Ward salvages U.S. team with gold medal win

Andre Ward was trailing after two rounds, but finished strong to capture the gold. AP SI.com's Richard Hoffer The U.S. boxing team, even with Andre Ward's gold from Sunday's light-heavyweight bout, finished with its worst medal take since 1948, when the team just had a single silver. • Click here for full story.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Andre Ward saved the best for last for the U.S. boxing team.

Ward won the gold medal at light heavyweight Sunday, beating Magomed Aripgadjiev of Belarus 20-13 to claim a bit of redemption for an American team that had taken a beating at the Olympics.

Fighting in the last bout of the games, Ward found his mark with quick inside punches in the third round to win the first boxing gold for the United States since David Reid won in 1996.

Ward trailed after two rounds, but came on strong in the final two rounds despite a swelling around his right eye that coaches worked on in the corner between rounds. He won the third round 7-2, then remained aggressive in the final round to widen his margin of victory.

Cuba had another big day Sunday, winning three more finals to bring its boxing gold medal count to five, two more than Russia. Defending Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and Mario Kindelan both won, as did light flyweight Yari Bhartelemy.

The Cuban total didn't match the seven golds won in the 1992 Olympics, but it was better than the four Cuba took home in each of the last two games.

In perhaps the most anticipated final, Kindelan beat teenage sensation Amir Khan of Britain for the lightweight gold.

Kindelan was too wily and experienced for the 17-year-old Khan, who had won four straight fights in impressive fashion. The Cuban piled up points counterpunching, then got out of the way when Khan tried to press the fight.

Late in the fourth round, Khan had the crowd roaring when he landed a series of right hands, but it was never enough and he ended up dropping a 30-22 decision to the 33-year-old Cuban, who said he would retire after the games.

"You stick around and you'll be the next gold medalist and next world champion," Kindelan told Khan after the fight.

Russian super heavyweight Alexander Povetkin, meanwhile, won a gold without having to throw a punch. Povetkin's opponent in the finals, Mohamed Aly of Egypt failed the morning medical exam.

Ward's medal was one of two for the U.S. team, which brought nine boxers to Athens. Earlier, Andre Dirrell won a bronze at middleweight.