ANDRE WARD has an exit strategy. The 26 year old may only have just completed his first defence of the WBA super-middleweight title, widely outpointing Allan Green on Saturday (June 19), but the America?s new star is already thinking about life after boxing.
?It?s well publicised, my faith as a Christian, and I would like to preach the gospel one day,? Ward said. ?But I would definitely be patient and make sure that that?s something that God wants me to do. I do see myself in ministry one day.?
However, his religion is not the only thing the boxer has a passion for. He also wants to stay involved in more earthly affairs. ?I love to do [sports] broadcasting. I?m getting my feet wet more and more. I?m actually working for a local station out here where I live [in Oakland],? Andre revealed.
?I definitely want to be in sports broadcasting one day. I feel like I?m a natural at it, in terms of speaking about a sport that I love and that I know about. Of course I have a lot of work to do and there are a lot technical things you have to be aware of. But I can see myself doing that, I really have a passion for it, hopefully even before I retire.?
Even now he sees himself as an aspiring businessman. He may be amply rewarded for the risks he runs in the ring but he intends to make that wealth work for him. ?It?s one thing to make money. But once you make it, what do you do with it? I want to be a person who manages it and invests it well. You have to do that by educating yourself,? he said.
Of course, first he has the small matter of his career between the ropes to attend to. He?s already attained some considerable achievements, an Olympic gold medal from the 2004 games in Athens, as well as the ?world? belt currently round his waist, not to mention leading the table in the Super Six tournament. But Ward doesn?t plan to stop there. ?I want to make sure I maximise my potential,? he declared.
He?s working towards to leaving a legacy in boxing. ?I want to retire from this sport undefeated. I want to retire as a champion, God willing a multi-divisional champion. Each and every opportunity that I have in training camp or in a fight I just want to give it all I?ve got,? he said.
?If I do that, I know I?ll perform well,? he added, ?I just want to continue to leave a strong legacy in the sport of boxing in the ring. But also out of the ring as an individual who had class, who had integrity and, even though he was a fierce competitor, he always carried himself the right way.?
But perhaps his most lasting legacy could be an idea he?s proposed, that there should be a union to represent boxers themselves. It could oversee their contracts and establish some guidelines to make it hard for managers and promoters to take advantage of fighters.
?I would definitely love to see that implemented,? he commented. ?You never know, I may be one of the guys to help get it started one day.?
