MAILBOX MEMORIES · TTM AUTOGRAPHS
100 days later: a knockout return from Micky Ward
One hundred days after sending it out, my custom Micky Ward collage is back home with his autograph! Today’s TTM return comes from “Irish” Micky Ward, a boxer whose name is forever connected with heart, determination, and some unforgettable nights in the ring.
A return worth waiting 100 days for
TTM, or through-the-mail autograph collecting, involves plenty of patience. You send something out and hope it finds its way back, without knowing when that might happen. After a 100-day wait, seeing this collage returned with Micky’s signature was a great feeling.
He signed the white autograph area with “Irish” and “The Fighter” alongside his name. My design brings together portraits, boxing memories, and his championship belt, and having his signature on it turns that tribute into a special piece for my collection.
“Irish” Micky Ward: the pride of Lowell
A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Ward made his name in the light welterweight division. He won the World Boxing Union light welterweight title by defeating Shea Neary in 2000 and finished his professional career with 38 wins, 13 losses, and 27 knockouts.
For many boxing fans, his three fights with Arturo Gatti are the defining part of his career. Their trilogy unfolded in 2002 and 2003, with Ward winning the first meeting and Gatti taking the next two. The first bout was named The Ring’s 2002 Fight of the Year, and the ninth round remains one of the most celebrated rounds in boxing.
Those fights help explain why Ward is remembered with so much affection. His toughness and willingness to keep coming forward made him a fan favorite. A career like that gives a collage plenty of history to celebrate.
The man behind The Fighter
Ward’s story reached an even wider audience with the 2010 film The Fighter, directed by David O. Russell. Mark Wahlberg portrays Micky, with Christian Bale playing his half-brother and trainer, Dicky Eklund.
The movie follows Ward’s struggles, family relationships, and comeback toward his title fight with Shea Neary. It takes place before the famous Gatti trilogy, showing the difficult road that helped make Ward’s eventual success so meaningful.
Seeing “The Fighter” written on my collage adds another connection to his story. The movie introduced so many people to Micky Ward, and this signed piece celebrates the real boxer behind it.
Thank you, Micky, for taking the time to sign my collage and return it. One hundred days later, this one was absolutely worth the wait!