Current lineal and WBA (Super) super middleweight champion Andre Ward returned to the ring with a sensational technical knockout win over unheralded Paul Smith in round nine of their scheduled 12-rounder at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Saturday, June 20.

Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) extended his unbeaten record by dominating the fight from Round 1 until his opponent's corner raised the white flag in the ninth round. Referee Lou Moret stopped the fight at 1:20 of the said round.

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The fight was an obvious mismatch as Smith (35-6, 20 KOs) is noticeably not in the same elite level as that of the American champion, as per SB Nation's Bad Left Hook.

Controversy struck the fight as Smith came into the weigh-in four pounds overweight of the agreed 172 catch weight. Daily Mail Online reported that the Liverpool native was fined $45,000 for coming in hefty at the original weigh-in, and then penalized another $15,000 for failing his second weigh-in as well. Overall, he lost $60,000 off his purse.

The match almost did not materialize as Ward was reportedly quite disappointed at Smith for failing to make his weight. The San Francisco native set the supposed-to-be 168-pound super middleweight bout to be fought at a catch weight of 172, but the Englishman's corner pushed it to go down to 170, which Ward did not consent on.

Even then, Smith failed to make the weight. He could have been six pounds overweight and lost more money if he had insisted on 170.

"I'm disappointed with Paul," Ward told Sky Sports. "I heard last night that as of yesterday morning he was eight pounds over. You've got to realize in negotiations, my team said 172 and he fought to have it at 170. And he comes in four pounds overweight. It's very unprofessional."

It was a remarkable comeback bout for Ward who had been away from the sport for 19 months following an injury and then a contract dispute from former handler Goossen Promotions.

Early this year, Ward signed a contract with Roc Nation Sports, a company owned by music mogul Jay-Z. This was his first fight under the promotional outfit. 

TagsBoxing, Boxing 2015, Boxing News, Boxing News 2015, Boxing Rumors, Boxing Rumors 2015, andre ward, Paul Smith