World-renowned boxer Andre Ward chronicled the triumphs and obstacles of his life in his memoir “Killing The Image: A Champion’s Journey of Faith, Fighting, And Forgiveness.” The book shows how Ward persevered through issues with living in a broken home, drugs, and crime to reach the highest echelons of Boxing.
Ward is an Olympic Gold medalist and was once the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He also earned the World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion. Ward remained undefeated until he retired.
Ward got inspiration for the title from his pastor Napoleon Kaufman who urged him to tell his story. Through the years, talking about his upbringing made him apprehensive about writing a memoir. Ward noted how he had to get his mother’s blessing to write the book and find a respectable way to document the legacy of his late father.
“It took me many, many years for me to get to a place where I was comfortable telling my story,” Ward said. “It got to a point where I felt like it would be selfish to not tell the story.”
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Through the highs and lows of his career, Ward relied on his faith in the Lord to guide his path. His longtime coach and godfather Virgil Hunter was featured throughout the book.
“When my father passed in 2002, [Hunter] stepped right in,” Ward said. “I said this in my Hall of Fame speech that I’m still grateful that he taught me the art of boxing, he taught me how to fight the right way.”
Competing in the 2004 Athens Olympics was something Ward worked for all his life. Studying the Bible, watching film with Al Mitchell and encouragement from Hunter were essential to his gold-medal win.
“God speaking to me but then also [Hunter] being in my ear like that and just reminding me of who I was and what my purpose was, that’s what a good coach does,” Ward said. “That was all I needed to be able to go out there and fight them giants I was fighting.”
Parts of the book where also told through the perspective of his wife Tiffiney. Ward thought it would be unique to have her perspective in the memoir and have her recite her parts in the audiobook.
In the book, Ward explains his experience with understanding the business of professional boxing. Ward hopes that readers gain wisdom from the mistakes he made with his initial contract with James Prince.
“That’s something I had to deal with for a 13-year career,” Ward said. “It was a headache that I could have avoided by one simple decision to let a lawyer look at it.”
“Killing the Image” is available in audiobook and ebook as well as in hardcover; it is available at major bookstores and online retailers.
