Andre Ward has tantalised followers on Twitter by hinting his retirement – which he announced just four months ago – could be short lived.
Ward sent speculation about his future into overdrive by tweeting: “Weighed in last night at 199 lbs. All muscle I promise!! I been working.”
Weighed in last night at 199 lbs. All 💪🏽 I promise !! I been working.
— Andre S.O.G. Ward (@andreward) January 24, 2018
Moments later the Oakland man tweeted: “We’re working on something special.”
We're working on something special 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/y7OmloOoRM
— Andre S.O.G. Ward (@andreward) January 24, 2018
“S.O.G” retired in September last year following back-to-back wins over Sergey Kovalev, citing the physical demands of the fight game had caught up with his 33 year-old body:
“I am leaving because my body can no longer put up with the rigours of the sport and therefore my desire to fight is no longer there,” said a statement on Olympic Gold Medalist’s website.
“If I cannot give my family, my team, and the fans everything that I have, then I should no longer be fighting,” Ward concluded.
But a return to the ring for the former unified champion who cleaned out the super middleweight division would not come as a complete surprise. It’s only been seven months since he inflicted a second defeat on Kovalev – his most significant victory, and at 33 years-old, he’s by no means over the hill.
The reference to the gains made in the gym – bulking up to just under the cruiserweight limit of 199lbs – adds extra spice to speculation. Particularly so as Ward and trainer Virgil Hunter have previously alluded to a fight at heavyweight:
“Heavyweight, that’s always been a dream of mine. It’s got to be against the right guy, but I dream big and anything is possible,” said Ward, following the second victory over Kovalev.
Virgil Hunter added: “I’d like to see him fight Anthony Joshua. I’m not playing. I’m serious. I think it would be a very interesting fight. I believe he could outbox Anthony Joshua,”
“There are some things about Joshua that I see. He’s a good kid, I know him, but I see things with him in particular and he is the best, but styles make fights.
“It would be a waste of time to go to the cruiserweights, we should just leapfrog it, go for it all.”
It remains to be seen whether we will witness the second coming of the “Son of God.”
READ MORE:
Sergey Kovalev does not believe Andre Ward is retired indefinitely
Andre Ward retires from professional boxing – “Mission accomplished”
Andre Ward says it’s difficult but no second thoughts on retirement