Micky Ward
| Micky Ward | |
|---|---|
Ward in March 2011
|
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | George Michael Ward Jr. |
| Nickname(s) | "Irish" |
| Rated at | Light welterweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
October 4, 1965 Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 51 |
| Wins | 38 |
| Wins by KO | 28 |
| Losses | 13 |
George Michael "Micky" Ward Jr. (born October 4, 1965), often known by nickname of "Irish" Micky Ward, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2003. He challenged once for the IBF light welterweight title in 1997, and held the WBU light welterweight title in 2000. Ward is widely known for his trilogy of fights with Arturo Gatti (two of which received Fight of the Year awards by The Ring magazine), as well as the 2010 feature film based on his early career, entitled The Fighter, in which he is portrayed by Mark Wahlberg.
Ward was a three-time New England Golden Gloves champion boxer who turned pro in 1985, winning his first fourteen fights. However, his career leveled off, and after losing four consecutive fights in 1990/91, Ward took a hiatus from boxing. During Ward's time away from the sport, he used some of the funds from his day job on a road-paving crew to have surgery on his right hand, which had given him problems during several bouts. The surgery used some of the bone from Ward's pelvis to strengthen and fuse the bones in his hand. His half-brother, former boxer Dicky Eklund, who was struggling with drug addiction and had just been released from jail on charges including drug possession, convinced Ward to take up the sport again.
Ward was successful in his return, winning his first nine fights, and won the WBU's Intercontinental Light Welterweight Title in a fight against Louis Veader. He defended the belt once, in a rematch against Veader. Ward earned a 1997 IBF Light Welterweight Championship fight against champion Vince Phillips, but did not win the championship, as the fight was stopped in the third round due to cuts, and Phillips was awarded the bout via TKO. One year later, Ward again would come up short in a title fight, as he lost a 12-round decision against Zab Judah.
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