One day, Andre Ward says, he is going to fight an action-packed title bout in front of his hometown fans at Oakland’s Oracle Arena.
That day is not Saturday.
Saturday night is more like a party, and chance for Oakland fans to welcome back the WBA super middleweight to the ring after a 19-month absence. There even will be music, as this is Ward’s first fight for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports promotion company, and there is a concert to keep fans bopping before and after the fighters are bobbing and weaving.
Ward (27-0, 14 knockouts) is fighting Paul Smith (35-5, 20 knockouts) in what is basically a warm-up match for bigger things.