Unified super middleweight champion Andre Ward (25-0-0, 13 KOs) has been named the 2011 Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year, beating out Wladimir Klitschko, Nonito Donaire, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao for the award. Ward’s trainer, Virgil Hill, won the Eddie Futch award for trainer of the year. 
Ward began 2011 with a near-shutout victory over Arthur Abraham in May. He closed out the year with another dominant decision victory over Nottingham’s Carl Froch in December. With the victory over Froch, Ward added the WBC super middleweight title, Ring Magazine super middleweight title, and Super Six World Boxing Classic championship to his WBA super middleweight title.
“I want to thank God for giving me the strength to put in the work year after year to get to this point. I also want to thank my manager, James Prince, my promoters Antonio Leonard and Dan Goossen, everyone who is a part of Team Ward, as well as all of my family, friends, and loyal fans who have been behind me all these years,” Ward said. “This award is just as much for them as it is for me.”
Ward was also named Fighter of the Year by The Boxing Tribune.
In related news, last July’s Delvin Rodriguez vs. Pawel Wolak shootout was named Fight of the Year by the BWAA.
Follow us on our new Facebook Fan Page…Click “Like” to follow the source of Boxing’s True Independent Voice.
Leave a Reply