By Keith Idec

Abel Sanchez suspects Sullivan Barrera’s natural size advantage over Andre Ward will be a big factor in their fight March 26.

The 6-foot-2 Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) has competed at cruiserweight and light heavyweight since he turned pro in August 2009. The 6-foot Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) won a gold medal at 178 pounds during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, but has boxed almost exclusively as a middleweight and super middleweight since he made his pro debut in December 2004.

His 12-round fight against the 34-year-old Barrera at Oakland’s Oracle Arena (HBO) represents the 32-year-old Ward’s debut as a full-fledged light heavyweight.

“Andre, in my opinion anyway, has to prove that he belongs at 175,” Sanchez, Barrera’s trainer, said during a conference call Wednesday. “He’s fighting a full-fledged 175-pounder that’s athletic, that has a long history and Cuban background, and has had a great history with me. If Andre can handle that, more power to him and he’ll come out victorious. We don’t think he can. We think that we’ll be too good for him at this moment in Andre’s career. So that remains to be seen on the 26th.”

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.