George Michael Ward Jr. (born October 4, 1965), often known by his nickname, "Irish" Micky Ward, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2003. He challenged once for the IBF light welterweight title in 1997, and held the WBU light welterweight title in 2000. Ward is widely known for his trilogy of fights with Arturo Gatti, two of which received Fight of the Year awards by The Ring magazine, as well as his devastating left hook to the body and his relentless pressure fighting style. From 2001 to 2003, Ward featured in three straight Fights of the Year. He was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg in the 2010 film The Fighter, which was based on his early career. After retirement he has become a philanthropist.
After winning numerous titles at the amateur level Ward turned pro in 1985. His career was separated into two parts with him going into his first retirement in 1991. Then making a comeback in 1994 where he would go on to reach the top of the boxing world. With his first bout versus Arturo Gatti being viewed as one of the best of all time by fans and writers alike.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: George Michael Ward Jr.
- Born: October 4, 1965 — Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
- Reach: 70 in (178 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Jun 13, 1985 (Win by TKO vs David Morin)
- Last bout: Jun 7, 2003 (Loss by UD vs Arturo Gatti)
- Total rounds boxed: 328 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Light welterweight, Welterweight
- KO percentage: 71.1% (27 KO wins in 38 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): No major world title — Ward challenged once for the IBF light welterweight title on August 9, 1997 (lost to Vince Phillips); WBU light welterweight title March 11, 2000 (won from Shea Neary, per the bout table); WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title April 13, 1996 – July 28, 1996 (won and retained against Louis Veader, per the bout table) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 51
- Wins: 38
- Wins by KO: 27
- Losses: 13
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 0
- Born: October 4, 1965 — Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
- Reach: 70 in (178 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Light welterweight, Welterweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 13, 1985 | David Morin | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 1:20 | Roll-On-America Skating Rink, Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 2 | Aug 27, 1985 | Greg Young | Win | TKO | 4 (4), 1:45 | Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 3 | Jan 10, 1986 | Chris Bajor | Win | TKO | 3 (4), 1:17 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 4 | Jan 24, 1986 | Mike Peoples | Win | UD | 4 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 5 | Feb 21, 1986 | Jesus Carlos Velez | Win | KO | 6 (6), 2:02 | Harrah's at Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 6 | Apr 18, 1986 | Darrell Curtis | Win | TKO | 5 (6), 2:05 | Harrah's at Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 7 | May 30, 1986 | Luis Pizarro | Win | TKO | 3 (6), 2:39 | Harrah's at Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 8 | Jun 15, 1986 | Ken Willis | Win | PTS | 6 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 9 | Jul 4, 1986 | Rafael Terrero | Win | TKO | 2 (6), 1:12 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 10 | Aug 29, 1986 | John Rafuse | Win | UD | 8 | Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 11 | Oct 24, 1986 | Carlos Brandi | Win | KO | 2 (10), 2:55 | Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 12 | Feb 24, 1987 | Hilario Mercedes | Win | SD | 8 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 13 | Apr 6, 1987 | Kelly Koble | Win | TKO | 4 (8), 3:00 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 14 | Aug 25, 1987 | Derrick McGuire | Win | TKO | 4 (8), 2:33 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 15 | Sep 25, 1987 | Edwin Curet | Loss | SD | 10 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 16 | Jan 15, 1988 | Joey Ferrell | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:36 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 17 | Feb 19, 1988 | Joey Olivera | Win | UD | 10 | Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 18 | May 19, 1988 | David Silva | Win | UD | 10 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 19 | Jul 9, 1988 | Marvin Garris | Win | TKO | 2 (10) | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 20 | Sep 9, 1988 | Mike Mungin | Loss | UD | 10 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 21 | Dec 13, 1988 | Francisco Tomas da Cruz | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 0:45 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 22 | Jan 15, 1989 | Frankie Warren | Loss | UD | 12 | Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For USBA light welterweight title |
| 23 | May 23, 1989 | Clarence Coleman | Win | TKO | 5 (10), 2:50 | Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 24 | Feb 3, 1990 | David Rivello | Win | SD | 10 | Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 25 | Apr 26, 1990 | Harold Brazier | Loss | UD | 12 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight title |
| 26 | Oct 18, 1990 | Charles Murray | Loss | UD | 12 | Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant USBA light welterweight title |
| 27 | May 2, 1991 | Tony Martin | Loss | UD | 10 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 28 | Oct 15, 1991 | Ricky Meyers | Loss | UD | 10 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 29 | Jun 17, 1994 | Luis Castillo | Win | TKO | 5 (10) | Sheraton Inn, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 30 | Sep 10, 1994 | Genaro Andujar | Win | KO | 3 (10) | Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 31 | Dec 30, 1995 | Edgardo Rosario | Win | TKO | 1 (4) | Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 32 | Jan 26, 1996 | Alberto Alicea | Win | TKO | 3 (8) | Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 33 | Mar 15, 1996 | Alex Ortiz | Win | TKO | 1 (6) | Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 34 | Apr 13, 1996 | Louis Veader | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 1:28 | FleetCenter, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title |
| 35 | Jul 28, 1996 | Louis Veader | Win | UD | 12 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title |
| 36 | Dec 6, 1996 | Manny Castillo | Win | SD | 10 | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| 37 | Apr 12, 1997 | Alfonso Sanchez | Win | KO | 7 (10), 1:53 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 38 | Aug 9, 1997 | Vince Phillips | Loss | TKO | 3 (12), 2:49 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For IBF light welterweight title |
| 39 | Apr 14, 1998 | Mark Fernandez | Win | KO | 3 (8), 1:57 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 40 | Jun 7, 1998 | Zab Judah | Loss | UD | 12 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant USBA interim light welterweight title |
| 41 | Mar 17, 1999 | Jose Luis Mendez | Win | TKO | 3 (8) | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 42 | Jul 16, 1999 | Jermal Corbin | Win | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| 43 | Oct 1, 1999 | Reggie Green | Win | TKO | 10 (10), 2:40 | Icenter, Salem, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| 44 | Mar 11, 2000 | Shea Neary | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 2:55 | London Olympia, London, England — ★ Title fight — Won WBU light welterweight title |
| 45 | Aug 19, 2000 | Antonio Díaz | Loss | UD | 10 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 46 | May 18, 2001 | Steve Quinonez | Win | KO | 1 (10), 3:03 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 47 | Jul 13, 2001 | Emanuel Augustus | Win | UD | 10 | Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| 48 | Jan 5, 2002 | Jesse James Leija | Loss | TD | 5 (10), 3:00 | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. — Split TD after Leija was cut from an accidental head clash |
| 49 | May 18, 2002 | Arturo Gatti | Win | MD | 10 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 50 | Nov 23, 2002 | Arturo Gatti | Loss | UD | 10 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 51 | Jun 7, 2003 | Arturo Gatti | Loss | UD | 10 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): No major world title — Ward challenged once for the IBF light welterweight title on August 9, 1997 (lost to Vince Phillips); WBU light welterweight title March 11, 2000 (won from Shea Neary, per the bout table); WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title April 13, 1996 – July 28, 1996 (won and retained against Louis Veader, per the bout table) — all dates per the bout table
- Jan 15, 1989 vs Frankie Warren: For USBA light welterweight title
- Apr 26, 1990 vs Harold Brazier: For IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight title
- Oct 18, 1990 vs Charles Murray: For vacant USBA light welterweight title
- Apr 13, 1996 vs Louis Veader: Won WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title
- Jul 28, 1996 vs Louis Veader: Retained WBU Intercontinental light welterweight title
- Aug 9, 1997 vs Vince Phillips: For IBF light welterweight title
- Jun 7, 1998 vs Zab Judah: For vacant USBA interim light welterweight title
- Mar 11, 2000 vs Shea Neary: Won WBU light welterweight title
Photo: Peter Gordon via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Micky_Ward.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=api&utm_content=original
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-02.
