WBA super middleweight world champion Andre Ward completely dominated Paul Smith in front of his hometown in Oakland, California. The end came with a 9th-round TKO after Smith’s corner threw in the towel. Ward was fighting for the first time after a 19 month layoff. Ward looked great throughout the fight and looked like he'd never left. Both fighters seemed to start a little slow, but as the fight progressed, it was Ward throwing more punches and throwing from different angles. Paul Smith was happy to just lay back and play defense. Smith was cut above the eye in the eighth round. Paul Smith's trainer, Joe Gallagher said that Smith was taking too much punishment and the blood from the cut was going into his eye. Smith stated that the last combination Ward hit him with may have broken his nose. It was an extremely dominant performance by Ward.
