Andre Ward’s story is unlike anyone’s. As the last American boxer to bring home the gold from the Olympics in 2004, he was primed to take over the sport in all his glory. However, his formative years before he stepped into the ring did not foreshadow the rise of such a great boxer. What were these tribulations? He details today.

Born in 1984, ‘Son of God’ celebrates his 40th birthday today. To mark the day, on social media, he reflected on the journey he’s navigated over these years, and the battles he fought. However, as a true fighter inside and outside the ring, in his introspection came a glimmering hope that detailed how he also won these battles.

Andre Ward was OK being dead at 21

Of his generation, Ward emerged as the most noteworthy super middleweight. Having fought professionally from ‘04 until ’17, he won the esteemed Super Six tournament. It was a competition never held since, that pitted the world’s best super middleweight against each other. When retired, he dropped curtains on a groundbreaking record. 32-undefeated, at an early age of only 33. On the surface, he seemed like a fighter who had it all, but when looked closer, his early days had a different story to tell.

On his Instagram, in a video, he detailed the life he led and the distance he traveled. “ I’m forty years old. That’s crazy. Like, I don’t feel forty, whatever forty feel like, I feel like I’m still a young man, I’m aging gracefully, trying to take care of my body, and when I sit back and reflect on these years…” 

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Talking about the dark phases of his life, he remarked, “I’m sixteen-seventeen, and drinking heavy, you know? Doing drugs, and really, just trying to numb myself. And trynna cope with anxiety, depression, my dad’s death, all those things.” The fighter had given up hope on his life, so much so that he notes, “I remember being drunk and saying stuff like, ‘Man, I’m not going to live to see 21.’ And really being okay with it.”

It was at such a moment of introspection that he details how he finally took on the fight.

When the healing began…

In the video, Ward also pointed out the means that helped him overcome these struggles. He explained, “It wasn’t until I looked up man, and had a conversation with God, and humbled myself, and started acknowledging my wrong and my faults and the things I had been doing, that I started to feel God’s presence again. I started to feel his peace again. I started to see beyond my situation.”

6 Years After Retirement, Andre Ward Comes Clean About His Inactivity From Boxing Due To Tumultuous Lawsuits With Promoter In Shocking Confession

A crucial period in Ward’s career was the 2-year gap on his record. In the years 2014-15, he was embroiled in a legal battle, spearheaded by him to break away from his promoter, leading to him not fighting in 2014. However, those years, he noted, helped him build on what he had formerly lost.

His journey in the ring and the politics around served as a case study for fighters that came after him. Calling him the GOAT, Shakur Stevenson in the comments section of the clip wished him: “(GOAT emoji) happy birthday.” 

What do you think of Andre Ward’s journey? Let us know in the comments section below.

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