Andre Ward has a new title: TV star
Oakland boxing champion talks about his role in new reality series, ‘The Contender’
Andre Ward may have retired from professional boxing last fall with a 32-0 record, but he’s certainly not about to shift into chill-out mode.
Since hanging up his gloves, the 34-year-old Oakland native, whose resume includes world titles in two weight classes and an Olympic gold medal, has done some analyst work for ESPN and HBO. He’s also doing a memoir and a documentary about his life. In November, he’ll appear on the big screen in “Creed 2,” the spinoff of the “Rocky” franchise. (He made his acting debut in the first “Creed” as the light heavyweight boxer Danny “Stuntman” Wheeler).
“I’m not exactly hanging out in a La-Z Boy and kicking my feet up in the air,” he said proudly.
Indeed, Ward has another high-profile project launching Friday when he debuts as the host of “The Contender” (9 p.m., Epix). The executive producer is Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “The Apprentice”) and it’s a revival of the 2005-09 reality competition that has 16 young boxers living and training together as they seek a six-figure prize.
We recently caught up with Ward, who chatted about his role on the series and life after boxing.
Q
So what made you want to do “The Contender”?
A
I’ve always been a big fan of the show. I love how it gives you a different perspective on the sport and takes you home with the boxers. You’re not just seeing them under the lights and in the ring. You see them as people and real-life stories happen. Nothing is scripted. Q I watched the first two episodes and was somewhat surprised at your level of involvement. You’re not just doing voiceover narration. You’re showing up at the workouts and at the fights, and even getting into the ring to spar. A That’s just the way I am. I’m very handson with everything I do; my family, business. I saw this as an opportunity to go beyond being just a name to the fighters and the viewers. And you’ll see that my involvement increases as the episodes go on. Q In the opener, there’s a sequence where you say you’re sparring for the first time since your retirement. What made you want to do that? A (Laughing) Well, the guys naturally want to test themselves against me. So they pick and poke at you and egg you on. The real culprit was (trainer) Freddie Roach. He’s so unassuming and sly. I would show up at the gym in full street clothes, just intending to watch. But before you knew it, he would be throwing hints and saying, “I have some guys who really need the work. Do you think you can give me a few rounds?” Q What was that like? Was there a lot of
heavy breathing involved? A
Oh, there was definitely a lot of heavy breathing. The sparring sessions demonstrated to me that I still have it and also why I walked away (from the sport). The skills and strategic thinking are still there. But the body doesn’t always respond the way you want it to.
Q
While watching the episodes, I was impressed with your ease in front of the camera. Does that come naturally for you?
A
I wish it did! Trust me, I was really sweating under my shirt. I just tried really hard not to show it. I’m very big on preparation. So that helps. Q
Many athletes struggle to make a smooth transition to TV. Why do you think that is? A What I think happens is that they don’t put the same level of work into it as they put into their craft. They don’t do the research. They don’t make the effort. I want people to know that I care. I want to be an asset (to the production), not a liability. Q You talked about how the show takes you home with the fighters. When it does, you occasionally see them playing head games with one another, trying to get some kind of psychological edge. How important in boxing is the mental side of things? A It’s extremely important. If you don’t have a strong mental makeup, you’re going to be broken in this sport. I’m fascinated at how the show puts boxers who are going to fight one another in the same small space and they go at
each other a lot. I don’t think I’d be able to do that.
Q
Really? Why not?
A
I’m from the school of thought that you don’t show anything to your opponent. That you remain a mystery as much as you can. And I used it as an asset. By the time (an opponent) gets to know me, it’s too late. So, to me, it’s mind-boggling that these guys are living together and they’re sparring just a few feet away from one another. But they made the adjustment.
Q
There has been a lot of talk from fans of mixed martial arts that their sport is not only more popular than boxing, but superior. It used to be that the heavyweight boxing champion was considered to be the baddest man on the planet. But they say that title should belong to the UFC champ. What’s your take? A I’ve been hearing that kind of talk for two decades. But the reports of boxing’s demise are greatly exaggerated. The sport was around long before me and will be around long after I’m gone. I don’t understand why the two forms of competition can’t stand alone and co-exist. Let them have their shine and let us have ours. Q How much do you miss boxing? A I miss it a lot. It was my baby for 23 years straight. Q So many great athletes over the years retire, but then they’re tempted to come back. Muhammad Ali. Michael Jordan … The list goes on and on. A I understand why they come back. When you retire, you do get a hunger. There’s an urge to rekindle the fire. You want to relive that high, that euphoria. But it’s usually impossible to do it at the same level. Q Do you think you’ll be tempted? A Like I say, I really do miss boxing. But I don’t plan on coming back. I always tried to make sure, over my career, that boxing was part of my life, not my whole life. I think that, for a lot of athletes, their sport is their whole life.