Even with an Olympic gold medal, the World Boxing Association’s version of the 168-pound title and his emergence as the Super Six favorite, Ward is underestimated, part by circumstance and yet also a role comfortable and cultivated because it works.
Within a tight circle of friends and family, Ward has kept himself insulated from distractions and delusions that surround an emerging star like a trail of chaos.
“The day they say I arrived is the day I should retire,’’ Ward said during a conference call.
It’s a comment that seems to say that Ward is guided by what he knows instead of what he hears, by the internal instead of the external. In part, it’s what makes him so likable. Yet, it’s also hard to believe it will remain in place if and when Ward achieves the stardom he appears to moving toward. If Manny Pacquiao fulfills the promise he delivered in an address to the Filipino Congress the other day and retires in three years, Ward could succeed him at the top of the marquee. He looks like an heir-apparent, the potential face and voice of Generation Next.
First, he has to beat Bika. Then, he has to win the Super Six and perhaps a showdown with Lucian Bute. If, if and if he accomplishes all of that, he will face the challenge of maturing into an enduring star, which means nobody will underestimate him anymore. An underestimated star is just another way of saying he is lousy draw. Celebrity, distractions and even an entourage are all written into the ticket that adds up to big numbers at the box office.
For now, Ward is still a fighter displaying versatile skills and finding motivation in the doubts planted by circumstances that have plagued the Super Six. He was supposed to have fought friend and 2004 Olympic Andre Dirrell, who withdrew from reported neurological problems linked to a punch thrown by Abraham last March while he was down. Skepticism about the injury has been the speculation, perhaps because of the Dirrell-Ward friendship or maybe because the Internet wouldn’t be what it is with second-guessing.
Whatever you think, Ward says he has moved on.
“Business as usual,’’ he said.
But the shuffle — Bika instead of Dirrell in a bout that has been dropped from the tournament – has eroded interest and put Ward back into the role he knows so well.
“I’ve prepared myself for a fight like this years in advance, said Ward, the World Boxing Association champion, who is still guaranteed a a spot in the semifinals against either Glen Johnson or the Froch-Abraham winner. “…At the end of the day, my championship belt is still on the line and at the end of the day I’ve got to show up and get the job done. And I’ve got a guy on the other side of the ring that’s trying to hurt me. For me, personally, there’s no letdown. This is as big as it gets. There’s really no problem with this not being in the tournament.’’
Any fight against a stand-in is unpredictable, if not inherently dangerous. But the unflappable Ward seems to take it all in stride. The guess here is he could face some real trouble against the emerging Bute or even against the ageless Johnson, whose skill and poise were evident all over again in beating of Allan Green.
But Ward already has dealt with adversity. With American attention on Olympic boxing gone even in 2004, Ward encountered and beat. I like, so many others, had underestimated him. At the start of Olympic boxing, I bet boxing writer-and-author George Kimball 50 Euros that the U.S. wouldn’t win a medal in Athens. After the preliminary rounds, I was already planning to spend my winnings on a good Greek meal. Then, Dirrell won bronze. A few days later, Ward won gold.
I had underestimated him. He surprised me then.
I hope he does again.
Saying Thanks
· For Juan Manuel Marquez, whose endless resiliency will be tested all over again Saturday night at Las Vegas MGM Grand against dangerous Australian brawler Michael Katsidis on HBO. A Marquez victory should be enough for him to get another third shot at Pacquiao, although the Golden Boy-Top Rank cold war stands in the way.
· For emerging Sergio Martinez, whose home run — a one-punch knockout of Paul Williams — proved me wrong in the most exciting stoppage of this year and maybe a few others.
· For Pacquiao, whose pay-per-view audience of at least 1.15 million for his victory over Antonio Margarito is reason to say that the international game, always declared dead, is alive-and-well.
· For Bob Arum, who has come back from the personal tragedy of losing his son in a hiking accident. It’s been a tough year for Arum. Without him, it would be tough for boxing.
· For Oscar De La Hoya, who is one fighter, a rare professional athlete, who is trying to give back to a troubled sport. In a rivalry that is all about business, Arum is battling De La Hoya for market share. The market is better off because it has a major promoter who has thrown punches and endured more than a few.
· For Hall of Famer Michael Carbajal, who is middle aged and in his toughest fight ever – a long, trying legal battle to regain what belongs to him. A victory in upholding an order of protection and a judgment against neighbors sets a potential precedent for success in an ongoing civil case to get 12 Phoenix properties in his name. Carbajal alleges they were purchased with ring earnings taken from him in a scheme put together by brother and former trainer Danny, who is in prison.
· For fans, readers and – above all – the fighters, Happy Thanksgiving.
