Virgil Hunter On The Day Andre Almost Lost Everything: "You're Going To Go Downhill" | Part 1

Wrestling

Year2026

Duration1h 17m

Watch Now

7.6

For the first time ever, the man behind Andre Ward's undefeated career and 2004 Olympic Gold sits down on THE ART OF WARD... and they go all the way back. Virgil Hunter, 2011 Boxing Writers Association Trainer of the Year, pulls up for Part 1 of a two-part conversation 32 years in the making. This isn't just a boxing conversation. This is the full story. The day a 10-year-old Andre walked into US Karate & Boxing in Hayward and locked eyes with a quietly depressed Virgil, still grieving the loss of his first prospect. Frank Ward's simple request: "teach my son how to hit and not get hit." The years Andre and his brother Jonathan lived with Virgil and his wife. The crack era in Oakland that pulled Andre into the streets — selling rocks two blocks from the apartment where his own mother was using. The psychology Virgil used to pull him back: the guilt-trip phone call, the jailhouse intervention, the Hennessy bottle quietly pulled from Andre's bag in Las Vegas. The James Prince connection. Marrying Tiffney young against everyone's advice. Losing his father in 2002. And the 2004 Olympic Gold in Athens and how Virgil had to move mountains to be there ringside. This is the conversation Andre has been waiting his whole career to have. Part 1 of 2. Part 2 coming soon. Subscribe to ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT for more episodes of THE ART OF WARD and the most loaded sit-downs in boxing. Follow Andre Ward - -- 00:00 - Intro & Welcome Hall of Fame trainer, Virgil Hunter, to The Art of Ward 02:30 - The First Meeting & Frank Ward's Request 06:02 - Virgil's Depression & Why That Day Was Spiritual 06:47 - Building a Foundation Before the Temptations 08:30 - Andre & His Brother Move In With Virgil & His Wife 10:30 - Frank Ward, Andre's Mom & The Mother Wound 14:00 - Battle Testing With Donaire & The First Fights 16:00 - The Silver Gloves Nationals & Curtis Stevens 20:00 - Sparring Pros at 13 & The Strength Behind It 21:11 - The Difference Between Andre & His Brother 21:57 - Drive, Tenacity & Being a Student of The Game 24:30 - The Junior