By Sam Gregory: Photo: Jan Sanders/For SHOWTIME – In the ShoBox main event, undefeated Andre Ward of Oakland, California successfully defended his North American Boxing Organization (NABO) super middleweight title against once-beaten Henry “Sugar Poo” Buchanan of Chesterfield, S.C. in a 12 round unanimous decision. Also on the line was the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) 168 pound crown.
Ward, the only boxer from the United States to capture a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, improved his unbeaten streak to 18 wins with 12 knockouts and no draws. Buchanan suffered the second loss of his career falling to 17 wins and 2 loses, 12 of his wins came by way of a knockout.
Ward looked confident from the opening bell using his jab and left hook as well as switching from the orthodox to southpaw stance keeping Buchanan off balance and overwhelmed.
The Showtime commentators pointed out that Henry Buchanan’s most memorable fight was not in the ring but in fact a street fight he once had with William Joppy; tonight was a fight Buchanan would hope fans wouldn’t remember either. His fight plain was predictable, he telegraphed his punches as Ward continued to push forward backing Buchanan and cutting off the ring at will.
In the seventh round Buchanan attempted to pick up the pace but still had no answer for Wards best punch, his straight left.
Tonight was the first time in Andre Ward’s professional career he fought past eight rounds but going into the championship rounds Ward glided through the rounds with ease.
It was all Ward all night as he picked his shots and took his time landing shots with accuracy. Buchanan was never a threat at any point in the fight. Ward worked angles and keep pressing forward.
According to Ward’s corner their game plan was to pick it up after nine rounds. Buchanan walked forward into Ward’s punches, he landed combinations all night but it was the Californians left hand that Buchanan had no answer for at any point. Ward’s corner told him to close the show in the 10th but to Buchanan’s credit he managed to survive the onslaught of punches.
In the 10th Buchanan threw his best punch landing a right cross that caught Ward flush in the side of his face but it was too little too late for Henry Buchanan who was clearly out of his league against Andre Ward who dominated all 12 rounds of the fight.
The final scores: 120-108 on all three judge’s cards.