Oakland, CA– With his day of reckoning at hand, Andre Ward is ready for whatever Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) throws at him. The 2004 Olympic Gold medalist, now 20-0, 13 KOs, Ward the all so polite lad that he is had the Ghetto emerge from him as Kessler got in his face talking smack at the Friday afternoon weigh in. Having trained his entire life for this one fight, Ward looks and sounds as if he’s ready. Kessler on the other hand, he brought about 100 people from his native Denmark, so he’ll have somebody to drink with after he loses tonight…Manager Jackie Kallen, originally of James Toney (1990s) fame, Jackie handles San Francisco’s unbeaten welter Karim Mayfield who is performing under Ward-Kessler…Promoter Dan Goossen, “Big Bird” to some, is expecting a big crowd tonight at the Oracle Arena…Monte Poole of the Oakland Tribune says it’ll go over 10,000 paid. Ward-Edison Miranda did about 8,500 in this same venue in April…Grandpa Munster in Oakland? No, that was Al Bernstein of Showtime…MISSING FIXTURES: Trainers Tommy Elder and Charlie Smith, the poet and the orator, both are in failing health and were not at the weigh in…Everytime I turned around yesterday ex-champ Antonio Tarver, who peaked in Rocky 6, had his cellphone glued to his ear…Historically, this is the biggest day in SF/Oakland “modern day” boxing history…Ward will be part of the “Ring Talk Worldwide” radio mix Sunday at 6:05 PM PT…
