Boxer Steve Ward has retired from the sport in full swing and won his first world title in his last fight.
The 64-year-old made easy work for Romanian Adrian Parlogea (50), laying him down three times and winning the fight within three minutes at Mansfield Rugby Club on Friday (August 6th).
Ward from Sutton-in-Ashfield fought in the gold division of the World Legends Championships for fighters aged 50 to 65 and won the first world cruiserweight title.
Ward is considered the oldest active professional boxer in the world and says he “went out in style”.
“I’m the world champion, I made it – I made it,” said Ward, who will be 65 on Thursday, August 12th.
“I’m taking a trip to the cemetery, Bulwell Cemetery, and I’m taking the belt to show my late father.
“I went out in style. I originally came from Hyson Green, I did it for Mansfield, where I live now, I did it for my queen and my country – I’m so patriotic: Queen and country mean the world to me. “
But the realization that he was hanging up his gloves soon set in.
Steve Ward brought down Adrian Parlogea three times.
(Image: Nicola Parker photographer)
Ward said: “When I got out of this ring on Friday night I felt really great, I did what I set out to do – a fantastic achievement.
“The second step down out of the ring I suddenly remembered, ‘Steve, this is the last time you’ll ever do this’.
“I was very happy to win the belt, but for a few moments I had the biggest lump in my throat.
“Also the sadness, it’s been a long career.
“I honestly have to admit that if I did it all over again, I would do the same.”
Trained incredibly hard for the fight, Ward said he believed his opponent underestimated him.
He said, “I haven’t given him time to breathe to get into any kind of rhythm, if I had let him do this and he had his rhythm, the outcome of the fight might have been very different from what it was.
“I was in super-fit form. I think he expected me to come out like a 65-year-old would do it: at a very slow pace to do the eight laps.”
Ward is a three-time Guinness World Record holder as the oldest active professional boxer in the world.
Of his 148 amateur fights, Ward won 136 and lost 12 – with 72 stoppages.
He won about half of his 60 professional fights.
Ward was determined to end his career in victory after losing his previous fight against German Andreas Sidon for the WBC Veterans Heavyweight Championship in July 2017.
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