Micky Ward is a former world title challenger who is best known by boxing fans for his ring wars with Hall of Famer, Arturo Gatti. Ward had a fan friendly style and was involved in multiple fights throughout his career, and is best known today for his life story being brought to the big screen in the movie “The Fighter.” In this interview with Micky Ward, I discuss with him his boxing career and his legendary fight with Arturo Gatti. Ward also shares his views on Floyd Mayweather Jr. and if he thinks Floyd will hang up his gloves. Additionally, Ward talks about Pacquiao vs. Khan and Canelo vs. Cotto. Here is what Micky Ward had to say.

(Listen to the full interview here)

Robert Brown: You never thought you would end up in one of the greatest trilogies of all time and having a film made about your life, it must be a surreal feeling isn’t it?

Micky Ward: It really is surreal to have one of the best trilogies in boxing and having a movie made. It’s just really surreal, it happens to very few.

Robert Brown: You had the opportunity to fight against Arturo Gatti several time. What is your memory of the first fight?

Micky Ward: That was a great night, it was great for me, I won. It was very tough, it was as tough as I anticipated. I knew he was an all out guy and I think I got better as I got older and I was coming right in, and our styles just clashed. Our styles were made for each other and it became a great fight.

Robert Brown: In the first four rounds he was boxing very well, were you surprised that he chose to box and that he was able to keep that boxing discipline up for so long?

Micky Ward: No, I knew he was a good boxer, I knew he would able to box for that long. I knew he would be tough for a while — I knew he would be tough the whole fight — but I knew if I could get to him and try to make him fight, I think he’d stay more and fight, and that’s what I got him to do in the first fight.

Robert Brown: In round nine you hit him with an unbelievable body shot and he managed to get up and managed to fight back after you got exhausted from throwing. Did you think Arturo would get up from that body shot? What are your memories of that round?

Micky Ward: It was tough. When I put him down I knew he was hurt but in the back of my mind I knew he would get up because of the type of guy that he was. I knew I caught him good but I didn’t know he was so tough, there was no quit in him.

I did go all out, I tried to set myself up for the next punch and I kind of went a little too hard and I threw everything at him. When he did have me against the ropes, he was hitting me but I could see everything and I was blocking, and then I came back at the very end and that’s when I thought they were gonna stop it there but they didn’t. That was surprising.

Robert Brown: What are your memories of the other two fights? Didn’t you burst your ear drum in one of those fights?

Micky Ward: Yeah the second one when he caught me with that right hand on the back of the ear. I was out on my feet until he hit me again and woke me up, that’s the truth.

Robert Brown: You inducted Arturo Gatti into the Hall of Fame. What did that mean to you?

Micky Ward: It was a great moment because his family was there, his daughter was there. It was just great to be part of his induction ceremony and I was proud to be able to be part of it.

Robert Brown: I want to ask you about some of the fighters in the sport today. Floyd Mayweather recently retired, what did you think of his career? Do you put him in your top twenty fighters of all time?

Micky Ward: I would, look what he’s done. I would definitely put him in my top twenty, he was just that good. People don’t like the way he fought but he fought everybody and he is one of the best. I think he’ll stay retired, I think he’s smart and I think he has enough money and he’s smart about handling his money. I think he’ll stay retired.

Robert Brown: Manny Pacquiao could come back to fight Amir Khan.
Stylistically that could be a good fight, what do you think of that match?

Micky Ward: I think that would be a competitive fight because who knows if Manny is gonna have the left, with his shoulder injury. Amir’s got that style that could upset him, he’s long, he has a good jab, he punches good. Who knows what Manny’s gonna have when he comes back because he’s been out for a while. It should be a competitive fight, I don’t see any kind of blow out either way.

Robert Brown: If you had to put money on one of the fighters, who would you be tipping in that fight?

Micky Ward: Oh I don’t know. Every time I bet, I never win, so I don’t bet.

Robert Brown: We got a fight that could live up to your fight with Gatti if they both go at it, that being Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez. What are your thoughts on that fight?

Micky Ward: I can’t wait for it, it’s gonna be an exciting fight. I’m not gonna pick a winner because it’s so close and they’re so even. I love Miguel Cotto and Freddie is doing a great job with him, and it looks like a pick ’em fight. Canelo is younger and Cotto is more experienced, but you never know. Do you take the experience or do you take the youth? I don’t know, it’s tough. I think whoever lands first, it could be it. Whoever puts their will on the other one first is who might take it.