ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) — Andre Ward has spent the last 14 months in surgery, in a broadcaster’s tuxedo, in a nasty public spat with his promoter — just about everywhere except the ring.
Ward (26-0, 14 KOs) realizes that’s no way to build a career. The U.S. Olympic champion’s slow-moving star finally seemed ready to soar when he stopped Chad Dawson in September 2012, providing a signature win for his formidable talent.
The 168-pound kingpin still is widely considered one of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters — when he’s actually boxing instead of doing nearly everything else.
After having surgery on a torn rotator cuff and reaching a tentative peace with promoter Dan Goossen, Ward returns to the ring Saturday night against fellow unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez in Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena, an hour east of Los Angeles.
