If The American took a survey of folks unfamiliar with super middleweight boxing sensation Andre Ward, I can only imagine the guesses at figuring the meaning of his S.O.G. moniker. Boxing is, after all, a tough, brutal combat sport. A short scan of the boxing landscape unveils brash imagery of flash or destruction. Names like “Money,” “Flash” and “Maravilla” (Marvelous) show the cocky and confident sides of fighters. Others such as “El Terrible,” “Lights Out” and “The Viking Warrior” are designed to induce fear into opponents. With that in mind, one may think S.O.G. stands for something similar such as “Str8 Original Gangsta,” “Smash Opponent’s Grills,” or “Shining on Gold” considering his 1994 gold-medal Olympic victory. But a deeper look at the reality of his name lends insight to the completeness of his game. Ward’s S.O.G. stands for Son of God.
Oh he’s one of those fighters? I know what you’re thinking. Kurt Warner in boxing gloves and a fade, right? Wrong.
Well, on second thought, let’s give that comparison some credence. Just as Warner was known for his amazing accuracy and quick release on the field, Ward has made a name for himself in the ring with his quick, accurate punching. This past weekend, in a bout billed as the “toughest fight of his career,” Ward obliterated “Bad” Chad Dawson. The linear light-heavyweight champion was dominated by S.O.G., who took control of the fight early with a crisp, compact left hook that sent his opponent to the canvas and left his legs as loose as linguini. Ward went on to down his bigger foe twice more over 10 rounds. The whooping was so precise and devastating that even though Dawson made it to his feet after the third knockdown, he had no desire to continue and told referee Steve Smoger, “I’m done.” And I don’t blame him one bit.
With the impressive victory, Ward now finds himself in discussions for the pound-for-pound crown. Some boxing writers have already elevated him past Manny Pacquiao and anointed him the heir to Floyd Mayweather’s throne. I’d place him in the number three spot due to the lack of bonafied boxing legends on his resume. Still, his impressive performance in Showtime’s Super Six Tournament, where he cleaned out the 168 lb. division by defeating Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch had already legitimized his status as one of the world’s top fighters.
The victory against Dawson was different. Ward has typically been the type of fighter content to outbox his opponent and cruise to comfortable decision victories. In fact, before the Dawson victory, Ward hadn’t knocked out an opponent in over three years. That could be why it was clear Ward wouldn’t be satisfied with an easy decision this time around. Following the first knockdown, he relentlessly, but intelligently pressured his bigger, supposedly stronger opponent in order to get him out of there before the final bell.
Sadly, despite the impressive resume and skillset, Ward’s moniker and his less-than-outspoken nature hasn’t won over a ton of fans. While the fight vs Dawson was televised on HBO, the paid attendance in Los Angeles was only 8,500, paltry in comparison to the Las Vegas megafights of more outspoken contemporaries like Mayweather and Bernard Hopkins. Ward would rather tell you that he works harder than you rather than insulting you. He’s exudes self-confidence in his interviews but rejects the notion of being ignorant or disrespectful in order to sell a fight. He’d rather credit God for his ability or spend time with his wife and kids instead of boasting about himself or showing up at the hottest after-parties. While his humbleness is admirable, it won’t make him a household name – unless he keeps sending his opponents face first.
That seems to be just what he intends to do. After the fight, Ward stated he’d been focusing on finishing his opponents and his victory over Dawson marked the beginning stages of the final piece of the puzzle in completing his maturation as a boxer. Considering the fact that he’s already defeated nearly every top super middleweight and just pulverized the best light heavyweight on the planet, S.O.G. may be the king of the ring for years to come.
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