Andre Ward Quotes

My mom had struggles. My dad had struggles. He raised me as a single parent. I rebelled and almost quit amateur boxing, but my faith in God had a lot to do with me slowly getting my life together.

- Andre Ward

Parent, My Life, Almost, Amateur

My personal goals are to fight and beat the best opponent possible.

- Andre Ward

Personal, Opponent, Beat, Personal Goals

The game plan might be different based on the opponent, but the approach is the same.

- Andre Ward

Game, Same, Based, Opponent

I went to a nutritionist; my diet is pretty clean, but I wanted to get some more knowledge and understanding in some areas. My two favorite things, Clif Bars and lattes, she just destroyed in our first meeting. Coffee is fine, but soy is the most genetically modified food that we eat.

- Andre Ward

Two, Some, Our, Bars

I got an old school coach who's more of a teacher than a coach.

- Andre Ward

Teacher, School, Old, Old School

A lot of times in America, we work on bully muscles. We want the big muscles and the stuff that looks good. But we don't focus on the little things. But that's the stuff that sustains you and keeps you strong.

- Andre Ward

Strong, Little Things, Big, Bully

At the end of the day, the great ones - well, they rise, and that's what I want to do.

- Andre Ward

End Of The Day, Want, Well, Great Ones

You have to be able to adjust on the fly, and that is what the great ones do.

- Andre Ward

Fly, Adjust, Able, Great Ones

No disrespect, but I don't make decisions based on opinions.

- Andre Ward

Opinions, Disrespect, Based, Decisions

Being a champion is not just being a frontrunner and being ahead, but it's facing adversity.

- Andre Ward

Adversity, Ahead, Facing, Champion

More time than not, athletes, specifically fighters, have a 15 or 20-year career, and unfortunately, we end up right where we started when it's over. All we have is maybe a round of applause when we walk in a room - Hey, there's the champ! That's great; I want that, but I've got to have something tangible to show for it, too.

- Andre Ward

Career, Show, Maybe, Fighters

I only ever give praise to elite fighters.

- Andre Ward

Give, Ever, Elite, Fighters

I don't necessarily think fighters should fight killers every time, but at some point in time, fighters should be fighting the best in their division, period.

- Andre Ward

Think, Some, Period, Fighters

I talk to amateurs, up-and-coming guys, fighters older than me, and we compare notes to teach each other how to leave this game on top from a legacy and financial standpoint.

- Andre Ward

Game, Other, Compare, Fighters

You don't stay undefeated without being a little stubborn.

- Andre Ward

Stubborn, You, Being, Undefeated

I don't come from a position that I am better than everybody; I come from a position that I had a tough upbringing. And I don't always highlight it, because I just never wanted to be that person with another rags to riches story.

- Andre Ward

Always, Everybody, Another, Rags

I'm just being me. If I'm not enough, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not going to apologize about it.

- Andre Ward

Tell, Going, About, Apologize

Anyone can be a Son Of God if they wish to be and have the faith. I need to articulate this so everyone understands.

- Andre Ward

Faith, Need, Everyone, Articulate

Pilates is phenomenal.

- Andre Ward

Phenomenal, Pilates

I'm not going to throw chairs; I'm not going to cuss. I'm not going to do that kind of stuff, because you don't have to do that. You don't have to act like that, and you don't have to live like that in order to be successful.

- Andre Ward

Kind, Like, Going, Chairs

He was competitive in every fight and brought his best every time out, so I have nothing personal against Froch. I actually like him a lot because he reminds me a lot of myself with his competitiveness.

- Andre Ward

Best, Against, Brought, Reminds

Dad couldn't train me. He was too high-strung, like, 'Throw your jab!' and I'd start crying.

- Andre Ward

Start, Like, Dad, Jab

I don't think anyone in that Roc Nation office gets eight hours of sleep; I highly doubt it. They're constantly working, and they're on top of everything, and they have a department for everything.

- Andre Ward

Think, Nation, Hours, Department

I have showed things in sparring and camp that I don't show in fights.

- Andre Ward

Show, Things, Fights, Camp

I see sometimes how guys may make a buffoon of themselves to sell a few more tickets. They create this image, and when it's all said and done, it's like everything falls out from under them. They have no stability. I never wanted to be one of those guys.

- Andre Ward

Sometimes, I See, Tickets, Stability

Did I have rough days? Days I didn't want to train? Days I thought my career would never get back off the ground and possibly be over? Absolutely.

- Andre Ward

Career, Over, Rough, Possibly

I just want my career to be ran a certain way. When you get the sense it's not, that your voice is not being heard, then, unfortunately, you have to do certain things to make a stand to fight what you believe in, even if you do have to sacrifice time.

- Andre Ward

Voice, Career, Certain Way, Ran

If people are honest, they'll admit that I do have a fan base.

- Andre Ward

Admit, Honest, Fan, Fan Base

I'm a very respectful fighter, I don't get out of character and start talking crazy, but if you don't want to fight a fighter, or you don't think it's a good style, or it's just not time, then say that.

- Andre Ward

Think, Want, Very, Respectful

Manny Pacquiao has a whole country behind him. His journey and his rise, from a career standpoint, he was fortunate to have a lot of great opponents and rivalries for years. People forget about Barrera and Morales and those guys. That's how he built his legacy. Plus he had a country behind him.

- Andre Ward

Career, Behind, Country, Standpoint

I'm just trying to get those marquee victories and continue to get those accomplishments so when the time comes and the vote is cast, hopefully my spot is secured in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

- Andre Ward

Victories, Hall, Marquee, Accomplishments

It's a beautiful thing when you come to fight week and you know that you haven't cut any corners.

- Andre Ward

Week, Come, Cut, Beautiful Thing

That's why I train the way I train. I don't like to lose.

- Andre Ward

Lose, Why, Like, Train

I get the headlines for being slick and different things like that - which is part of my game - but it's just amazing to me that a lot of times, the people don't see the other things that go on in that ring. But a lot of times, when my opponents figure it out, the fight is over. It's too late.

- Andre Ward

Game, Too Late, Other, Different Things

I spar in the gym, and I take pride in my sparring. But I'm a better fighter when the lights come on because it's right now - there is no tomorrow.

- Andre Ward

Tomorrow, Right, Come, Lights

Monsters have always been built in this sport. I just don't believe the hype. You've got to show me.

- Andre Ward

Always, Been, Built, Hype

Whether it's Alexander Brand or Sergey Kovalev, I approach every situation the same way.

- Andre Ward

Same, Alexander, Whether, Brand

I want to be a champion for a long time, and I want to take the least amount of punishment possible doing so.

- Andre Ward

Doing, Want, Amount, Champion

I want to be the light heavyweight champion of the world.

- Andre Ward

Light, World, Heavyweight, Champion

Anytime you fight a champion, you got to watch the tape closely and study him closely.

- Andre Ward

Study, Closely, Tape, Champion

There's always great things that champions do. It can be inside fighting, this person uses his range well, this person has a great right hand - anytime you fight a champion, there's multiple things that they do well, and you have to try to take those strengths away.

- Andre Ward

Fighting, Away, Range, Champion

There's a lot of ways to win a belt, but taking it from a champion is very important to me.

- Andre Ward

Important, Very, Lot, Champion

I'm a five-time world champion in two different weight classes. Man, it's amazing.

- Andre Ward

Amazing, World, Classes, Champion

People don't realize I tore my rotator cuff when I was 12 or 13. At that time, being so young, we decided just to not have surgery.

- Andre Ward

People, Young, Being, Surgery

I was surprised at how slow Froch was. We were able to beat him to the punch.

- Andre Ward

Slow, How, Were, Surprised

The British fans, they are very festive; they support their people.

- Andre Ward

Support, British, Very, Festive

My legacy is almost like a personal challenge to go as far as I can go.

- Andre Ward

Legacy, Like, Almost, As Far As

From my position, obviously I want to maximise my potential and go as far as I can go and as high as I can go, but I'm not chasing fame. I get enough of that.

- Andre Ward

Want, Go, Chasing, As Far As

This has nothing to do with ego. It is solely about my religion and me being a devout Christian. I chose my ring name because I regard myself as A Son Of God.

- Andre Ward

Myself, Ring, Nothing, Chose

Sounding bitter is not a good look. Less so if you're retired.

- Andre Ward

Good, Bitter, Less, Retired

If something happens and you're behind, and you get hit in the mouth early like that, you have two options: You can either pack it in mentally and internally and go into survival mode and quit, or you're going to get up and go to work.

- Andre Ward

Behind, Like, Going, Options

You don't get points for leaving the chin open.

- Andre Ward

Leaving, You, Get, Chin

I still don't think the world has seen the best Andre Ward. Initially, I just wanted to get in there and win.

- Andre Ward

Think, Still, Andre, Ward

I spar with Nick and Nate Diaz... those boys know what they're doing; they can throw their hands.

- Andre Ward

Hands, Doing, Throw, Nick

Not fighting, avoiding talking to fans... that's when the thoughts creep in about retiring and moving on to something else.

- Andre Ward

Moving On, Thoughts, About, Retiring

For me, it's about trying to be the best in a sport where there's little room for error.

- Andre Ward

Me, Trying, About, Error

My thing is that if you love the sport, appreciate the sport as a whole. If you love the sport, you love the slick boxer; you love the guy who can box and punch. You love the brawler.

- Andre Ward

Love, Boxer, Whole, Punch

I don't like to lay down on my food - it's not good for you. I like to take a walk, then meditate and read the Bible.

- Andre Ward

Bible, Like, Read, Meditate

Boxing is not that complicated. If two guys want to fight, it's not hard to make a fight. If the fight's not made, it's because one party doesn't want that fight, or maybe both parties don't want it.

- Andre Ward

Want, Maybe, Made, One Party

Once a fighter becomes enamoured with another, to the point where they can't perform and compete, you have got problems.

- Andre Ward

Compete, Another, Perform, Enamoured

You have to change on the fly. You have to adapt. It's what I do. It's what wins for me.

- Andre Ward

Change, Fly, Wins, Adapt

People are entitled to their opinion. I respect them, but it doesn't mean they're right.

- Andre Ward

Mean, Them, Entitled, Opinion

I'm not a dirty fighter. Everybody knows that.

- Andre Ward

Dirty, Fighter, Everybody, Knows

Chasing greatness - it's what I'm about.

- Andre Ward

Greatness, About, Chasing

Sometimes the biggest statements you can make are by living something out.

- Andre Ward

Living, Sometimes, Biggest, Statements

I don't owe any explanations for anybody I'm fighting.

- Andre Ward

Anybody, Explanations, Owe

When you make a stance, sometimes there are consequences.

- Andre Ward

Consequences, Sometimes, Stance

In terms of PPV, you've got to have the right dancing partner.

- Andre Ward

Dancing, Right, Terms, Partner

A lot of boxers have too much on their plate.

- Andre Ward

Plate, Lot, Too, Boxers

I know I'm a good fighter, probably a great fighter. I've fought the best in the world since I was a kid, and I've been fortunate to come out on top.

- Andre Ward

Kid, Been, Fought, Fortunate

My question is why does every African American fighter have to be the villain?

- Andre Ward

Villain, African American, African

It's not just fleet of foot or speed. It's about who gets caught and gets knocked out.

- Andre Ward

Caught, About, Fleet, Foot

One of the reasons why I signed up with Roc Nation was because of their ability to not just have a vision of doing things but the actual ability and resources to carry that vision out.

- Andre Ward

Doing, Reasons, Actual, Signed

I want to be able to look back and say that I stood where I was supposed to stand. I fought where I was supposed to fight, in the ring and out of the ring.

- Andre Ward

Ring, Want, Fought, Supposed

Boxing is a lonely sport.

- Andre Ward

Lonely, Sport, Boxing

It's not all the time, but you get a sense when you're reading something that it's no longer about boxing or the performance. It's personal.

- Andre Ward

Reading, Sense, About, Boxing

The guys that I beat in the 'Super Six,' every one of those fights was tough, even if I did dominate some.

- Andre Ward

Some, Six, Fights, Beat

People who know me know that I'm not going to open my mouth and say something if I don't mean it. I'm very short and sweet. I'm old-school when it comes to it: I say what I mean and mean what I say, and then get off of it. It's simple as that.

- Andre Ward

Simple, Get, Very, Mouth

My mind-set is my major attribute.

- Andre Ward

Major, Mind-Set, Attribute

I don't have one polarizing message. It is just about being consistent over the years.

- Andre Ward

Over, About, Polarizing, Message

I do feel at times like I'm always proving myself. But I also feel that I'm proven. I've proven I can get to the mountaintop.

- Andre Ward

Myself, Always, Like, Proving

Going through a long legal battle is not what you sign up for as a fighter.

- Andre Ward

Battle, Through, Going, Fighter

I'm hungry. Always have been, my whole career.

- Andre Ward

Career, Always, Been, Hungry

I have never won big fights just doing one thing, being one-dimensional.

- Andre Ward

Doing, Never, Big, One-Dimensional

Sometimes you're going to win close fights, and that's the way it is.

- Andre Ward

Win, Sometimes, Going, Fights

There are times and places for tune-ups and stay-busy fights.

- Andre Ward

Places, Times, Fights

I'm a Christian who happens to be an athlete, not the other way around.

- Andre Ward

Christian, Other, Happens, Athlete

I didn't need to get knocked down to know the fortitude that I have in me.

- Andre Ward

Me, Need, Get, Knocked

I was not intimidated by Kessler's record.

- Andre Ward

Record, Intimidated

You're going to face adversity. It's not if - it's when.

- Andre Ward

Adversity, You, Going, Face

Once you go up in weight, I will never go down; you just don't do it.

- Andre Ward

Never, Will, Once, Weight

My legacy is so, so important to me.

- Andre Ward

Me, Important, Legacy

I typically do the opposite of what people think I am going to do.

- Andre Ward

I Am, Think, Going, Opposite

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