BOXING Ward clinches medal with upset victory

XATHENS, Greece -- Andre Ward's six perfect years in the boxing ring have been a refuge from the imperfections in his tumultuous life.
When he was faced with the toughest match of his career at the Olympics, Ward fought nearly the perfect fight.
Ward upset two-time light heavyweight world champion Evgeny Makarenko 23-16 in a quarterfinal bout Tuesday night, clinching a medal with the tournament's biggest upset to date.
Nearly everything went according to plan for Ward, who hasn't lost a fight since 1998. The Oakland, Calif., native used the Russian's height and reach advantage against him, repeatedly landing straight punches to Makarenko's head and then sneaking away before the frustrated Russian could reply.
His plan, a work of technical genius for boxing enthusiasts, was executed with flair and precision. Though few gave him a chance against a powerful 6-foot-6 champ seeking his first gold medal, Ward is two fights away from the gold he believes he's destined to win.
"When you dream and you train your whole life for something like this, you want everything to be perfect," Ward said. "It hasn't been like that, but everything is put in front of you for a reason. Every challenge is there for a reason."
The victory lightened the burden of a 20-year-old husband and father of two boys who has barely seen his family in eight months, thanks to his singular focus on training.
Ward's father, who died two years ago, would have enjoyed his son's ascent to the top of U.S. amateur boxing -- and a victory that might save the reputation of a team reeling from poor bouts and poor attitudes.
Except for a round of hugs with his friends and family, Ward's celebration was subdued. Though he'll be the favorite in his remaining two fights, starting with Uzbekistan's Utkirbek Haydarov in the semifinals Friday, he's trying to keep his focus for one more week.
"This victory is already behind me," Ward said. "I don't have time to relish it."
Associated Press