Tommy Ryan
Defensive counter-puncher
Andre Ward Tommy Ryan
Shared areas: Ring control, Counter
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Fighter study
Andre Ward
Era Modern
Division Super Middleweight
Stance Orthodox
Key context Inside position without panic
Why study this fighter
Ward adds a problem-solving control profile: distance denial, clinch awareness, body positioning, counters, and tactical disruption. The study value is not roughness; it is how position can remove the strengths an opponent wants.
Andre Ward is an inside-control problem solver in the H&G style library. It is a modern orthodox profile. The strongest axis scores are defence 92, ring control 88 and counter 84. Study inside position without panic and smothering before resetting cleanly. A practical cue is to use controlled inside-position games where the aim is safe posture and clean exits. The page includes 2 selected video references for the study notes. The main warning is: do not turn clinch awareness into holding instead of boxing.
Fighter guide only. This is not a claim about level, ability, or matching a champion. Use the diagnostic to compare how you box, then bring the result into class or PT.
H&G All-Time Index: Andre Ward is ranked #65 all-time with a 86.39 ranking index. Open the ranking profile
Orthodox Modern Video examples Clear examples
Photo: Chamber of Fear / CC BY-SA 2.0
Study, do not imitate
The point is to spot patterns: pressure, range, rhythm, risk, and defensive shape. The radar below turns those patterns into a readable coaching map.
Andre Ward
An H&G All-Time Index v2.0.0 summary card for rank context, career context and comparison. Read close ranks with the Data Confidence label beside them.
Rank and score#65Notables
H&G All-Time Index86.390-100 ranking index. This is the number that orders the list.
Peak-form Elo rating2,246Best-point rating on a separate scale, not directly comparable with the index. The rating could shift by about ±326. 2017-06-01
Data ConfidenceMediumSolid but wider career evidence. Treat close ranks with extra care. Peak-form band: ±326 Elo.
Active years2004-2017Boxing era: 2000-2015
Primary divisionSuper MiddleweightHigher than 91% of ranked fighters in this division
Era standingHigher than 97% of ranked fighters from his eraHigher than 93% of the whole public list
Strength of scheduleStrong schedule2,072 schedule score
Career W-L-D32-0-0Professional record summary
Top career wins
- Carl Froch2011
- Mikkel Kessler2009
- Arthur Abraham2011
- Sergey Kovalev2017
- Chad Dawson2012
Style map
Who is like Andre Ward?
Compare shape first. Gold is Andre Ward; blue is the other fighter. Tap a card to put that fighter on the sticky radar, or search the full set below.
Closest in the library
Fighters most like this
These are the nearest 8-axis shapes to Andre Ward across the 250 public profiles.
Shakur Stevenson
Southpaw defensive distance controller
Andre Ward Shakur Stevenson
Shared areas: Ring control, Starter
Nonito Donaire
Left-hook counter-puncher
Andre Ward Nonito Donaire
Shared areas: Starter, Defence
Bernard Hopkins
Veteran ring controller
Andre Ward Bernard Hopkins
Shared areas: Defence, Pressure
Useful contrasts
Fighters least like this
These are the furthest shapes from Andre Ward. Use them to see what this style is not.
Jose Ramirez
Body-head pressure pace
Andre Ward Jose Ramirez
Biggest split: Volume, Pressure
David Benavidez
Combination pressure fighter
Andre Ward David Benavidez
Biggest split: Volume, Defence
Josh Warrington
High-tempo pressure pace
Andre Ward Josh Warrington
Biggest split: Volume, Defence
Leo Santa Cruz
High-tempo volume pressure
Andre Ward Leo Santa Cruz
Biggest split: Volume, Pressure
What to study
- • Inside position without panic
- • Smothering before resetting cleanly
- • Countering after denying the first attack
What not to copy
- • Do not turn clinch awareness into holding instead of boxing
- • Do not copy messy inside work without coach supervision
Training translation
- • Use controlled inside-position games where the aim is safe posture and clean exits.
- • Practise catch-smother-reset patterns before adding counters.
- • Score sparring tasks by whether the boxer exits with balance, not whether they win a wrestling moment.
Recommended videos
Andre Ward: technique breakdown
What to watch for: Start here because this video is about Andre Ward specifically. Use the other video as the broader training comparison.
Open on YouTubeInside pressure study: body shots and short-range control
What to watch for: Watch this for pressure, body shots, and safer short-range choices.
Open on YouTubeIf this is your match
- • Your result likely values problem solving, defence, and making the opponent work from uncomfortable positions.
- • The coaching priority is keeping inside control legal, tidy, and attached to clean boxing exits.
What to watch
Use these notes to understand the boxing behind the profile and what to watch when you compare it with your own quiz result.
- Inside control What to study
Strongly supported by film-study material focused on clinch and inside-position craft.
- Defensive problem solving What to study
Clear fit for defensive engine and ring geography without needing high output.
- Safety and legality caution What to study
Required because novice users should not copy holding, head position, or rough inside habits unsupervised.
Compare shapes
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