His half-brother, former boxer Dicky Eklund, who was struggling with drug addiction and had just been released from jail on charges including drug possession, convinced Ward to take up the sport again.
Hans halvbror, den tidligere bokser Dicky Eklund, der kæmpede med stofmisbrug og netop var blevet løsladt fra fængslet på grund af anklagelse for narkotikabesiddelse, overbeviste Ward om at genoptage sporten igen.