Andre Ward signs multiyear deal with ESPN

[Ruthless-RKO]

Andre Ward has signed a new multiyear deal to remain with ESPN as one of its boxing analysts, the network announced on Friday.

Under the agreement, Ward, who unified super middleweight and lightweight world titles and became one of boxing's pound-for-pound best fighters in the world during his 2004 to 2017 ring career, will be on site for the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN cards.

"We are thrilled to have reached this agreement with Andre," said Mark Gross, ESPN's senior vice president for production and remote events. "Andre's experience in the ring, wealth of knowledge and passion for boxing will further enrich our live boxing coverage and provide fans a unique perspective of the sport."

Ward, 34, of Oakland, California, who won a 2004 Olympic gold medal, retired in late 2017 after his second win in a row over Sergey Kovalev. Although rumors have swirled about an eventual comeback Ward said he is focused on his broadcasting career. He also does broadcast work for some of HBO's boxing events.

"I'm excited to officially become a part of ESPN's broadcast team," Ward said. "ESPN's new boxing platform is an opportunity for today's talent to be exposed to a wider audience and it pushes the sport forward. My desire is to be an asset to those watching all over the world by giving viewers an unbiased, educated opinion that is clear and concise."

Ward's next appearance will come at the Aug. 18 Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card, which will take place at the new Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings (23-2, 13 KOs) will face Alexander Dimitrenko (41-3, 26 KOs).

After that Ward will be on site at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Aug. 25 for the card headlined by lightweight world titleholder Raymundo Beltran (35-7-1, 21 KOs) making his first defense against former junior lightweight world champion Jose "Sniper" Pedraza (24 (24-1, 12 KOs).

[Mexi-Box]

I don't like that they're signing a lot of these boxers to do commentary. Porter and Guerrero were beyond awful on the PBC card. Ward is pretty bad too.

Only decent former boxer turned analyst is Malignaggi when he isn't being a biased idiot.

Bradley is pretty decent, though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I don't like that they're signing a lot of these boxers to do commentary. Porter and Guerrero were beyond awful on the PBC card. Ward is pretty bad too.

Only decent former boxer turned analyst is Malignaggi when he isn't being a biased idiot.

Bradley is pretty decent, though.

I agree on the Porter and Guerrero comments. They're not exactly the most knowledgeable boxers out there anyway.. They don't have that boxing brain.

Roy Jones Jr., Malignaggi are good. Bradley has improved. Ward has that boxing brain. Wasn't he on HBO not too long ago?

[caldo2025]

Andre Ward is THE best boxer/commentator in the sport right now. Paulie is definitely second and then there's a huge drop off to perhaps Timothy Bradley if he could ever stop starting every sentence with "Guess what......". It shoudl be a drinking game.

[Sequitorian]

Exactly right on Porter and Guerrero ... Porter should go back to boxing ... and Guerrero should stick to being an idiot ...

[Mexi-Box]

I don't like that they're signing a lot of these boxers to do commentary. Porter and Guerrero were beyond awful on the PBC card. Ward is pretty bad too.

Only decent former boxer turned analyst is Malignaggi when he isn't being a biased idiot.

Bradley is pretty decent, though.

I agree on the Porter and Guerrero comments. They're not exactly the most knowledgeable boxers out there anyway.. They don't have that boxing brain.

Roy Jones Jr., Malignaggi are good. Bradley has improved. Ward has that boxing brain. Wasn't he on HBO not too long ago?

Ward is boring. He has no charisma. Sucks the life out of the commentary. Roy Jones Jr. has more charisma, but he likes to make points just to be contrary to Lampley and Kellerman.

As I said, Bradley is alright. I don't mind his commentary. He has a good boxing brain, and he's not irritatingly confrontational like Jones Jr. can be.

[lazboy]

The timing of this is pretty twisted...a little bit funny really. They seem to be intertwined in the headlines. Almost like ward is haughting Kovalev. Ward gets a multi fight deal as a commentator, Kovalev gets brutally koed. Life’s a brutal mistress.

I could grow to like to ward as he’s annoyed me in the past, I’d advocate for more fighters as commentators.

[diddy]

Guess we'll have to settle for Ward in the ring as "Wheelman" Danny Wheeler.

[keirw]

Bradley is pretty decent, though.

Bradley reads a fight very well, but the way he starts every other sentence with 'guess what' drives me up the wall.

[Evander]

Quite the coup for ESPN, Andre Ward is a superb analyst.