WBA Tremendous Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward, proper, celebrates his victory over Paul Smith in an untitled bout at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif. On Saturday, June 20, 2015. Ward received by TKO within the ninth spherical. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Tremendous middleweight boxer Andre Ward goes by means of mild coaching forward of his 10-round bout with Rubin Williams on Monday March 17, 2008 at King’s Gymnasium in Oakland, Calif. Ward and Williams will meet Thursday on the HP Pavilion in San Jose. (D. Ross Cameron / The Oakland Tribune)

Olympic gold medalist boxer Andre Ward reacts to the group gathered in his honor at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on Wednesday September 29, 2004 in Oakland, California. Ward obtained the important thing to town from Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown. (Contra Costa Occasions / Bob Larson)

WBA tremendous middleweight champion Andre Ward holds onto his belts after defending his title in opposition to Allan Inexperienced in a twelve-round semifinal bout of the Showtime Tremendous Six Boxing Basic at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif. On Saturday June 19, 2010 Ward received by unanimous resolution. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward of Oakland, Calif., Grimaces in ache after defeating Derrick Findley of Indiana by unanimous resolution within the middleweight recreation on the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. On Thursday, November 16, 2006. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward, 15, boxer from Hayward, July 30, 1999. Ward lately received the World Junior Championship in Mexico Metropolis. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Hayward boxer Andre Ward, 15, trains at Kings Boxing Gymnasium in Oakland on July 30, 1999. Ward lately received the World Junior Championship in Mexico Metropolis. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

From the Oakland Hills the place he lives and trains, boxer Andre Ward turns to Cleveland the place he’ll take part within the Irish duel subsequent Wednesday. The 19-year-old Olympic mild heavyweight prospect has not misplaced a global battle since 1998. (Karl Mondon / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward of the US fighter Magomed Aripgadjiev of Belarus within the males’s 81kg boxing remaining match on Sunday August 29, 2004 throughout the 2004 Summer time Olympics in Athens, Greece. Ward defeated Aripgadjiev and obtained the gold medal. (Barton Silverman / The New York Occasions)

American Andre Ward of Oakland, Calif., Is said the winner as Uzbekistan Utkirbek Haydarov is dejected within the mild heavyweight boxing semifinals of the 2004 Athens Summer time Olympics on the boxing corridor Peristeri in Athens on Friday August 27, 2004. (AP) Picture / Rick Bowmer)

American Andre Ward of Oakland, Calif., Kisses his gold medal after a light-weight heavyweight boxing awards ceremony on the 2004 Athens Summer time Olympics on the Peristeri Boxing Corridor in Athens on Sunday August 29, 2004. (AP Picture / Rick Bowmer)

Olympic gold medalist boxer Andre Ward waves to the group earlier than giving his “How one can Defeat the Giants in Your Life” speech held on the Valley Bible Church in Pleasanton, Calif. On Saturday January 8, 2005. (Contra Costa Occasions / Doug Duran )

Employees Archives: Boxer Andre Ward at his dwelling in Dublin, Calif. On Thursday, October 6, 2011. (Doug Duran / Employees)

World tremendous middleweight champion Andre Ward works his neck as he lifts a 25 pound weight on media day whereas making ready for his 12 spherical world championship battle in opposition to the world weight champion mild heavyweight Chad Dawson at King’s Boing Gymnasium in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday. , August 21, 2012. The undefeated Oakland fighter and 2004 Olympic gold medalist will battle on September 8 at Oracle Area in Oakland. (Ray Chavez / Employees)

WBA / WBC Tremendous Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward, left, of Oakland, and WBC Mild Heavyweight World Champion, Chad Dawson, of New Haven, Connecticut, face off throughout the official weigh-in on the Ward vs Dawson Countdown FanFest at Oakland Metropolis Heart in Oakland, Calif. On Friday, September 7, 2012. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward steps on the scales for the official weigh-in at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif. On Friday, Might 15, 2009. Ward and his opponent Edison Miranda weighed 167.5 kilos every on the dimensions for his or her tremendous middleweight battle this Saturday. . on the Oracle Area in Oakland. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

WBA Tremendous Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward, proper, connects with a punch in opposition to Paul Smith in an untitled bout at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif. On Saturday, June 20, 2015. Ward received by TKO within the ninth spherical. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward, of Oakland, proper, punches Cuban fighter Sullivan Barrera within the IBF Mild and Heavyweight Quantity One Eliminator Recreation at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif., On Saturday March 27, 2016. Ward received by unanimous resolution and a title shot in opposition to world champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

WBC mild heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson, of New Haven, Connecticut, left, is knocked down as WBA / WBC tremendous middleweight world champion Andre Ward of Oakland journeys over Chad’s foot within the fourth spherical of a 12-round WBA / WBC Tremendous Middleweight Championship bout at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Ward retains his titles after defeating Dawson by TKO within the tenth tower. (Ray Chavez / Employees)

Andre Ward, of Oakland, middle, and his coach Virgil Hunter, middle proper, pose for pictures following his victory over Cuban fighter Sullivan Barrera for the IBF light-weight eliminator at Oracle Area Oakland, Calif. on Saturday March 27. 2016. Ward received by unanimous resolution and a title shot in opposition to world champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Members of the media concentrate on Oakland native and Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward throughout a public apply session on the Oracle Area Plaza in Oakland, Calif. On Tuesday, Might 12, 2009. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

WBA Tremendous Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward faces Paul Smith in an untitled bout at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif. On Saturday June 20, 2015. Ward received by TKO within the ninth spherical. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Two-time world champion Andre Ward, of Oakland, pauses throughout shadowboxing contained in the ring in preparation for his subsequent battle in opposition to unbeaten and primary IBF ranked Cuban heavyweight Sullivan Barrera on a media day at King’s Boxing Gymnasium in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Ward and Barrera will battle in a 12-round IBF primary place and necessary playoff place on Saturday March 26, 2016 at Oracle Area. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward, of Oakland, proper, punches Cuban fighter Sullivan Barrera within the IBF Mild and Heavyweight Quantity One Eliminator Recreation at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif., On Saturday March 27, 2016. Ward received by unanimous resolution and a title shot in opposition to world champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward, of Oakland, proper, punches Cuban fighter Sullivan Barrera within the IBF Mild and Heavyweight Quantity One Eliminator Recreation at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif., On Saturday March 27, 2016. Ward received by unanimous resolution and a title shot in opposition to world champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward, of Oakland, raises his arm as he awaits the announcement of the winner of the IBF light-weight light-weight eliminator in opposition to Cuban fighter Sullivan Barrera at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif. On Saturday 27 March 2016. Ward received by unanimous resolution. and a title in opposition to world champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward, of Oakland, proper, punches Cuban fighter Sullivan Barrera within the IBF Mild and Heavyweight Quantity One Eliminator Recreation at Oracle Area in Oakland, Calif., On Saturday March 27, 2016. Ward received by unanimous resolution and a title shot in opposition to world champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)

Andre Ward of the US celebrates his unanimous resolution victory over Sergey Kovalev of Russia of their bout for the WBA, IBF and WBO Light-weight World Championship on November 19, 2016 at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, Nevada . Ward, the 2004 Olympic champion, recovered from a second-round reversal to defeat Kovalev by the identical rating of 114-113 on all three judges playing cards after an attrition battle at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas. / AFP PHOTO / John GURZINSKIJOHN GURZINSKI / AFP / Getty Photos

Andre “SOG” Ward, 2004 US Olympic gold medalist and WBA tremendous middleweight world champion and Ring Journal, Andre “SOG” Ward is pictured at King’s Boxing Gymnasium in Oakland, Calif. On Tuesday October 22, 2013. After being out of the ring for greater than a 12 months on account of damage, Ward (26-0, 13 KOs) will defend his title in opposition to undefeated Edwin Rodriguez (26-0, 13 KOs) in a most important occasion of 12 rounds on Saturday, November 16 at Residents Enterprise Financial institution Area in Ontario, Calif. (Ray Chavez / Bay Space Information Group)