Does anyone know or remember anything about Stan Ward?

[mr. magoo]

I'm hoping Duodenum or Dinner with Conteh might know something they can share.

On the surface, his overall career record ended with a final listing of 21-7-2-8. Not a particularly flattering feat. When one looks closer however, his record has quite a bit of substance. In his first 10 fights, he defeated a young Mike Weaver, Jeff Merrit who had a record of like 23-2, a veteran Mac Foster, and in his third pro fight drew in an 8 round match against 14-0 Johnny Beudroux. His first loss came in his 11th pro fight via 10 round majority decision to Ron Lyle.

I don't know anything about this guy, but it looks like there may have been some potential there. He apparently did fairly well in the amateurs and fought Holmes at one point.

There doesn't seem to by anything available on him, not even a date of birth.

[zadfrak]

He was a college student/college graduate at a time you rarely saw that type of thing. He was an early Foreman sparring partner & big George was not easy on those guys. He was also a pretty big guy physically & his management pretty much threw him to the wolves real early in his career. Awful tough sport if someone isn't looking out for you.

[MRBILL]

I remember seeing Stanley Ward get stopped on ESPN in the early to mid 80s by Gerald Coetzee........ I think Coetzee stopped him in like two rds......... I remember Ward holding onto the referee for dear life........ Ward froze to death against Coetzee.......

I might be mistaken, but I seem to recall that Stan Ward fought and hit Mike Weaver after the bell, which basically put Weaver on queer street.... I think Ward got DQ'd for that incident.?.?

MR.BILL

[mcvey]

I remember seeing Stanley Ward get stopped on ESPN in the early to mid 80s by Gerald Coetzee........ I think Coetzee stopped him in like two rds......... I remember Ward holding onto the referee for dear life........ Ward froze to death against Coetzee.......

I might be mistaken, but I seem to recall that Stan Ward fought and hit Mike Weaver after the bell, which basically put Weaver on queer street.... I think Ward got DQ'd for that incident.?.?

MR.BILL
Coetzee was either best man at his wedding ,or vice versa ,can't remember which.

[JohnThomas1]

Quite a decent fighter, and considered promising at one time. His fight with Super Greg was good, tho a bit outclassed he hung in for a while and had his moments. Post Page has wasn't quite the same tho.


Here's a good little article by Jim Amato from SS Boxing

Heavyweight Stan Ward
By Jim Amato

He crossed gloves with three world champions and did battle with several top contenders. In the mid- and late-1970s he was considered one of the best young heavyweights in the world. Stan Ward would for the better part of five years be in and out of the heavyweight top ten, but never received a title shot. For all of his hulking size, Stan lacked two important assets needed to compete with the top echelon heavyweights. He lacked the big punch and a solid chin.

Stan turned pro in 1974 and quickly established himself as a heavyweight with promise. In 1975 he fought draws with Johnny Boudreaux and Pat Duncan. In 1976 Stan entered the world ratings with a decision over Mac Foster and a stunning knock out over Jeff Merritt.

On September 14, 1977, Stan met rugged Ron Lyle in Las Vegas. After ten grueling rounds, Lyle was awarded the decision. After Stan's game showing against Lyle, he returned to California and outscored future champion Mike Weaver. In his next fight, clever Randy Stephens upset Stan. As Stan entered 1979 his record stood at 10-2-2 and it looked as if he was going to be a mainstay in the talent rich ratings. All that came crashing down in his next bout: a rematch with Mike Weaver. The murderous punching Weaver halted Stan in the ninth round and sent Ward's career reeling.

It would be over a year before Stan got back into the ring, but he quickly added three bouts to his win column. On February 7, 1981, Stan met Greg Page in Atlantic City. Page's current dilemma has been well documented. Most remember Greg as an out of shape ex-champion. At one time, though, Greg was a very good boxer. If you ever get the chance, watch a tape of Greg's bouts with Scott Ledoux and Marty Monroe. At that time Page was awesome! He would also prove to be too much for Stan halting him in the seventh round.

The loss to Page was really the beginning of the end for Stan. He would get his share of wins, but in the important matches his chin would betray him. In 1982 Gerrie Coetzee stopped him in two rounds. In 1983 Mike Weaver again halted him in nine rounds. Stan had one bout in 1984 and was inactive in 1985. In 1986 he was stopped again, this time by Larry Alexander in two rounds. Stan would take off over three years and when he returned he scored a couple of insignificant wins and faded from the scene.

[ray fredrickson]

I had the pleasure meeting him 15 years ago at martial artist Benny the JET Enriquez gym Torrance?15 years ago/?? I think he split a setto with Hercules Weaver before Mike fought Holmes.Im going on memory(what 60 yr. old mistake)He beat Lynn Ball,Oliver Phillips in Reseda,Kod by Coetzee finished him. I BELIEVE STRONGLY Stan was PERFECT example mis-NON managed Fighter!!!!:hi:

[Duodenum]

JT, I knew you'd deliver for Magoo. Thanks mate!

The one time I saw Stan Ward on television was when he got stopped by Greg Page. Afterwards, he was interviewed about what he thought of Page. "He has a fair left hook. And he's fast, but he's not that quick."
Ward did come across as an intelligent and articulate character.

My memory of the bout itself is very old and sketchy, but I seem to remember Ward as a broad shouldered flat footed boxer using a cross armed defense and head movement to try to evade punishment, somewhat like George Chaplin. I think an eye injury led to the stoppage. (At the time, I thought it might have been an errant thumb, but Page did have him outclassed.)

I'd like to see Page/Ward posted on youtube to check my memory against. Ward came across to me as something of a chess player in the squared circle.

[sweetsci]

That Ron Lyle - Stan Ward fight was on prime time TV, broadcast on ABC on a Wednesday night. It was part of a Don King package called "Night of the Heavyweights". The main event was Ken Norton vs. Lorenzo Zanon. Also broadcast were Jimmy Young vs. Jody Ballard and Larry Holmes vs. Fred "Young Sanford" Houpe. Norton & Young were tuning up for their fight less than two months down the road. Can you imagine a card like that on prime time TV today?

Anyways, back on topic... I seem to remember that Stan Ward is, or was (retired?), a high school teacher in Sacramento.

[Bigcat]

Stan Ward lives in Sacramento still, he was a high school phys ed teacher for a while, i know this through my friend Leroy Cauldwell who boxed him at the alladdin Las Vegas in 1980.. he boxed for the usba title but lost if i do remember against Mike Weaver.. Stan was training some female boxers up in cali until recently .. he is 59 and turns 60 in May.. I saw a very recent picture and he looks immaculate.. I will talk some more and see what i can come up with..

[Bigcat]

you can take a look at a recent photo of stan on jennifer barbers website , Stan helps train her..

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[MRBILL]

I recall SOMEBODY, and I thought it was Stan Ward, who was the dude that clipped Mike Weaver after the bell that caused Weaver to shake, rattle & roll....... This was before Bonecrusher Smith KO'd Weaver in '86 on TV...... Cheers...

MR.BILL

[sweetsci]

Mr. Bill,

I'll bet you're thinking of Tony Anthony vs. Weaver, Nov 9, 1984.
From BoxRec:

Anthony ran across the ring and struck Weaver with a left hook from behind after the bell ending the first round. Anthony said that he did not hear the bell ring. Weaver was stunned and sagged to the canvas. The Ring, January, 1985 page 38.

Weaver was awarded the fight by DQ.

[Bigcat]

I saw a clip of that recently, Mike was shaken badly and it looked like Tony intentionally knew what he was doing.. I have hundreds of old fights on Tape and it was on a greg page tape for some reason..