If you had to name a fighter who, over the years showed the boxing fans around the world what heart, guts, determination, dignity, and of course, a good old fashioned tear up was, then it would "Irish " Micky Ward.

Micky Ward was a no bullshit , honest prize fighter who just wanted to fight , and hoped, someday for a big payday.

In an 18 year, 51 fight career, which saw him fight good club fighters, all over America and later, also challenge the tough, hard punching Vince Philips, the slick speedster Zab Judah, the rough and ready Shea Neary as well as bruizers, Antonio Diaz, and Emanuel Burton, Jesse James Leija , and finally finish his boxing journey, with a fantastic trilogy of fights with Arturo "Thunder" Gatti.

Like any fighter, Ward had his highs and lows, but when I asked him about his fistic career, he said " Iv'e had a great great time and I tried to give the fans great fights"

I remember the first time I saw I saw Micky Ward fight. It was 1997 and he was number one contender to Vince Philips newly aquired I.B.F light welter weight title, and from the start of the fight, he was up against it, from the big punching champion. The fight was stopped in the third round due to a gash to Wards eye. It was then, that I took note, and started to follow him.

After being outpointed by the rising star, Zab Judah, he came back with a string of spirited wins, and was matched to fight Liverpool's, Shea " The shamrock express" Neary, in 2000 for the W.B.U. light welter weight championship of the world. The fight was held in London, England in front of Neary's fanatical supporters. Neary locked himself away from his family whilst training for the fight and lived in a small flat , sleeping on the floor, and trained intensely for Ward. In a tremendous scrap, Ward and Neary exchanged massive blows until the 8th round, when Ward battered Neary with a huge body punch and finished him, then and there to win the world title.

Allways willing to fight anyone, Ward accepted the challenge from the dangerous Antonio Diaz in his first defence and lost his title by decision.

While many boxing insiders thought he would hang up his gloves, Ward carried on, and came back with a ko of Steve Quinonez in the first round then next up was the brawler, Emanuel Burton[ Augustus] . The fight was a cracker and Ward won the epic brawl by decision. The fight was voted the 2001 fight of the year by Ring magazine, and elevated Micky Ward as a world class boxer once again. Kostya Tszyu had won another world title and Ward was matched to fight veteran boxer/ puncher, Jesse James Leija in an eliminator for the baby faced Aussie/ Russian's world belt. Leija had fought the best boxers over the years and on paper, this was a 50 50 fight.

Come fight night, both boxers looked in fantastic condition, but the fight was a messy awkward fight and in the 5th round, the referee stopped the contest due to a cut to Leija's eye, which was ruled as a headbutt by Ward. Leija won by technical decision.

Knowing he still had plenty to give, and also with the division being so strong and big money fights on the horizon, Ward carried on, and in 2002, he was matched to meet former world champion , Arturo Gatti. Gatti was a great boxer who had all the skills in the book, but usually he left them in the gym, and everytime he fought , it turned into a bloody war, which he thrived on Gatti v Ward was as exciting a fight I have seen in my 25 years in boxing. The amazing thing about the fight was it was a ten rounder, non title fight and neither boxer recieved a big payday. After ten glorious rounds, Micky Ward won the battle of the sluggers by majority decision[ 94-94 94-93 95-93 ] and at the time I hoped it would be a draw. This was boxing at its very best, and it was the fight of the year and also one for the ages.

Micky Ward had finally made his mark that night. On reflection, I wished he would have retired that night in the ring with Gatti at his side, but the promoters, the managers, the boxing fans had other plans. Plans of an immediate rematch.

The rematch was set for November , 2002 and it guaranteed both boxers their career high purses. Tickets sold like hot cakes, and come fight night, the boardwalk hall in Atlantic City was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Both fighters had trained hard and were in superb condition.

When the bell rang, Ward expected another brawl, Gatti's trainer, Buddy McGirt trained him to hit and move. Mc Girt's plan worked perfectly and Gatti stuck to the task and won the fight by a 10 round points decision.
With this win and yet another fantastic fight, this could mean only one thing,- The decider.

After the dust settled and both boxers healed and recuperated, terms were reached and Ward and Gatti agreed to do it one last time. While training for the fight, Ward announced to the media that win lose or draw, this would be his last time in the ring.

Ward believed that his strength would be the key to win the fight and he trained his body , enduring thousands of chin ups and push ups, while Gatti concentrated on his mid section with thousands of sit ups.

Ill never forget this fight as I sat at a bar in New York with former world champion, Leon"Neon" Spinks and what a fight it was. Gatti won by unanimous decision , but after 30 fantastic rounds of boxing and also some serious money for both warriors , "Irish" Micky Ward embraced Arturo Gatti in the ring and said goodbye to the fans.

The man with a lions heart had hung up his gloves.

These days Ward is still involved in the sport of boxing, and he is currently training a few amateurs and he is also training a 140 pounder, Jeff Fraza. He also works as a boxing analysis expert for ESPN sports, and lives happily, in Lowell, Massachusets.

Recently, I had the pleasure of his company and I asked him a few questions about himself and the sport he loves. Here is how things went down.

GT: WHAT IS LIFE LIKE AFTER FIGHTING?

MW: NO STITCHES, NO HEADACHES, I REMEMBER AFTER GATTI HIT ME... I THINK IT WAS THE SIXTH ROUND, MY BRAIN HIT THE BACK OF MY SKULL AND KINDA KNOCKED MY EYES TO SHIFT OFF BALANCE. I'M OKAY NOW.
EVERTHING IS GOING WELL. THEY ARE MAKING A MOVIE ABOUT ME SOON. LIFE IS GREAT.

GT: SPEAKING OF BEING HIT .... WHAT WAS THE HARDEST SINGLE PUNCH YOU RECIEVED?

MW: DEFINATELY, ALFONSO SANCHEZ. HE HIT LIKE A MULE. I WAS WAY BEHIND AND HURT, BUT I KEPT GOING AND STOPPED HIM WITH A RIP LEFT HOOK TO THE LIVER.

GT: WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST MOMENT IN YOUR BOXING CAREER?

MW: IT WOULD BE MY FIGHT WITH SHEA NEARY. HE WAS A TOUGH GUY AND I FOUGHT HIM IN HIS OWN BACKYARD AND WON THE TITLE.

GT: WHO WERE YOUR FAVOURITE IRISH FIGHTERS?

MW: BARRY MC GUIGAN, SEAN MANNION, MIKE MC TIGHE, STEVE COLLINS, WAYNE MC CULLOUCH.

GT: MICKY, WHO WINS TSZYU OR HATTON?

MW: YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS A TOUGH FIGHT. TSZYU IS EXPERIENCED BUT HATTON IS YOUNG, STRONG AND IS AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME RIGHT NOW. I DONT KNOW BUT I WOULD NEVER SAY NEVER ON HATTON WINNING.

GT: ITS BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU AND GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE.