Andre Ward-Alexander Brand: Kenny Bayless as third man

by David P. Greisman

When 168-pound champion Andre Ward continues his comeback and his move up to light heavyweight by facing a fellow super middleweight in Alexander Brand, that fight will have Kenny Bayless as its referee.

Bayless was unanimously approved at the Thursday meeting of the Nevada Athletic Commission. Ward-Brand is scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the undercard of the Miguel-Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez pay-per-view.

Bayless is not listed on BoxRec.com as having worked fights involving Ward or Brand before.

The judges selected for the bout were Ricardo Ocasio, Steve Morrow and Don Trella.

Ocasio and Trella have never worked a fight involving either man before.

Morrow hasn’t worked any of Brand’s fights; he has been a judge for five of Ward’s prior bouts — a technical knockout over Paul Smith earlier this year, a unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriguez in 2013, a technical decision over Mikkel Kessler in 2009, a unanimous decision over Henry “Sugar Poo” Buchanan in 2009, and a stoppage of Rubin Williams in 2008.

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