On This Day
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Andre Ward, unified light heavyweight champion and world’s top pound-for-pound boxer, announces his retirement

Andre Michael Ward is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017.

Andre Michael Ward is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017. He retired with an undefeated record and held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified super middleweight titles between 2009 and 2015, and unified light heavyweight titles between 2016 and 2017.

During his reign as light heavyweight champion, Ward was ranked as the world's best pound for pound boxer, by The Ring magazine. In 2020, he was named Fighter of the Decade by Sports Illustrated. In 2024, ESPN ranked him as the 7th greatest men's boxer of the 21st century.

As an amateur boxer, Ward won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and turned professional later that year.

Historical Significance

Andre Michael Ward is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017.

Events Before

  1. After floods along the Mississippi River kill 31 people, Exxon Mobil Corp decides to close a plant in flood-threatened M

    After floods along the Mississippi River kill 31 people, Exxon Mobil Corp decides to close a plant in flood-threatened Memphis

  2. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, six months after hi

    Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, six months after his escape from prison

  3. American singer-actress Katharine McPhee (31) divorces producer Nick Cokas (50) after 8 years of marriage

    American singer-actress Katharine McPhee (31) divorces producer Nick Cokas (50) after 8 years of marriage

  4. Pope Francis meets Patriarch Kirill in Havana in the first meeting between the heads of the Catholic and Russian Orthodo

    Pope Francis meets Patriarch Kirill in Havana in the first meeting between the heads of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches in nearly 1,000 years

  5. Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a three-day tour with First Lady Mich

    Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a three-day tour with First Lady Michelle

Events After

  1. An initiative of 300 Hollywood women called "Time's Up" announces a fight against sexual harassment

    An initiative of 300 Hollywood women called "Time's Up" announces a fight against sexual harassment

  2. Javier Bardem becomes the ambassador of Greenpeace for the protection of Antarctica

    Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem is a Spanish actor. In a career spanning over three decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Critics'…

  3. LeBron James becomes the seventh and youngest player (33 years, 24 days) to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone during

    LeBron James becomes the seventh and youngest player (33 years, 24 days) to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone during a 114-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs

  4. Former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar is found guilty of molesting over 150 girls and is sentenced to up to 175 yea

    Former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar is found guilty of molesting over 150 girls and is sentenced to up to 175 years in prison

  5. Brazilian jockey Jorge Ricardo equals the world record for the number of victories by a jockey with 12,844 in Rio de Jan

    Brazilian jockey Jorge Ricardo equals the world record for the number of victories by a jockey with 12,844 in Rio de Janeiro

More from the 2010s

New FINA rules re competition swimsuits come into effect; all body-length swimsuits banned; men's suits to maximally cov

New FINA rules re competition swimsuits come into effect; all body-length swimsuits banned; men's suits to maximally cover from the waist to knee, and women's from shoulder to knee; fabric must be a "textile" or woven material

10 people are killed, and 120 are injured in a stampede in Luanda, Angola

10 people are killed, and 120 are injured in a stampede in Luanda, Angola

Dutchman Michael van Gerwen wins his first PDC World Darts Championship, defeating Peter Wright of Scotland 7-4; it is t

Dutchman Michael van Gerwen wins his first PDC World Darts Championship, defeating Peter Wright of Scotland 7-4; it is the first time no Englishman has been in the final

Lithuania adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the Litas and becoming the 19th member of the Eurozone

Lithuania adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the Litas and becoming the 19th member of the Eurozone

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on September 21, 2017?
Andre Michael Ward is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017. He retired with an undefeated record and held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified super middleweight titles between 2009 and 2015, and unified light heavyweight titles between 2016 and 2017. During his reign as light heavyweight champion, Ward was ranked as the world's best pound for pound boxer, by The Ring magazine.
Why is Andre Ward, unified light heavyweight champion and world’s top pound-for-poun... significant?
Andre Michael Ward is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017.

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September 21 in HistoryYear 2017