Andre Ward-Arthur Abraham
“LA BAMBA” WILL BE HURLING BOMBS!
Los Angeles, CA– Undefeated super middleweight (168 lb.) monarch Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (26-0, 14 KOs) takes on fellow unbeaten Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KOs) at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA on the next HBO broadcast this weekend. Ward is coming off a 14-month layoff, and La Bomba presents a worthy challenge.
WILL WARD EVEN BE NUMERO UNO?
Andre has proven time after time that he is one of the very best in the world, and Saturday night will once again reaffirm his status as the number 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport behind Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (45-0, 26 KO). It will be interesting to see how Ward looks after so much time off, but I expect the consummate professional hailing from Oakland, CA to shine brightly.
HBO MISSES THE BOAT AGAIN WITH JUST ONE FIGHT
In typical HBO fashion, Ward-Rodriguez will be the only one shown on the network. The undercard is decent enough, with Brandon Gonzalez (17-0-1, 10 KOs), who also trains under Ward’s Virgil Hunter, mixing it up at super middle with another undefeated fighter in Jonathan Nelson (18-0, 8KOs). Last time out, Gonzalez made easy work of Thomas Oosthuizen (22-0-2, 13 KOs) only to be given a draw on the cards. I expect Gonzalez, who is more experienced against top competition, to walk away with the W.
T.B.A. OR TO BE ANNOUNCED USUALLY MEANS TO BE ANNIHILATED
John Molina (26-3, 21 KO) is taking on Gary Russell, Jr.’s (23-0, 13 KOs) favorite opponent; the feared “T.B.A.” Looks like a showcase for Molina, so I would expect him to win and likely by KO with the power he possesses. Also on the card is Sergio Mora (24-3-2, 7 KO) battling Milton Nunez (26-8-1, 24 KO) in a middleweight (160) tilt. Mora is the much more seasoned veteran here, and will likely take a decision over a game Milton. John Signorella will have the complete look at the weekend of boxing late Thursday night here at RingTalk.com
Zak Young