[Andre Ward] (pictured) is one of the most dominant champions of today and is a true embassador of the sport of boxing and an example to the youth of the world.

 

Very unfortunattely andre has sustained injuries that have left him out of the ring for long periods of time, first as he sustained a broken hand after conquering the WBC championship vs Carl Froch on december 2011 which kept him out of the ring until september 2012 when he defeated WBC Lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson.

 

Andre Ward was set to fight Kelly Pavlik when he suffered yet another injury which required surgery and has kept him out of the ring for 8 months and is yet uncertain as to when he will resume his boxing carrer.

 

The WBC Board of Governors is honored to announce that by a unanimous voting Andre Ward has been designated champion emeritus, joining a very limited number of champions who have received such recognition which grants them special priviledges to be able to resolve its own personal matters while not losing its standing as WBC champion of the world.

 

Once Andre Ward is ready to return, the WBC will order an immediatte bout between Ward and whomever is the reigning champion with a purse split of 60-40 in favor of Andre Ward.

 

Other Emeritus Champions who have succesfully used their designation as Emeritus Champion, such as, [Vitaly Klitschko], Konstantin Tszyu, [Erik Morales], [Bernard Hopkins] and [Floyd Mayweather Jr], are a perfect example of this important designation.