Photo by Stephanie Trapp
A resurrection is commonly known as the act of causing the dead, lost or forgotten to exist again. The return of unbeaten two-time super middleweight champion of the world Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) has been dubbed as just that, “The Resurrection.”
Ward finally makes his return to the ring on June 20 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California against British challenger Paul Smith Jr. (34-5, 20 KOs). Ward, who is nicknamed “Son of God” or “S.O.G.,” enters the ring in his hometown for this fight and it will be his first contest since November 2013.
The near 18 month layoff was due to injury, promotional complications and difficulty in finding an opponent. Despite the inactivity, Ward is still considered one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters, thus making his return a must-see event.
Ward is a 2004 Olympic gold medalist who has walked through the 168 pound division with ease, in turn creating an unwillingness of opponents to step up to fight him. S.O.G. recently made headlines as he was one of first superstar boxers to sign with Roc Nation Sports, which is owned by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z.
Signing to Roc Nation Sports seems to be a good move for Ward as it will allow him to find consistent fights again and ought to provide him the liberty to remain a large factor in how his own fight promotions are handled. “The Resurrection” will be the first boxing match to air live on BET and should likely see some television rating challenges, as it coincides with Premier Boxing Champions‘ much anticipated matchup between Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter, not to mention a hotly contested middleweight bout between David Lemieux and Hassan N’Dam on Fox Sports 2.
It is highly apparent that this fight for Ward is what in the boxing world is commonly referred to as a tune-up fight. A tune-up fight occurs when a lesser skilled opponent, typically with a less desirable record, is matched against a more skilled opponent to aid them in shaking off the ring rust from a long hiatus, before progressing on to a more appropriate opponent.
As the fight approaches, it is likely that fans have two lingering questions; what makes this fight so one sided? And why in hell should they still watch it?
Paul “Real Gone Kid” Smith Jr. is coming off of two consecutive loses to Arthur Abraham in Germany. Smith Jr. is not one of the best super middleweight’s in Britain even and thus is not deserving of a fight of this magnitude in the United States. Smith Jr. being offered a fight of this caliber is what Don Corleone would have called, “an offer he can’t refuse.”
Boxing in the UK is not as competitive in the United States, in turn leaving British boxer’s such as Amir Khan, aspiring to fight for world titles in the United States in order to gain mass popularity and a larger payout. Smith Jr. confirmed this in a recent interview (per the Daily Mail).
“It’s a massive opportunity for me and one that I took with both hands when it was offered. I have spent a lot of time boxing in the United States and I look forward to returning for this fight,” said an eager Smith Jr.
In order to have any success against Ward, Smith Jr. should look to find a way to get inside and attack Ward’s body while applying serious pressure. Ward is a true boxing technician, highly composed and defensively savvy.
The great skill sets of Ward mean that Smith Jr. will have great trouble imposing his will on Ward during the fight. If Smith Jr.’s chances at beating an all-around talent such as Ward really are so slim, why would anyone even care enough to watch?
The draw of this fight can be summed up in two very brief points. Andre Ward will need to prove that he is still the pound of pound, once greatly feared, champion that he used to be. It will be intriguing to many to see how Ward looks after his long layoff.
If Ward does return to his vintage form, he will likely slip, move and counter for 12 rounds, landing combinations of punches at his will and win by unanimous decision.
The final reason this fight is one of interest is that Smith Jr. is coming of off two consecutive loses; he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. In the boxing world this can be a very dangerous and highly entertaining combination. When a fighter has nothing to lose, they can fight without restraint and go for the bigger knockout type punches.
This reckless abandon could backfire and leave Smith Jr. open for mistakes that someone of Ward’s caliber could easily capitalize on. The fact is that this fight will likely go at the pace Ward dictates. Let’s hope the fight is engaging enough to keep fans entertained and singing the praises of the resurrected “Son Of God” as he makes his much anticipated return.
