By Luis Sandoval
WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14KOs) had predicted that undefeated challenger Edwin Rodriguez (24-0, 16KOs) would struggle to make the 168-pounds limit - and he was right. Ward weighed 167.8-pounds at Friday's official weigh-in. Rodriguez, however, was pretty cut down and weighed two-pounds over the limit at 170-pounds. He has two hours to make the limit. The HBO televised fight takes place on Saturday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
Ward is finally making his comeback to the ring after a 15 month hiatus which was the result of a shoulder injury and the rehabilitation that followed. Rodriguez is coming off a huge victory where he won the Monte Carlo Super Middleweight tournament.
This will be Rodriguez’s first title bout while Ward will be making the 6th defense of his WBA title which he captured during his victorious run in the Super Six Tournament in 2010.
Undercard
Charles Huerta 126 vs Jonathan Arrellano 126lbs – 8 Round Featherweight bout
Brandon Gonzales 167lbs Jonathan Nelson 166lbs – 10 Round Super Middleweight bout
Juan Funez 126lbs vs. Carlos Gonzalez 129lbs – 4 Round Featherweight bout
John Molina 141lbs vs Jorge Pimentel 142lbs – 8 Round Light Welterweight bout
Oscar Molina 153lbs vs. Carlos Sanchez 155lbs - 6 round Junior Middleweight bout
Sergio Mora 161 vs. Milton Nunez 160 – 6/8 round Middleweight bout
Justin DeLoach 154lbs Robert Hill 154lbs – 4 Round Junior Middleweights bout
DonYil Livingston 158 vs Tony Hirsch 161 – 6 Round Junior Middleweight bout