Mike Ward

Name: Mike Ward
Hometown: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Birthplace: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Died: 1906-11-16 (Age:21)
Height: 171cm
Pro Boxer: Record

Mike Ward died of injuries sustained in a Nov. 15, 1906 bout with Harry Lewis (a.k.a. Herman Besterman) in Grand Rapids, MI, USA. [1]

Ward had retired at the end of 1905, and was running a pool room in Toronto when he received an offer to fight Lewis.

"Mike never smoked, never took a drink and never swore. He was a clean liver and loved his father and mother better than any one else in the world. The first money that he ever earned in the prize ring he spent for a good home for father and mother." - Andy Ward, Toronto Star, November 17, 1906

"The untimely demise of Mike Ward as a result of his contest with Lewis on Thursday night caused universal regret yesterday in local sporting circles. Ward made many friends while he was in town the past summer managing the College Inn and his well wishers were legion. He was a modest, unassuming chap, and very seldom spoke of his ring achievements." - Globe & Mail, November 17, 1906

He was the younger brother of boxer Andy Ward.

May 23, 1904 Syracuse Journal reports that Ward claims he is lightweight champion of Canada.

See also, Death under the Spotlight: The Manuel Velasquez Boxing Fatality Collection [2]