The Art Of Ward Podcast By Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions cover art

The Art Of Ward

The Art Of Ward

By: Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions
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THE ART OF WARD is a series hosted by Boxing Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer for ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT Andre Ward exploring the fight game from the inside out. THE ART OF WARD series is a tapestry of thoughtful content showcasing Ward’s personal, unmatched perspective shaped by his evolution as a fighter, a man and an influential figure in combat sports.2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Fundora vs Thurman: The Psychology, The Power & Why BOTH Say It Won't Go The Distance
    Mar 25 2026

    Sebastian Fundora and Keith Thurman join Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. on HALL OF GAME just days before their blockbuster WBC super welterweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, March 28th on PBC PPV on Prime Video. I

    n this exclusive pre-fight episode, Thurman opens up about his emotional response to the original fight cancellation, reveals his tactical game plan for closing the 9-inch height gap against The Towering Inferno, and delivers one of the most psychologically intense breakdowns we've ever heard on the show. Meanwhile, WBC champion Sebastian Fundora explains why he's actually more dangerous on the inside than the outside, reflects on bouncing back from his only career KO loss, and confidently predicts this fight will NOT go to the scorecards.

    Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. deliver their expert analysis, including Roy's unforgettable "two ways in the house" breakdown of how Thurman can win this fight. Both hosts agree: this is going to be a war.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    39 mins
  • Katie Taylor: The Olympic Gold That Stopped Ireland, A Hall of Fame Career & The Serrano Trilogy
    Mar 17 2026

    Katie Taylor sits down with Andre Ward for an unforgettable conversation that spans her entire legendary career. From growing up in a rough area of Bray, Ireland during a heroin epidemic, to disguising herself as a boy just to compete because women’s boxing wasn’t sanctioned, Taylor’s origin story is unlike anything in sports.

    The two-time undisputed champion takes us through her impossible dream of winning Olympic gold before women’s boxing was even in the Games, the heartbreak of losing in Rio after stepping away from her father as coach, and how a cold call to her eventual coach in Connecticut and a message to Eddie Hearn launched one of the greatest professional careers in boxing history. Katie opens up about headlining Madison Square Garden, the electric Serrano trilogy (including the 74-million-viewer Netflix sequel), responding to “dirty fighter” accusations, and why she chose to make the third fight “boring” on purpose.

    Ward and Taylor also go deep on balancing intensity with family life, the role of faith in the fight game, walking away on your own terms, and what legacy really means when the gloves come off for good. This is a must-watch for any boxing fan.

    0:00 - Intro & Ring Magazine Awards
    2:57 - Growing Up in Bray, Ireland & Falling in Love with Boxing
    9:02 - Disguising as a Boy & The Impossible Olympic Dream
    12:48 - Discipline, Sacrifice & Dominating the Amateur Scene
    16:39 - Can Katie Taylor Turn Off the Intensity?
    19:35 - Humility, Work Ethic & Staying Grounded
    21:52 - 2012 Olympic Gold: The Day Ireland Stood Still
    25:38 - Rio 2016 Heartbreak & Stepping Away from Dad
    29:40 - Cold Calling Her Way to the Pros & Eddie Hearn
    34:45 - Becoming Undisputed & The Sanction Fee Pain
    37:17 - Taylor vs Serrano I: The Instant Classic at MSG
    47:15 - First Pro Loss, Torn Calf & The Comeback
    49:08 - Serrano II on Netflix: 74 Million Viewers & Mike Tyson
    57:53 - “Dirty Fighter” Accusations & 2-Min vs 3-Min Rounds
    1:05:01 - Serrano III: The Art of Adjustment
    1:08:31 - Retirement, Legacy & Walking Away on Top
    1:12:33 - Faith & Identity

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Simms Tells Barboza ‘You’re NOT a Big Name, Bro’ & Reveals His Plan to End It March 14th
    Mar 10 2026

    Andre Ward welcomes welterweight contenders Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Simms, Jr. to the Hall of Game ahead of their March 14th main event at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Both fighters are coming off losses and looking to make a major statement in what’s shaping up to be a true crossroads fight at 147 pounds.

    Kenneth Simms, Jr. opens up about his razor-thin loss to Oscar Duarte, reveals the DM exchange where he told Barboza “You’re NOT a big name, bro,” and breaks down his game plan to take the fight to the trenches. He also shares the moment Tim Bradley told him he didn’t think he could beat Elvis Rodriguez, a slight that still fuels him today. Arnold Barboza gets real about being mentally and physically broken after fighting Teofimo Lopez following three back-to-back camps over nine months in Big Bear, and explains why he finally said yes to the Sims fight after years of passing.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    27 mins
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