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UPON THE BIRTH of daughter Amira Lecian on June 12, the Ward household in Dublin expanded from four to five. But that wasn't enough for dad.
So nine days later, Andre Ward opened the door and walked in carrying another baby.
This one was adopted on June 20 and was immediately welcomed into the home Andre shares with his wife, Tiffiney, their sons, Andre Jr. and Malachi, and Amira.
This one is different, though. While Andre Jr., Malachi and Amira require love and care and feeding and guidance, this beauty wants only to be appreciated and admired.
And, boy, does Andre Ward show his appreciation for his new baby, also known as the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) super middleweight championship belt he gained upon dispatching Jerson Ravelo two weeks ago in the Cayman Islands.
"You're going to laugh when I tell you this," Ward says, "but I've been sleeping with the belt."
Which suggests, I suppose, there's nothing quite like your first, um, belt.
Expressions of devotion are fairly common upon capturing a title belt. Some boxers use the belt for momentary adornment, wrapping it about their waists or throwing it over a shoulder the second they earn it. Others have actually worn their belts in public. Then there is Irish welterweight Neil Sinclair, who actually puckered up and kissed the Lonsdale Belt after knocking out Bradley Pryce in 2003.
Ward simply wants to be close
"It's been next to my bed for the past few nights," he says. "I just like the way it looks. And I want to get used to holding the belt. I wrapped it around the base of the bed. My wife is looking at me kind of funny, but I said, 'Hey, babe, this is what I've been working so hard for over the past six weeks.' Really, it's been the past 12 years."
For Ward, who spent most of his childhood in Oakland and Hayward, this is another step in a journey that began in earnest during the spring of 1994, when with the support of his father, former amateur boxer Frank Ward, Andre climbed into the ring for his first amateur bout. In the years since, fighting through his father's death in 2002, Andre has made quite a name for himself.
First, there is the unbeaten streak that dates back to 1998, when Ward was an amateur. Then there is the gold medal he won against odds in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Then there is the spotless (16-0, 11 knockouts) professional record, the last win securing his first pro belt.
The NABO, a Torrance-based affiliation of the World Boxing Organization, is one of governing bodies within the sport. To be sure, there are so many groups and belts and titles available that many who follow boxing get confused. Some resort to ridicule, referring to them as boxing's "alphabet soup."
No matter. To Ward, a belt is a belt. It raises his profile, validates a specific level of quality.
"It's awesome," he says. "It might not mean much to some, because it's a national belt, but the NABO is a pretty prestigious national belt. It's governed by the WBO, which is a world governing body."
Moreover, the NABO champion generally receives a world ranking, which would position Ward for world championship possibilities.
As it happens, the WBO title was vacated last week by Joe Calzaghe, who is among the world's best pound-for-pound fighters and still the closest thing to a linear champ in the division.
Calzaghe, however, is 36 and likely several fights from retirement. He surrendered his belt in part to seek a big-money light heavyweight match against Roy Jones Jr.
Which opens up the division for the likes of Lucien Bute, Mikkel Kessler, Jean Pascal and several others. Ward hopes, expects, to join that group.
"I really think sometime around mid-'09 — maybe a little later, maybe a little earlier — will be our time," he says. "I believe we've earned it, in terms of fighting our way there.
"But I don't want to be maneuvered to the title. I'm willing to wait another year, if that's what it takes. I want to earn my shot, so when I get there I belong there."
In the interim, Ward longs to make an appearance in his hometown. And negotiations are well under way for a Showtime fight card at Oracle Arena in early October.
Tiffiney and the boys likely will be there. Maybe even little Amira. No doubt the adopted baby will be there, probably never out of Andre's sight.
Contact Monte Poole at mpoole@bayareanewsgroup.com
