OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Andre Ward made a triumphant return to the ring after a lengthy absence, delighting his home crowd by stopping England’s Paul Smith in the ninth round Saturday night in a nontitle fight.
Ward (28-0) was fighting for the first time in 19 months because of a protracted legal dispute with his former promoter, the late Dan Goosen.
Performing for his hometown crowd, Ward dominated from the start against the former British champion Smith (35-6), whose corner threw the white towel to stop the fight in the ninth round with Smith’s face covered with blood.
