Boxing: Ward puts titles on line

Andre Ward puts his super-middleweight world titles on the line against light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.

LOS ANGELES: Unbeaten Andre Ward will face a big challenge when he puts his super-middleweight world titles on the line against light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.

Ward, who holds the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council super middleweight belts, says his youth and skill will make up for what he gives away in height and reach to Dawson, who agreed to come down to 168 pounds and fight in Ward's hometown of Oakland, California, to get the bout.

"Chad is not fighting a guy in his 40s, I'm 28, I'm a young man," said Ward. "That's something he hasn't had to deal with for a long time, as well as my skill set. Yes, he's got height and reach. But I've fought plenty of tough guys, and they've posed different challenges. You've got to find a way to get it done regardless of what's in front of you."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2012.