Andre Ward says there is ‘no doubt’ who hit him hardest in his 32 fight career

Andre Ward He boasts of his victories over a host of former world champions, but declares that the toughest player he has faced in his career is one who has never achieved world honours.

Ward defeated Mikkel Kesler for the WBA super bantamweight title in 2009 and went on to make six defenses of the belt, defeating the likes of Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch and then unifying the titles by knocking out WBC champion Chad Dawson.

“Son of God” then moved up to light heavyweight, where he knocked out previously undefeated three-belt unified champion Sergei Kovalev, then He knocked out the Russian in the rematchbefore announcing his sudden retirement at the age of just 33 years old.

However, despite victories over some of the biggest names to have graced the 168-pound division, Ward pointed to Colombia’s Edison Miranda when discussing the most damaged opponent on his resume, in Interview with Boxing News last year.

“The hardest punch was definitely Edison Miranda – no doubt about that.”

Ward fought Miranda in 2009, two bouts before challenging for the title with Kessler, walking away with a unanimous decision when making his singles defense of the NABF super middleweight belt.

Miranda twice challenged for a world title, but fell short of the reigning IBF middleweight title, Abraham, in a 2006 points defeat. Four years later it was He was stopped by Lucien Butte within three roundswhen bidding for the International Boxing Federation super middleweight title.