Billy Ward (boxer)

William Ward (16 July 1993 – 4 August 2013)[1] was an Australian amateur boxer selected for the 2012 Summer Olympics in the light flyweight division.[2]

Billy Ward
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Ward
NationalityAustralian
Born(1993-07-16)16 July 1993
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Died4 August 2013(2013-08-04) (aged 20)
Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight49 kg (108 lb)
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classLight Flyweight
ClubGladstone Amateur Boxing Club

Career

Ward began his sporting career as a gymnast, winning a Queensland junior title in 2004. He switched to boxing in 2006 and the following year won an Australian junior title.

His boxing was curtailed by Ross River Fever in 2008 but he fought on and in 2011 he made the semifinals of the Australian Under 19 championships as a flyweight. The following year, he stepped up to open competition and dropped a weight division to light flyweight. He won both the Australian title and the Oceania Olympic Qualification tournament that year to earn a place at the London Olympic Games.

2012 Olympic record
  • Round of 32: lost to Yosbany Veitia (Cuba) on points 4-26

Personal life and death

Ward was noted for his short stature and curly red hair. He told the Sydney Morning Herald, most people assume he was a jockey rather than a boxer.[3] The Gladstone Observer reported that when he returned to Gladstone after winning the Oceania qualifier, he was met by a group of fans wearing red curly wigs.[4]

Ward committed suicide on 4 August 2013, aged 20, in Gladstone, Queensland.[5]

References
  1. "Tributes flow after Gladstone boxer Billy Ward dies". ABC. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  2. "London 2012 - Billy Ward". London2012.olympics.com.au. 16 July 1993. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  3. "Aussie boxers line up at shot at gold". News.smh.com.au. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  4. "Billy Ward is off to London". Gladstone Observer. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  5. Mary Bolling (5 August 2013). "Community in shock over death of boxer Billy Ward". Gladstone Observer. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
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