By David Martinez
Unbeaten WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0 / 14 by KO) returned to the ring after a fourteen month layoff to win a one-sided twelve round decision over previously unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez (24-1 / 16 by KO) in a nationally televised bout in Ontario, California.
The bout became a non-title fight after Rodriguez failed to make weight at 168 pounds. The fight was marred in round four as referee Jack Reiss took matters in his own hands to deduct two points from each fighter after roughhousing and grappling tactics. Ward was in command in every round though out the fight with quicker and sharper punches.
The judges scorecards were: 118-106, 117-107, 116-108 … my scoring was 118-106, giving every round to Andre Ward, as did Harold Lederman on HBO.