Virgil Hunter On The Day Andre Almost Lost Everything: “You’re Going To Go Downhill” | Part 1

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.

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 Olympics & When The Streets Started Calling
27:13 - The Oakland Mystique & Virgil’s Focus Shifts
29:39 - The Psychology: Guilt Trips, Interventions & The Hennessy Bottle
32:06 - Can You Make A Great Without Sacrifice?
33:16 - Structure Is The Foundation of Greatness
35:33 - His Mother’s Relapse & Selling Dope Two Blocks Away
37:00 - The Prayers Working & Virgil’s Street Intelligence
39:41 - Structure Kept Him From Crossing The Line
42:47 - Virgil’s Diary Entry & The Full Prophecy
44:50 - Washington, Tiffney & Marrying Young Against Everyone’s Advice
49:04 - James Prince Enters The Picture
52:17 - “He’ll Win Us A Gold Medal”: The Guarantee To J Prince
53:22 - Exposed To The Life: Floyd, Roy & Dre Losing His Father
58:00 - Surrendering & Locking In For The Olympics
01:00:10 - “You Don’t Think I Can Get You To Athens?“: The Faith Moment
01:02:35 - Front Row Tickets & God Paying For The Whole Trip
01:08:13 - The Last American Male Olympic Gold & USA Boxing’s Problem
01:11:24 - It Takes A Team & No Great Man Stands Alone
01:13:34 - Body Language, Technical Ability & What Wins At The Highest Level
01:16:46 - The Decision That Shook Everything Up

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