andre ward – Game Speed Sports Training

Fatigue Management – Outpace & Outlast Ward v Kovalev 2

Photo Courtesy BoxingScene.com Radio Rahim

By Aaron Thigpen Owner Gamespeed Sports Performance June 2017

Concord, Ca – Leading up to the Ward V Kovlaev 2 fight much was to be said about Kovalev’s improved conditioning and stamina. HBO’s 24/7 even featured his training at altitude with a russian biathlon coach. Conversely ours explosive. Check it out HERE were at 17:09.

His manager Kathy Duva stated that he was much improved in his endurance. She loosely states the first fight was a sprint and boxing is an endurance sport. Well yes and no. I see boxing as intermitent sprinting. It takes some of both. Liken it to high intensity and low intensity intervals with a one minute rest. To solely rely on the aerobic system (endurance) is a recipe for disaster. It’s your anaerobic system (speed/power) that allows you to burst repeatedly. Boxing is a speed and power sport and developing the anaerobic energy system is paramount.

I’ve read Kovalevs strategy was to quicken or push the pace from the onset. Well if your working faster than you normally do and dont train at that pacing for a significant time (acclimate) period prior to the event regardless of how much aerobic training you have […]

Fatigue Management – Outpace & Outlast Ward v Kovalev 2Game2018-08-19T17:52:05-07:00

Andre Ward v Kovalev 2- How we developed that unsuspected power!

Photo Credit- BoxingScene.com

Andre Wards dramatic stoppage of bitter rival Sergei Kovalev has everyone talking how the tables may have been turned. Kovalev known for his knock out power was the obivious choice for who was going to land the more devastating shots. Of course performance coach Aaron Thigpen of Gamespeed and Andre Ward knew something else. Scott Christ of SB Nation commented in a recent article:

” The power punches were a real surprise, with Ward landing 53 of 144 (37%) and Kovalev scoring on 50 of 223 (22%), with Ward often seeming like he was landing the harder shots.”

Suprise? well not to me. From the onset of our training we worked on improving Andre’s power. Where did it come from? The answer, a complex series of rotational exercises aimed at utilizing Andres improved leg strength. Quite simply we established a better kinetic chain or simply connection between his legs, hips, and upper body torso. I believe “force/power” starts from the ground up. Any problems in coordination, balance, range of motion or joint stability will prevent that “force/power” to stop prematurely in the chain or leak resulting in limited or no force/power. If you want STOPPING POWER like Andre Ward add […]

Andre Ward v Kovalev 2- How we developed that unsuspected power!Game2017-06-24T15:33:04-07:00

Inside Andre Ward’s Gamespeed Training Camp – (a pictoral updated weekly)

Three-belt light-heavyweight champion Andre Ward of Oakland agreed to a June 17 rematch with Russia’s former champion Sergey Kovalev at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Ward (31-0, 15 knockouts) survived a second-round knockdown to pile up rounds in the second half of his Nov. 19 first meeting with then-unbeaten Kovalev and emerged with a unanimous-decision victory by three judges’ scores of 114-113.

Ward has been training with Gamespeed’s Aaron Thigpen since preparing for his super six tournament win over Carl Froch in 2011.

Inside Andre Ward’s Gamespeed Training Camp – (a pictoral updated weekly)Game2017-05-20T23:27:00-07:00

Gamespeed’s Ward back in ring on Nov 21st.

Gamespeed’s Andre Ward getting ready for first of three HBO fights. Nov 21 st Andre will fight 5th ranked Alexander Brand as a tune up as he works towards a showdown against Sergei Kovalev which may determine the best pound for pound boxer to date.

Gamespeed’s Ward back in ring on Nov 21st.Game2016-12-09T00:02:32-08:00

Combat Sports: Gamespeed’s Angela Cooper “Fit to Fight”.

Gamespeed athletes are not only “Fit to Compete” but also “Fit to Fight”. Looks like were carving out a new niche in Combat Sports training. First Boxing World Champions Andre Ward then Andre Berto. Now we have the no 2 contender in Muay Thai Boxing Angela Cooper, the “Silent Assassin”. Angela’s finishing her first month of Gamespeed training she’s getting ready for a bout early next year to prepare her for a shot at the title.

Combat Sports: Gamespeed’s Angela Cooper “Fit to Fight”.Game2016-12-09T00:02:36-08:00

Andre Ward victorious over Paul Smith

Andre got it doe agian. After a 19 month lay off he came back to the ring to demolish another opponent. With Smiths crew throwing in the towel in the ninth round. As with his previous four fights he did conditioning training with coach Aaron Thigpen of Gamespeed. Here are a few personal pics I took at ring side.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”1″ gal_title=”Ward vs Smith”]

By Brian Mazique , Featured Columnist

Welcome back, Andre “S.O.G” Ward (28-0, 15 KO). After a 19-month layoff, the WBA super middleweight champion returned to the ring with a dominant ninth-round TKO over Paul Smith (35-6) on Saturday night in Oakland, California. It wasn’t a title defense, but Ward looked like a champion against a clearly inferior opponent.

…Ward pounded on Smith with combinations from multiple angles. Smith’s face broke up under Ward’s shots, and his corner mercifully threw in the towel to save their fighter from unnecessary punishment.

….S.O.G had quite the cheering section. TheScore NBA has Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors carrying one of Ward’s belts in the ring:

…..Smith looked like a handpicked opponent, but he gave a valiant effort to make the fight with Ward semi-competitive. He landed a […]

Andre Ward victorious over Paul SmithGame2016-12-09T00:02:43-08:00

Andre Ward back at Gamespeed before re-entering ring June 20th at Oracle Arena

Andre gets ready at Gamespeed with the push sled. Andre supplements his boxing training with speed and power work with Aaron Thigpen at Gamespeed.

Andre Ward, the super middleweight champion from Oakland who is returning to the ring after a year and a half layoff, will fight England’s Paul Smith on June 20, promoter Roc Nation Sports has announced.

The fight at Oracle Arena will be televised by BET and will start at 7 p.m., according to ESPN.

Ward is 27-0 with 14 knockouts, but the 31-year-old boxer has not been in the ring since beating Edwin Rodriguez in a November 2013 title defense in Ontario. Ward’s absence from the ring was partly due to a shoulder injury, but it was mostly because of a lengthy battle over his promotional contract with late promoter Dan Goossen, who died in September.

Smith, 35, has a 35-5 record with 20 knockouts. He is a former British champion who has lost his last two fights to Germany’s Arthur Abraham, both on Abraham’s home turf. According to ESPN, the first fight was close, the second was one-sided.

Ward […]

Andre Ward back at Gamespeed before re-entering ring June 20th at Oracle ArenaGame2016-12-09T00:02:45-08:00

Gamespeed’s Andre Ward upcoming title fight.

Come support the pride of Oakland and Gamespeed’s own Andre Ward. He will defend his title against Chad Dawson September 8th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. It will also air on HBO. Andre’s been training privately with GS owner Aaron Thigpen for over a year in which we’ve seen him win the Super 7 Championship. Watch this athlete bring his tenacious and determined work ethic into the ring.

On September 8 live on HBO from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., Andre Ward will defend his super middleweight crown against current top light heavyweight Chad Dawson, in a meeting of top American fighters. Ward discusses the matchup and what he expects from Dawson below.

* * * * *

What is Dawson’s most dangerous attribute as a fighter? How are you preparing for this fight? Is there any one aspect of Dawson’s game that concerns you most, or that you’ve focused on more than any other during training?

“I cannot identify what Chad’s greatest attribute as a fighter is yet because I have not fought him so that remains to be seen. There is not one thing that’s […]

Gamespeed’s Andre Ward upcoming title fight.qckstep22016-12-09T00:03:24-08:00

GS: Andre Ward Crowned Sports Ilustrated Fighter of the Year

The hits keep coming for the Bay Area’s Andre Ward. After winning the Super Six Boxing Classic and consolidating the WBA & WBC Super Middle Weight Titles he has garnered the Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year Award. He beats out some of boxing’s finest in the likes of Manny Pacquio and Floyd Maywether.

Ward will likely defend his title next spring or summer possibly against Canadian Lucian Bute. We’ve already spoken and he’ll be back at Gamespeed getting better than ever.

Sports Illustrated: Inside Boxing

By Chris Mannix

There is a certain rhythm to Andre Ward’s game, a musical elegance gifted only to the finest performers. The technical brilliance is there, a product of a 10-year amateur career that culminated with an Olympic gold medal in 2004. There is the strength and power, speed and agility, a perfect blend of skills that have, thus far, made Ward unbeatable at the pro level. He is, as Carl Froch put it on Saturday night, moments after Ward beat him for the Super Six title, “a slippery eel,” hard, if not impossible, to cleanly hit, a fighter without concussive power but, at 168 pounds, physically […]

GS: Andre Ward Crowned Sports Ilustrated Fighter of the Yearqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:32-08:00

Andre Ward brings Gamespeed to Showtime

If you saw my previous post you’ll know that I have been training Andre Ward for his upcoming title fight for the World Super Six Boxing Classic. Showtime does a profile show leading up to the fight called Fight Camp 360: Inside the Super Six. Well we got some camera time. Check it out, the show is 30 minutes and profiles both Andre and his opponent British boxer Carl Froch. To fast forward to our five minutes of fame scroll to 22:45 min. Nice!

Check out the show: http://sports.sho.com/#/boxing/videos/836

Andre Ward brings Gamespeed to Showtimeqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:33-08:00