OAKLAND, CA  – Top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (30-0, 15 KOs), as big as a 100-1 favorite in some betting circles, dominated 39-year-old Colombian contender Alexander Brand (25-2, 19 KOs) over twelve rounds in a clash for the WBO Intercontinental light heavyweight title. All three judges scored it 120-108.

This marks the second fight of the year for Ward, who dominated previously undefeated Sullivan Barrera over twelve rounds back in March.

Next up for Ward is a highly anticipated showdown against IBF/WBO/WBA light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev - which is scheduled for November 19th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Ward was very sharp in the first round, controlling the action and maneuvering Brand around the ring. Ward's jab was on display and keeping Brand honest and controlling everything. Brand was hurt from a hook to the liver in the fourth and held on to get out of trouble. Ward was targeting the body more often in this contest and landing good left hands.

Ward was wiping out Brand in the fifth, with left hands landing very often and Brand had no answers. Ward had outlanded Brand 32-8 between the fourth and fifth rounds combined. Brand has a decent chin, because he was cracked with some big left hands during the sixth and never buckled. In the seventh, Ward's jab opened up a cut on the right eye of Brand.  From this point, Brand became more defensive and staying away from Ward.

Brand was taking a lot of punishment in the tenth, with Ward's left hands and body shots finding their mark. Brand continued to show his chin by taking punches and not going down. His corner never pressed him to go for broke, so Brand stayed defensive and never came out of his shell to allow Ward to put together a series of punches. Ward continued to dominate the action in the final two rounds, but didn't take any chances to close the show.