Andre Ward wins ‘Fighter of the Year’ award for 2011 – Boxing news
Andre Ward won the ‘Fighter of the Year’ award by the Boxing Writers Association of America on Monday. The results were announced based on balloting.
Andre Ward’s accomplishment in the past year involved unifying two super middleweight titles and winning the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Andre Ward is now on top of the list of honourees who will be receiving awards at the BWAA’s 87th annual banquet.
The current WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring Super Middleweight champion will now receive the Sugar Ray Robinson trophy.
Surprisingly, Andre Ward made through the tough round-robin tournament undefeated. The 2004 Olympic gold medallist won a couple of prominent judgements during the last year when he defeated Arthur Abraham in the semi-finals in May.
Ward did not stop there and went on to defeat Carl Froch in one of the most highly anticipated matches of the year. By defeating Froch, Ward won his second belt to declare himself the mightiest 168-pound on December 17.
Goossen, Ward’s promoter, said, “I'm very proud of all of what he has accomplished since the day we signed him," said Goossen, who has promoted Ward for his entire career.”
Ward, expressing his joy, said, “I want to thank God for giving me the strength to put in the work year after year to get to this point. I also want to thank my manager, James Prince, my promoters Antonio Leonard and Dan Goossen, everyone who is a part of
Team Ward, as well as 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.”
Previously, Ward was also named ESPN’s fighter of the year. The nominations included some top-of-the-line boxers like Wladimir Klitschko, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire. Amidst all these great fighters, it was Ward who stood tall
which indeed was a great achievement for him.
Another prominent winner of the awards is Virgil Hunter who has been training Ward right from the start of his career. Hunter won the Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year award.
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