By Luke Furman

Last week, BoxingScene.com reported that WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15KOs) was seriously being considered for the co-featured position on the undercard to the Miguel Cotto vs. Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez HBO Pay-Per-View on November 21st at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Both Cotto and Ward are promoted by Roc Nation Sports.

The World Boxing Association has received a request, which the sanctioning body approved, for Ward to make a "voluntary defense" of his title on a date "in November."

Ward was previously ordered to make a mandatory defense against Carl Froch, who held the WBA's 'regular' belt. Since Froch retired, that ordered has been invalidated by the sanctioning body.

Ward returned to the ring on June 20th at catch-weight of 172-pounds and there were questions whether or not he planned to fight again at 168-pounds. The recent evidence shows he is not yet ready to make a move to light heavyweight.

According to the WBA, the next mandatory in line is WBA regular champion Fedor Chudinov, who faces Frank Buglioni in London, England on September 26. The WBA states that the Buglioni-Chudinov winner must face Felix Sturm within a maximum period of nine months.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.