Is Sergey Kovalev good enough to beat Andre Ward? (VIDEO)

06/26/201506/23/2015 Rummys Corner

American pound for pound great Andre Ward made his long anticipated return to the squared circle last Saturday when he defeated Paul Smith by 9th round stoppage. The bout, which took place in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, was Ward’s first in 19 months. Ward dominated Smith from start to finish, and his victory proves that he should still be considered one of the absolute elite talents in the boxing world, even following his lengthy layoff. Ward hasn’t seemed to have lost a step.

The match between Ward and Smith took place at an agreed upon catch weight of 172 pounds (although Smith missed the mark by almost 4 and a half pounds). Does this catch weight signify a crossroads moment in Ward’s impressive career?

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Andre Ward – Paul Smith: Post conversations and observations, Broner facts

06/25/201506/21/2015 Waldon White

By W. White: Last Saturday night, as I observed Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 14KO’s) disassemble Britton Paul Smith (35-6, 20 KO’s) from press row, I had questions. What was the purpose them fighting at a 172lb catch weight? Did Paul Smith purposely coming overweight to give him some sort of advantage? Is this a fight the general boxing public really wanted to see? How would Andre Ward perform given his 19 month absence from the ring? Who could possibly be next after this fight? As the fight progressed and I observed Ward tactfully picking his spots with his jab and sneaking in straight rights through Smith’s guard, I realized it was only a matter of time.

Ward kept Smith in the middle of the ring circling, probing, and striking routinely as Smith surprisingly continued to move forward. By the middle rounds, Smith’s face was flush and beginning to swell. It would seem as if this was just an over-hyped sparring match for Ward to continue to pick a part his opponent and shake of any ring dust. I say dust because there was an apparent lack of rust as Ward seemed sharp, movement wise, defensively and in overall ring generalship.

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Andre Ward Is Back At…Catch Weight

06/25/201506/21/2015 Ivan Ivanov

(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Roc Nations Sports) Andre Ward resurfaced after a long absence and steamrolled British super middleweight Paul Smith at the Oracle Arena in Ward’s native Oakland, Cal. Ward spent two of his best years away from the prize ring due to legal and promotional disputes. He came back as shiny as new and kept his opponent in the crossfire for 9 rounds before the bloodied Smith was bailed out by his corner.

If there was any ring rust, it was shadowed by the skill differential which gave Ward full convenience. Coming from a 19 month layoff he was not expected to choose a tough challenge although Smith was no push over. The Brit went the distance twice with Arthur Abraham in his last two fights. This probably legitimized him as an opponent for Ward who did much better than Abraham. The American was on a different level and had an indecently easy time against his tough but over-matched foe. Ward exhibited his boxing talent and his speed allowed him to do whatever he pleased in the ring. There was a catch though, the catch weight clause.

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Broner-Porter & Ward-Smith: For Every Action

06/25/201506/20/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Roc Nation Sports) Call it a cliché, Newton’s third law of motion or Karma or whatever you like; it’s a fact of daily life, in all forms, that for every action there is a reaction.

This is especially true of professional sports in which human beings have forever sought to gain an unfair advantage in a perceived fair world.

There are few sports to which this statement can be most aptly applied down the years than boxing. That’s not to say other sports don’t have their problems, corruption is of course prevalent in almost all walks of life and all forms of business in modern society.

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Andre Ward – Paul Smith weigh-in

06/25/201506/19/2015 Waldon White

By Waldon White: Earlier today, WBC super middleweight champion Andre S.O.G. Ward (27-0 14 KO’s) and challenger Paul “Real Gone Kid” Smith (35-5, 20 KO’s) came together to weigh in for Saturday nights main event at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Fellow Roc Nation fighter Miguel Cotto also stopped by for a photo op. Ward weighed in at 171.8lbs, looking lean and ready to fight. Paul Smith weighed in at 176.4 lbs, which was 4.4 lbs. over the agreed upon 172 catch-weight.

Smith’s camp decided to accept the fine rather than lose the additional weight required of all professional fighters. Smith may somehow think that the extra weight may give him an advantage over Ward, who has not fought since 2013.

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Ward : I’m Telling The World I’m Back / Smith Realistic

06/19/2015 Olly Campbell

(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos) Former P4P boss Andre Ward – removed from most lists through his 19 months of inactivity – is keen to make a statement on Saturday night when he fights Britain’s Paul Smith in his Oakland backyard, insisting to Sky Sports – who are screening the bout – that he is out to tell the world he is back.

It’s a monumental task that the Liverpool fighter is facing – irrespective of Ward’s inactivity – and the former 168 lb world title challenger will further be hindered by the 172 lb catch-weight insisted on by the American.

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Andre Ward : ‘We Couldn’t Find Carl Froch’

06/18/2015 Olly Campbell

(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Roc Nation Sports) Despite it being his first fight in over a year and a half on Saturday, Andre Ward is in confident mood ahead of his in-ring return against Britain’s Paul Smith, with all signs pointing toward it being nothing but routine business for the American fighter against a man expected to be hopelessly outgunned.

One Brit who Ward was interested in facing once more, is Carl “Will he, Won’t he retire?” Froch – whom the American comprehensively outclassed back in 2011.

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Paul Smith: ‘The Ideal Is Me Catching Ward Cold’

06/16/2015 Olly Campbell

British 168 lb contender Paul Smith, goes into the lions den once again this weekend when he takes on unbeaten American Andre Ward in the “S.O.G’s” Californian back-yard – and ahead of the contest the Liverpool fighter has penned a column for Sky Sports, with whom he works as a pundit, to discuss his thoughts and feelings ahead of Saturday’s fight – which will be screened by the channel in the UK.

Smith, who is coming off back-to-back world title challenge defeats to Germany’s Arthur Abraham, surprised many when he was given the nod to face the American former P4P star, who is returning after over 18 months of inactivity.

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Andre Ward faces Paul Smith on Saturday in 172lb catch-weight fight

06/15/2015 Jeff Sorby

Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) will be making his long awaited ring return on Saturday in a catch-weight fight at 172 pounds against Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) in Ward’s hometown in Oakland, California from the Oracle Arena. While some boxing fans think the 32-year-old Smith is unworthy of facing Ward, it’s not really a big deal.

Ward’s WBA super middleweight title won’t be on the line because of the fight taking place at a catch-weight of 172 in the light heavyweight division. Smith is coming into the fight for the payday, and of course with the hope that he can somehow pull off a big upset against the rusty Ward.

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Paul Smith On Andre Ward: I Can’t Let Him Be His Best

06/10/2015 Olly Campbell

Liverpool’s super middleweight contender and former world title challenger Paul Smith goes into the lion’s den on June 20th when he travels to California and attempts to upset the returning Andre Ward in a fight many are viewing as an uphill struggle for the Brit – who is coming off back-to-back losses against Germany’s Arthur Abraham.

Speaking to fighthype.com, Smith was honest in his appraisal of his chances in the fight and clearly recognises he is a big underdog. However, he believes he can upset the odds if he boxes a smart fight – and is buoyed by the American’s inactivity – Ward last stepped through the ropes back in November of 2013.

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