Like Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, undefeated world super middleweight champion Andre Ward wears his Christianity on his sleeve.
In the case of Olympic gold medalist Ward, America's last boxing gold getter in 2004, he might literally wear his love of God on his work attire. Ward's testimonial to a Higher Power is even solidified by his ring introduction which includes his nickname.
You see, the 27 year old who fights cocky Brit Carl "Cobra" Froch (28-1, 20 knockouts) in the Saturday night finale of the two year long, roller coaster ride that has been the Showtime Super Middleweight Tournament (hosted by Bally's and Caesars Palace at the Conventional Hall in Atlantic City) took a ring nickname which more than bespeaks his determined, nondemoninational faith in the Almight.
Ward is known in his chosen trade as "SOG," which stands for "Son Of God." You might say that the pious Tebow at least doesn't refer to himsef as "Footstool for Jesus" or anything of that sort but such remarks would not bother the carefully articulate fighter from Oakland, Calif.
Ward, whose spotless pro mark is 24-0 with 13 KOs, that some mock and criticize Tebow's constant references to his Creator and to the Bible and that others have described his fight nickname as pretentious.
In fact, Ward said Tuesday at the posh Edison Ballroom in midtown, the voluble Nottignhasm lad Froch has already done so, a violation which Ward said he might seek ring retribution for.
"He made references to my faith," Ward alleged as Froch sat just a few feet away on a gaudy dais.
I pointedly asked Froch to comment on Ward's seeming displeasure but the Englishman demurred, saying "that is one of two subjects you just don't discuss."
But Ward, married at age 18 and a father before then, is always happy to discuss religion.
This fighter isn't going to refer to himself or a competitor as a thug or a gangster.
"People expect fighter to say some ignorant things," Ward said. "I don't want to be known as a gangster, I don't want that kind of image. I'm firm, I am strong and I can be vicious in the boxing ring.
"But I don't like it when people on the street say something like, 'You're not going to hit me, are you?' It's hard enough in the first place as a boxer to get any kind of endorsement. I know Manny Pacquiao's got some good ones but he worked a long time to get there.
"I'm a Christian and I am not afraid to say so, not afraid to talk my my Lord and Savior," Ward said. "I grew up in a very strict setting but as a teenager, I did some things, I went to some parties. I never did anything real bad. I've always been a Godfearing man.
"I don't want to talk to be seen as a gangster or anything like that. I talk about God because I know there are children and adults out there (in the public) who are listening. I try to sathy humble and serve my God."
Ward's intelligence and his crafting of his public persona can be seen in how he pauses before ansswering any media question and in the Sugar Ray Leonard type way he parses his words.
"I don't say the first thing that comes into my mind, you can't do that. I don't bite my tonugue, either, but I think about what I will say before I say it," Ward said.
The verbal skirmish between Ward and Froch was brief but they both lashed into IBF 168 pound Lucian Bute, the Montreal based Romanian who chose to avoid the Showtime competition.
FROCH: “Lucian Bute isn’t even in the discussion. I know he’s the IBF champion but the two names on his record are Brian Magee and Glen Johnson, that’s it. He lost to a guy named Librado Andrade. He actually got KO’d. The referee picked him up off the floor, washed his windshield 40 seconds later and the bell was rung and he won on points. But in my opinion, he was knocked out. Lucian Bute needs to fight some of the top level people before he can call himself the best or in the top three in the world.”
WARD: “Lucian Bute needs to fight the winner of this fight to be the best. That’s just the bottom line. No disrespect to Lucian Bute but he’s fought B- and C level competition. He’s done what he was supposed to; he got them out of there. But it’s like he’s preserving himself, just trying to wait for the winner of this tournament while [Carl and I] have been putting in a lot of hard work. He has to come to us. We won’t have to go to him.”
Ward knows how to tough talk.
And he does it while wearing his faith literally on his sleeve.
In a perverse world, Ward and Tebow draw criticism for being openly religious.
I look it another way. Maybe athletes like these two are God's Gangstas.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
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