Jermall Charlo sits down with Andre Ward in Houston for his first real conversation in years, just as his comeback fight on the Tim Tszyu/Errol Spence card in Australia is around the corner. The two-time world champion and one half of Lions Only takes Dre back to the beginning: a two-parent household in H-Town, fighting on the same amateur card as his own father, the ingrown toenail that cost him the 2008 Olympics, and why he turned pro without ever signing a contract with anyone.

Jermall gets into the stories only he can tell: jumping the gate to introduce himself to Al Haymon and the handshake that’s lasted 20 years, the mystery package sent to his room the night before his first world title fight, the divorce that took his kids and nearly took him, and the truth about turning down the Canelo fight in 2023 and watching his twin brother take it instead. Plus the Julian Williams counter he drilled every single day of camp, life as “the other twin,” and why at 36 he’s still in love with boxing.

00:00 Intro – Welcoming Jermall Charlo in Houston
01:44 Body at 36
02:26 Pushing each other with Jermell
03:38 Early years in Houston, family life
04:35 Amateur days, fighting on his dad’s card
06:03 Twin dynamic – growing up as Jermall & Jermell
08:16 From other sports to realizing boxing was “the thing”
09:41 Early trainers & the amateur circuit
11:35 Twin life, differences inside & outside the ring
16:03 Missing the 2008 Olympics – injury & surgery
17:21 Turning pro & staying self-made
18:33 Meeting Al Haymon
23:04 2015 – Winning his first title
26:20 AD BREAK
27:07 Life as a champion & the start of his faith journey
29:55 Divorce, rock bottom & hitting his lowest point
34:44 Full surrender – his testimony
47:44 Julian Williams fight – the real tension
52:03 Life after the win – spending, business side
54:14 Two-year layoff & comeback vs. Benavidez
55:42 Scouting opponents & in-ring adjustments
56:42 The 2023 Canelo opportunity – why he passed it to Jermell
1:00:22 Watching his brother take on Canelo
1:01:23 Motivation for the Benavidez rematch
1:01:55 Identity, legacy & the pressure of “being the lion”
1:05:03 What’s next – real estate, ministry, business
1:06:53 Closing thoughts & outro

Jermall Charlo sits down with Andre Ward in Houston for his first real conversation in years, just as his comeback fight on the Tim Tszyu/Errol Spence card in Australia is around the corner. The two-time world champion and one half of Lions Only takes Dre back to the beginning: a two-parent household in H-Town, fighting on the same amateur card as his own father, the ingrown toenail that cost him the 2008 Olympics, and why he turned pro without ever signing a contract with anyone. Jermall gets into the stories only he can tell: jumping the gate to introduce himself to Al Haymon and the handshake that&rsquo;s lasted 20 years, the mystery package sent to his room the night before his first world title fight, the divorce that took his kids and nearly took him, and the truth about turning down the Canelo fight in 2023 and watching his twin brother take it instead. Plus the Julian Williams counter he drilled every single day of camp, life as &ldquo;the other twin,&rdquo; and why at 36 he&rsquo;s still in love with boxing.
00:00 Intro &ndash; Welcoming Jermall Charlo in Houston 01:44 Body at 36 02:26 Pushing each other with Jermell 03:38 Early years in Houston, family life 04:35 Amateur days, fighting on his dad&rsquo;s card 06:03 Twin dynamic &ndash; growing up as Jermall &amp; Jermell 08:16 From other sports to realizing boxing was &ldquo;the thing&rdquo; 09:41 Early trainers &amp; the amateur circuit 11:35 Twin life, differences inside &amp; outside the ring 16:03 Missing the 2008 Olympics &ndash; injury &amp; surgery 17:21 Turning pro &amp; staying self-made 18:33 Meeting Al Haymon 23:04 2015 &ndash; Winning his first title 26:20 AD BREAK 27:07 Life as a champion &amp; the start of his faith journey 29:55 Divorce, rock bottom &amp; hitting his lowest point 34:44 Full surrender &ndash; his testimony 47:44 Julian Williams fight &ndash; the real tension 52:03 Life after the win &ndash; spending, business side 54:14 Two-year layoff &amp; comeback vs. Benavidez 55:42 Scouting opponents &amp; in-ring adjustments 56:42 The 2023 Canelo opportunity &ndash; why he passed it to Jermell 1:00:22 Watching his brother take on Canelo 1:01:23 Motivation for the Benavidez rematch 1:01:55 Identity, legacy &amp; the pressure of &ldquo;being the lion&rdquo; 1:05:03 What&rsquo;s next &ndash; real estate, ministry, business 1:06:53 Closing thoughts &amp; outro

THE ART OF WARD is a series hosted by Boxing Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer for ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT Andre Ward exploring the fight game from the inside out. THE ART OF WARD series is a tapestry of thoughtful content showcasing Ward’s personal, unmatched perspective shaped by his evolution as a fighter, a man and an influential figure in combat sports.

A series hosted by Hall of Fame boxing legend, Andre Ward exploring the fight game from the inside out.

The Art Of Ward

Jermall Charlo: The Truth About Turning Down Canelo, Al Haymon’s Handshake Deal & The Comeback at 36

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b27e7428-c577-4a24-8fae-b48900e3a658/transcript

Fresh off his 2026 International Boxing Hall of Fame induction, Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver sits down with Andre Ward and takes him from Ivy Lane in Orlando to Canastota: raised by a single mom with three sisters, put in the ring at nine as a punishment at the Boys and Girls Club, and the rock bottom at 18 that ended in drug rehab, where he was telling anyone who’d listen that he was going to the Olympics.

Tarver gets into the stories only he can tell: watching Roy Jones get robbed in Seoul and getting up off the couch to run, captaining the ’96 Olympic team that consisted of a young Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah, turning pro at 27 with not one promoter or manager calling, fighting four rounds on a jaw broken in two places, and the three-year campaign that ended with “You got any excuses tonight, Roy?” and the punch heard around the world.

Plus the Bernard Hopkins fight he says deserves an asterisk, being Al Haymon’s first fighter alongside Vernon Forrest, playing Mason Dixon in Rocky Balboa, and finally getting his flowers.

0:00 – Welcoming Antonio Tarver, Newly Crowned Hall of Famer
0:23 – Induction Weekend & Honoring His Mom and Trainer
2:29 – Growing Up in Orlando with a Single Mom
6:11 – Starting Boxing at 9 at the Boys & Girls Club
7:24 – Leaving Boxing for Other Sports, Moving Out of the Inner City
10:26 – Depression, Cocaine, and Hitting Rock Bottom
11:41 – Watching Roy Jones Jr. “Robbed” at the 1988 Olympics
15:33 – Deciding to Wait for Atlanta 1996
17:50 – ’96 Team Captain: Mentoring Floyd Mayweather & Zab Judah
20:44 – Bronze Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
22:46 – Turning Pro with No Promoters Calling
27:53 – First Loss vs. Eric Harding
29:54 – Turning the Tide and Knocking Out Harding with a Broken Jaw
33:05 – The Years-Long Campaign to Fight Roy Jones Jr.
35:12 – The Infamous Post-Fight Press Conference Callout
44:39 – Breaking Down Roy Jones Fight I (2003)
48:45 – The Controversial Decision
49:31 – Fighting for the Rematch
53:18 – Training Camp for the Rematch
55:41 – “You Got Any Excuses Tonight, Roy?”
56:14 – The Knockout Heard Around the World
1:00:45 – Life After the Knockout
1:05:47 – Al Haymon and the Business Side of Boxing
1:07:20 – The Trilogy Fight in Tampa
1:19:15 – The Bernard Hopkins Fight and Feeling Off
1:28:16 – Owning His Lane and His Story
1:30:38 – Final Lessons and Closing Thoughts

Fresh off his 2026 International Boxing Hall of Fame induction, Antonio &ldquo;The Magic Man&rdquo; Tarver sits down with Andre Ward and takes him from Ivy Lane in Orlando to Canastota: raised by a single mom with three sisters, put in the ring at nine as a punishment at the Boys and Girls Club, and the rock bottom at 18 that ended in drug rehab, where he was telling anyone who&rsquo;d listen that he was going to the Olympics. Tarver gets into the stories only he can tell: watching Roy Jones get robbed in Seoul and getting up off the couch to run, captaining the &rsquo;96 Olympic team that consisted of a young Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah, turning pro at 27 with not one promoter or manager calling, fighting four rounds on a jaw broken in two places, and the three-year campaign that ended with &ldquo;You got any excuses tonight, Roy?&rdquo; and the punch heard around the world. Plus the Bernard Hopkins fight he says deserves an asterisk, being Al Haymon&rsquo;s first fighter alongside Vernon Forrest, playing Mason Dixon in Rocky Balboa, and finally getting his flowers.
0:00 &ndash; Welcoming Antonio Tarver, Newly Crowned Hall of Famer 0:23 &ndash; Induction Weekend &amp; Honoring His Mom and Trainer 2:29 &ndash; Growing Up in Orlando with a Single Mom 6:11 &ndash; Starting Boxing at 9 at the Boys &amp; Girls Club 7:24 &ndash; Leaving Boxing for Other Sports, Moving Out of the Inner City 10:26 &ndash; Depression, Cocaine, and Hitting Rock Bottom 11:41 &ndash; Watching Roy Jones Jr. &ldquo;Robbed&rdquo; at the 1988 Olympics 15:33 &ndash; Deciding to Wait for Atlanta 1996 17:50 &ndash; &rsquo;96 Team Captain: Mentoring Floyd Mayweather &amp; Zab Judah 20:44 &ndash; Bronze Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics 22:46 &ndash; Turning Pro with No Promoters Calling 27:53 &ndash; First Loss vs. Eric Harding 29:54 &ndash; Turning the Tide and Knocking Out Harding with a Broken Jaw 33:05 &ndash; The Years-Long Campaign to Fight Roy Jones Jr. 35:12 &ndash; The Infamous Post-Fight Press Conference Callout 44:39 &ndash; Breaking Down Roy Jones Fight I (2003) 48:45 &ndash; The Controversial Decision 49:31 &ndash; Fighting for the Rematch 53:18 &ndash; Training Camp for the Rematch 55:41 &ndash; &ldquo;You Got Any Excuses Tonight, Roy?&rdquo; 56:14 &ndash; The Knockout Heard Around the World 1:00:45 &ndash; Life After the Knockout 1:05:47 &ndash; Al Haymon and the Business Side of Boxing 1:07:20 &ndash; The Trilogy Fight in Tampa 1:19:15 &ndash; The Bernard Hopkins Fight and Feeling Off 1:28:16 &ndash; Owning His Lane and His Story 1:30:38 &ndash; Final Lessons and Closing Thoughts

Antonio Tarver: The Roy Jones Knockout, “Any Excuses Tonight?” & The Greatest Story Never Told

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/07c3e4a4-67cf-4512-9191-b48f0011c50e/transcript

Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. are back with a new edition of HALL OF GAME, and they’re going straight at the fight everybody just watched: Jaron “Boots” Ennis stopping Xander Zayas in the 7th round at Barclays. Boots broke Zayas down to the body, but the Hall of Fame duo don’t see the third round firefight the same way. Roy calls it going to sleep, Dre calls it an exchange, and they go back and forth on whether it’s a real flaw or just the cost of having that much in the bag.

From there it’s the stoppage everyone’s arguing about: should Zayas’ corner have waved it off in the fifth to save him the punishment? Did he quit, or did he show enough? Roy and Dre get into the difference between quitting and getting beat and the mental side of prizefighting.

Then they look ahead: what’s actually next for Boots, chase the Vergil Ortiz fight, or Fundora? Plus shout-outs to Emiliano Vargas, Ben Whittaker, and Jose Valenzuela avenging his loss to Edwin de la Santos.

0:00 Intro
0:46 Setting the scene: Zayas vs. Boots at Barclays Center
1:36 First reactions: fight, atmosphere, stoppage
2:07 Body shots that set up the finish
4:01 Round 1 power and the Round 3 wobble
7:05 Is Boots’ “defensive lapse” overblown?
9:11 Ad break
10:31 Zayas’ round 3 strategy debated
12:57 Boots’ defense, standards, and grading his own performance
18:19 Ward’s “mental letdown” theory
22:07 The “bag of stuff” theory & lack of elite competition
37:08 Setting up the late rounds
38:33 Round 5 knockdown breakdown
39:45 Should the corner have stopped it?
44:18 Round 7 stoppage and the corner look
46:28 Did Zayas quit? The big debate
51:18 Where Zayas goes from here
53:51 What’s next for Boots Ennis
56:56 Shoutouts: Vargas Jr., Whittaker, Valenzuela
1:01:16 Roy Jones Jr.’s award shoutout
1:01:34 Outro

Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. are back with a new edition of HALL OF GAME, and they&rsquo;re going straight at the fight everybody just watched: Jaron &ldquo;Boots&rdquo; Ennis stopping Xander Zayas in the 7th round at Barclays. Boots broke Zayas down to the body, but the Hall of Fame duo don&rsquo;t see the third round firefight the same way. Roy calls it going to sleep, Dre calls it an exchange, and they go back and forth on whether it&rsquo;s a real flaw or just the cost of having that much in the bag. From there it&rsquo;s the stoppage everyone&rsquo;s arguing about: should Zayas&rsquo; corner have waved it off in the fifth to save him the punishment? Did he quit, or did he show enough? Roy and Dre get into the difference between quitting and getting beat and the mental side of prizefighting. Then they look ahead: what&rsquo;s actually next for Boots, chase the Vergil Ortiz fight, or Fundora? Plus shout-outs to Emiliano Vargas, Ben Whittaker, and Jose Valenzuela avenging his loss to Edwin de la Santos.
0:00 Intro 0:46 Setting the scene: Zayas vs. Boots at Barclays Center 1:36 First reactions: fight, atmosphere, stoppage 2:07 Body shots that set up the finish 4:01 Round 1 power and the Round 3 wobble 7:05 Is Boots&rsquo; &ldquo;defensive lapse&rdquo; overblown? 9:11 Ad break 10:31 Zayas&rsquo; round 3 strategy debated 12:57 Boots&rsquo; defense, standards, and grading his own performance 18:19 Ward&rsquo;s &ldquo;mental letdown&rdquo; theory 22:07 The &ldquo;bag of stuff&rdquo; theory &amp; lack of elite competition 37:08 Setting up the late rounds 38:33 Round 5 knockdown breakdown 39:45 Should the corner have stopped it? 44:18 Round 7 stoppage and the corner look 46:28 Did Zayas quit? The big debate 51:18 Where Zayas goes from here 53:51 What&rsquo;s next for Boots Ennis 56:56 Shoutouts: Vargas Jr., Whittaker, Valenzuela 1:01:16 Roy Jones Jr.&rsquo;s award shoutout 1:01:34 Outro

Boots Ennis BROKE Xander Zayas Down, but Roy & Dre Don’t Agree on That “Mental Lapse”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/15a742ea-1a7d-4a1a-ae7d-b479017b3cbb/transcript

Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. are back in a new edition of HALL OF GAME, and they’re not holding back. They break down the fight everybody’s talking about, Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Xander Zayas on June 27 at Barclays, and Roy makes his pick clear: on paper, Boots is supposed to win, and the only question is whether Zayas can take the punch. Who will come out on top?

First they get into the NBA Finals: how the New York Knicks erased a 29-point Game 4 lead and snatched the title from Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs after 53 years, why Roy says De’Aaron Fox’s turnovers “turned the team off,” and what Wemby still has to prove. Then it’s Bam Rodriguez making history as a three-division champ at 24, the Inoue super-bantamweight fight everybody wants, and Roy’s blunt take on the modern “duck game” and the media that fuels it.

Finally, the Hall of Fame duo talk Errol Spence Jr.‘s comeback fight vs. a tough Tim Tszyu, Errol opening up on THE ART OF WARD, and a message to the haters.

0:00 - Intro: Hall of Game Is Back
1:15 - Roy Jones Jr. Catches Us Up: Franklyn Dwomoh, Newman vs. Munguia & Dallas Fight Card
2:10 - NY Knicks Win the NBA Championship After 53 Years
4:15 - Roy’s Take: De’Aaron Fox’s Turnovers & the Spurs’ Collapse
7:34 - The Boxing Parallel: How Leads Slip Away
12:08 - Shout Out to Jalen Brunson & the Knicks’ Grit
13:54 - AD BREAK
14:49 - Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Becomes 3-Division World Champion
16:40 - Can Bam Beat Naoya Inoue? Breaking Down the Styles
25:30 - Xander Zayas vs. Jaron “Boots” Ennis | June 27 Preview
27:43 - Is This Fight Too Soon for Zayas?
30:23 - Breaking Down Boots’ Fight Game & the Weight Class Move
36:20 - Winner Gets “The Towering Inferno” — What’s at Stake
40:28 - Errol Spence Jr. Is Back! July 25 vs. Tim Tszyu
41:48 - Roy’s Coaching Take: What Spence Needs to Rediscover
43:27 - Dre’s Interview with Spence: The Crawford Fight, the Camp & the Comeback
47:51 - Addressing the 10%: YouTube Critics Calling Spence’s Interview “Excuses”
50:32 - Andre & Roy on Biased Media & Fighters Feeding Narratives
58:45 - Katie Taylor Sells Out Croke Park (82,000 Tickets in 30 Min!)
1:01:16 - Outro

Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. are back in a new edition of HALL OF GAME, and they&rsquo;re not holding back. They break down the fight everybody&rsquo;s talking about, Jaron &ldquo;Boots&rdquo; Ennis vs. Xander Zayas on June 27 at Barclays, and Roy makes his pick clear: on paper, Boots is supposed to win, and the only question is whether Zayas can take the punch. Who will come out on top? First they get into the NBA Finals: how the New York Knicks erased a 29-point Game 4 lead and snatched the title from Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs after 53 years, why Roy says De&rsquo;Aaron Fox&rsquo;s turnovers &ldquo;turned the team off,&rdquo; and what Wemby still has to prove. Then it&rsquo;s Bam Rodriguez making history as a three-division champ at 24, the Inoue super-bantamweight fight everybody wants, and Roy&rsquo;s blunt take on the modern &ldquo;duck game&rdquo; and the media that fuels it. Finally, the Hall of Fame duo talk Errol Spence Jr.&lsquo;s comeback fight vs. a tough Tim Tszyu, Errol opening up on THE ART OF WARD, and a message to the haters.
0:00 - Intro: Hall of Game Is Back 1:15 - Roy Jones Jr. Catches Us Up: Franklyn Dwomoh, Newman vs. Munguia &amp; Dallas Fight Card 2:10 - NY Knicks Win the NBA Championship After 53 Years 4:15 - Roy&rsquo;s Take: De&rsquo;Aaron Fox&rsquo;s Turnovers &amp; the Spurs&rsquo; Collapse 7:34 - The Boxing Parallel: How Leads Slip Away 12:08 - Shout Out to Jalen Brunson &amp; the Knicks&rsquo; Grit 13:54 - AD BREAK 14:49 - Jesse &ldquo;Bam&rdquo; Rodriguez Becomes 3-Division World Champion 16:40 - Can Bam Beat Naoya Inoue? Breaking Down the Styles 25:30 - Xander Zayas vs. Jaron &ldquo;Boots&rdquo; Ennis | June 27 Preview 27:43 - Is This Fight Too Soon for Zayas? 30:23 - Breaking Down Boots&rsquo; Fight Game &amp; the Weight Class Move 36:20 - Winner Gets &ldquo;The Towering Inferno&rdquo; &mdash; What&rsquo;s at Stake 40:28 - Errol Spence Jr. Is Back! July 25 vs. Tim Tszyu 41:48 - Roy&rsquo;s Coaching Take: What Spence Needs to Rediscover 43:27 - Dre&rsquo;s Interview with Spence: The Crawford Fight, the Camp &amp; the Comeback 47:51 - Addressing the 10%: YouTube Critics Calling Spence&rsquo;s Interview &ldquo;Excuses&rdquo; 50:32 - Andre &amp; Roy on Biased Media &amp; Fighters Feeding Narratives 58:45 - Katie Taylor Sells Out Croke Park (82,000 Tickets in 30 Min!) 1:01:16 - Outro

Crawford Defends Errol Spence From the Haters, Plus Zayas vs. Boots & Bam Rodriguez Makes History

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/023f9f28-5c58-4520-a460-b4720140419a/transcript

Jermall Charlo: The Truth About Turning Down Canelo, Al Haymon’s Handshake Deal & The Comeback at 36

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