Andre Ward happy with comeback after dominant win over Paul Smith
Sunday 21 June 2015 15:20, UK
Andre Ward was proud of his night's work after stopping Paul Smith in nine rounds in his first fight for 19 months.
Ward won every round on all three judges' scorecards before Smith's corner threw in the towel with his face covered in blood.
Ward had not fought since winning a lopsided unanimous decision against Edwin Rodriguez to defend his WBA super middleweight title in November 2013. His absence from the ring stemmed from the dispute with his former promoter Dan Goosen, who died in September 2014.
"It took some time to get the ring rust off," Ward said. "I started with the jab. I wanted to come out big bang and get a first round KO but I have a great coach and he told me to take my time and the knockout will come.
"I know there's another level I can be at where I'm not thinking about anything. There's another level of sharpness and being crisp that I have. ... I felt like I did good tonight but I know I have better."
Smith spent most of the fight in defensive mode, trying to block Ward's many punches instead of throwing many of his own.
"I know what he was trying to do," Ward said. "He was trying to lure me in then hit me with the big right hand. He hit me with a couple of good shots but he didn't hurt me.
"I'm just so happy to be back in the boxing ring," Ward said. "It's been a long time. It was creeping up on two years."
