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Andre Ward announces comeback: cryptic social media post fuels speculation

Andre Ward announces comeback: cryptic social media post fuels speculation

Andre Ward posted a cryptic post on social media today, seemingly hinting at a comeback.

Ward (32-0, 16 KOs), a 40-year-old former two-division world champion, posted a video clip of his training and previous fight against Carl Froch with the caption, “I want all the smoke.” A date of July 22, which is next Monday, was given at the end of the clip.

Who could André Ward fight?

If this is a comeback, it will be interesting to see who Ward will face and when. Some fans on social media believe he could be a candidate for undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez’s next bout in September.

He needs a big name, especially if he wants to win back his September 14 date from the UFC, which stole his money by scheduling one of their events on that date.

The winner of the undisputed light heavyweight championship on October 12 between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is another direction Ward could go. It would be a huge reward for Ward to fight whoever comes out on top in that fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

David Benavidez might be annoyed by Ward pushing in, but he’ll get over it. This is the entertainment business, and a fight between Ward and the winner of Bivol-Beterbiev would be huge.

Ward has not fought for seven years since defeating former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in the eighth round in their rematch on June 17, 2017. Ward was only 33 and too young to retire while still in his prime.

For boxing fans concerned about Ward’s return at 40, he is just a year older than 39-year-old IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbeiv and three years older than Terence Crawford, who turns 37 on September 28.

In addition to a potential fight against Canelo, Ward has many exciting contests coming up. A rematch with Carl Froch would generate a lot of interest from fans in the UK. Froch is 47 but in good shape, and he could be open to a chance to make a run for it again to avenge his 12-round unanimous decision loss to him in December 2011.

Ward is probably thinking about bigger fights than a Froch rematch. It would be great if Ward gets the chance to fight the winner of Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol.

Ward recently sparred with Terence Crawford, getting him in shape for his August 3 bout against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh season program on DAZN and ESPN+ PPV at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.