When the last time you saw an 8/7 round? That’s what happened at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA when referee Jack Reiss got very angry at both Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriquez and Andre S.O.G. Ward. A lot of punches were flying in the fourth round. The problem was quite a few of then came after Reiss called “break”. One of those shots caught him, and Reiss was pissed! He halted the action and angrily signaled both men to neutral corners. Then he advised each of the three judges to deduct two points from each man. He also explained he was hit and wanted both men fined, emphasizing he would leave it up to the commission as to the amount. When he finally waved both men back to center ring, he cautioned them he wasn’t going to put up with the dirty tactics, and if it continued he would DQ one or both and they wouldn’t get paid!
Andre Ward
Andre Ward boxing news
Ward schools Rodriguez
As was expected, WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KO’s) took the bigger, slower Edwin Rodriguez (24-1, 16 KO’s) to school tonight in pounding out a dominating 12 round unanimous decision at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California, USA. The judges scored it 118-106, 117-107 and 116-108.
The fight was ugly at times due to the back and forth roughhouse tactics that both fighters used. Ward turned the fight to the inside in the first two rounds with him smothering the bigger Rodriguez’s shots. But after the 2nd round, Ward began to use more separation to take advantage of his superior hand speed to dominate the action.
In the 4th round, Rodriguez wrapped Ward into a headlock and pushed him to the ropes. Ward then nailed Rodriguez with a big left hand thrown while still being held in the headlock. Referee Jack Reiss then called for a break, but both fighters ignored him and continued to throw punches.
Andre Ward lays down gauntlet by declaring to knockout ‘delusional’ Froch in rematch
The WBA Super and Ring Magazine world champion has opened the door to a potential blockbuster matchup against the reigning IBF world champion Froch, should both men come through their upcoming battles.
Ward faces off against the unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez in Ontario, California this weekend, a fight you can see live and exclusive on BoxNation, with Froch taking on the rising George Groves in a grudge match later this month.
Should both prevail, Ward is convinced that a super-fight could be next up for the 168-pound division’s two top dogs.
“I think a fight with Froch is definitely something that could happen,” said Ward.
Go with Andre Ward – It’s easier
Once again, come this Saturday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA, fans will be treated to one of those battles where “Someone’s ‘O’ has got to go”. HBO’s main event will feature Andre S.O.G. Ward, 26-0-0 (KO14) versus Dominican Republic’s Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriquez 24-0-0 (KO16).
Both fighters are quality individuals, having exhibited excellence from the amateurs into the professionals. Andre is talked about in P4P terms. Edwin has been compared to past greats. How can you pick a winner? It’s hard to cheer for one over the other. They are both worthy. They both have the “bona fides”. They both conduct themselves well. They’re likable and avoid all the braggadocio and trash talking engaged in by so many.
Ward vs. Rodriguez: Will ring rust make this fight more competitive?
It will have been just over 14 months since the last time Andre Ward graced the HBO airwaves as a fighter when he enters the ring this Saturday to face unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez.
Sidelined with a shoulder injury much has been said and written about Andre Ward.
Some of it was said using facts.
While other articles, tweets, and forum posts clearly had biasness oozing out of it, whether directed at Ward personally or at the way in which he was taught to fight.
The style of fighters and fans vigorously debating over the topic is nothing new.
I will never forget some of the arguments that my grandfather, the man that introduced me to the sport, and I had over who was better fighter and why between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Andre Ward Fight Week Quotes
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – November 14, 2013 – WBA and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (Oakland, Calif.) is just 48 hours away from his return to the ring, and he’s locked and loaded for his first fight of 2013. Ward will face off with undefeated contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez in a super middleweight title bout on Saturday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif., and live on HBO World Championship Boxing.
The 29-year-old is excited to finally return to the ring after a 14-month layoff and he shared his thoughts on a variety of subjects over the past couple of days as he finalizes preparation for Saturday’s showdown.
On his 16-year winning streak: “I love to compete. I love to win and it’s just as simple as that. There are no simple formulas. God blessed me with the talent. I take my job very seriously and I think that’s a major thing that’s benefited me in the ring. When I get in there, I just love to compete.”
Ronnie Shields: “Edwin ‘La Bomba’ Rodrgiuez is cut from the same cloth as Holyfield, Tyson, and Whitaker”
In this revealing and intimate video featurette, Edwin Rodriguez, legendary trainer Ronnie Shields, and expert conditioning coach Danny Arnold discuss the Super Middleweight title challenger’s preparation for the highly anticipated championship contest.
While most fight fans and boxing writers are heavily favoring the reigning title holder on November 16th, Edwin’s prolific trainer truly believes that his fighter is unlike anything Ward has ever seen in the ring.
Andre Ward open to fight against Bernard Hopkins
WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KO’s) and his promoter Dan Goosen are both open to a fight against IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KO’s) if he’s game.
Ward says he’d like to take on the younger fighters, but he’d take the fight against the 48-year-old Hopkins. His promoter Goosen thinks it would be an excellent fight and believes they could make it for pay-per-view.
Ward said via Fightnews “I don’t have a desire to call Bernard out, but I am a fighter. If it makes financial sense, I’ll step to the plate. I’m more interested in fighting guys from my era, but at the same time I don’t back down from fights.”
Andre Ward vs. Edwin Rodriguez: Game on
In the sport of boxing, the first shots of battle are often fired long before a single punch is ever thrown in the squared circle.
On November 16th, two genuine “good guys” of the sport will tangle to decide 168 pound supremacy when universally recognized Super Middleweight Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward steps in the ring with undefeated contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez.
Despite the positive and sportsmanlike reputation both combatants have garnered throughout their respective amateur and professional careers, an unexpected issue has worked its way into the pre-fight banter.
During the first official press conference, which took place in Manhattan Beach, California, on September 28th, announcing the big Super Middleweight showdown, Rodriguez declared that he would indeed be participating in the “24/7/365” drug testing program administered by VADA, Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, and publicly challenged the historically outspoken anti-drug advocate to get involved with the same program before the date of their highly anticipated championship contest.
Quotes from Andre Ward’s Bay Area Open Workout
With under a month remaining until his highly anticipated return, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward went back to his roots at King’s Gym in Oakland, Calif., to discuss his upcoming battle with Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez. After a 14-month layoff due to a shoulder injury, Ward will step back in to the ring on November 16 at Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif., on HBO World Championship Boxing. He shared his thoughts about the importance of staying in shape throughout the year, the impact of the layoff and his young, hungry opponent with the Bay Area media assembled at his childhood gym.
ANDRE WARD, WBA AND RING MAGAZINE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION – “I’ve always tried to respect this sport, I’m not a guy that always says this is my best training camp ever. Every training camp is my best training camp because I’ve always approached it the right way.”