Get the odds here for Andre Ward’s return to the ring against Sullivan Barrera on HBO this Saturday.
This Saturday night, Andre Ward makes his much anticipated return to the boxing ring as he takes on Sullivan Barrera live on HBO. HBO World Championship Boxing Ward vs. Barrera is live this Saturday, March 26 with a fight time of 9:45 p.m. ET.
Here are the current fight odds courtesy of OddsShark, as of Thursday afternoon:
Andre Ward -750
Sullivan Barrera +480
Ward is the obvious A side of the bill here, so it’s no surprise to see him as the favorite. That said, there are some interesting factors that add to the fight and make these odds worth a closer look. The clear wildcard in this fight is Ward’s ring rust. This fight is his first in 9 months, and just his third since September 2012. Before the break, Ward was one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, and at 32 years old, age won’t be a factor for him. Still, it’s a long layoff, undoubtedly. It also marks Ward’s debut at Light Heavyweight, which again, raises a few questions.
As for Barrera, the Cuban fighter is far from a slouch. He’s 17-0 and comes in off a very respectable win over Karo Murat. Boxing is full of mismatches, and few would bat an eye if Ward made the decision to take on a significantly lesser opponent here, but Barrera does represent a credible opponent, especially with the layoff and weight change.
That said, it’s still Andre Ward, and unless he’s really lost a step, this fight is his for the taking. I feel confident he wins here, but at those odds, there’s just enough doubt that I’m not willing to put any money down on that.
Verdict: Not worth a bet