Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info

Andre Ward will make his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday night, taking on Englishman Paul Smith in a catchweight contest in Oakland, California.

The American has not fought for 19 months, his last outing seeing him defeat Edwin Rodriguez on points to stretch his perfect pro record to 27-0 (14 KO).

Smith (35-5, 20 KO), meanwhile, has fought twice for a world title at super middleweight, losing on both occasions to Arthur Abraham in Germany.

Now the Liverpudlian has been presented with a glorious opportunity to take on a fighter who, prior to his period of inactivity, was rated by The Ring as the best in the world at 168 pounds.

When: Saturday, June 20, 11 p.m ET/4 a.m. BST

Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

TV: Sky Sports (UK), BET (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Sports (UK, regional restrictions apply)

The Waiting Game

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Ward's layoff has been a frustration, not just for the man himself but also for boxing fans.

His career has not been helped by a legal battle with Dan Goossen in a bid to terminate his contract with the promoter.

However, his trainer, Virgil Hunter, does not believe his fighter's absence is due to the long-running dispute with Goossen. Ward has now signed up with Roc Nation Sports. According to Boxing News' Matt Christie, Hunter instead puts Ward's lack of action down to a lack of willing challengers: "If people won’t fight him because he is too good, they should come out and say that."

A rematch with Carl Froch, whom Ward defeated in the final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic in 2011, has long been talked about, but the American told Sky Sports that he's not sure it will ever happen:

"

It's tough [to] go back and forth. I personally like Froch. I mean personally I do. I appreciate not just his toughness but I appreciate his competitiveness.

I see a lot of myself in Froch. He’s very competitive and that's like me; I'd rather let you take an arm than beat me—and that's how he is.

Honestly I don’t think he wants to fight.

"

Of course, Froch is not the only big name out there.

Gennady Golovkin could step up from middleweight for a money-spinning showdown, though Bleacher Report's Kevin McRae detailed in May why that bout seems unlikely to happen.

There will be plenty of talk about what the future holds for Ward after Saturday night, provided he doesn't suffer a first loss in the paid ranks.

A bout with Smith, which is at a limit of 172 pounds, offers the American the perfect opportunity to blow away the cobwebs. It has been a long time coming, but S.O.G is finally ready to make a comeback.

In Search of a Miracle

Paul Thomas/Getty Images

Smith is a realist. He knows that he is going into this fight as a huge underdog. Odds Shark has him at 16-1 odds to win, and Ward has been on a different level to him during their careers.

However, Smigga showed in his two bouts with Abraham that he is better than just a domestic-level fighter. He went the distance on both occasions against King Arthur, though Ward will be a different proposition entirely.

Smith—the oldest of four boxing brothers—acknowledged as much in an interview with Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo:

"

People that know me, know how tough I am, the heart I have got and that'll I'll give everything I have.

I have got to take my chance when I get it. I think I will catch him, and when I do, I'm hoping it has the effect that I think it will have. I'm hoping to capitalise and jump on that.

...

I'm not here to stand and try to out-box Andre Ward for 12 rounds—nobody in the world has every done that and I don't think there's a fighter out that could do that.

"

The 32-year-old's work in the media, including the occasions where he has been a ringside analyst for Sky Sports, has given him the chance to showcase his excellent boxing brain.

Tactics, however, do not hold the key to him potentially pulling off the mother of all upsets.

He has to throw caution to the wind, grit through the pain and seize any opening that presents itself. Ward is a world champion, but even he has to be a little rusty after being out for so long.

The one certainty is that Smith will not lose for a lack of trying. It could be his last opportunity in the big time, so expect him to leave it all in the ring.

Prediction

If Ward had been more active of late—he has fought just twice in the last three years—this would be a mismatch.

Smith has lost to James DeGale, George Groves and Abraham (twice) in his career. Ward has beaten the latter of that trio, as well as Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Chad Dawson.

However, the Californian's lack of rounds has to be taken into consideration when it comes to a prediction.

Ward will win, but he won't take any risks in the process. He has only stopped one of his last six opponents, but eventually Smith will be worn down in the closing rounds.