Paul Smith weighed in 4.4lbs over the 172-pound catchweight limit for Saturday’s showdown with Andre Ward in California.

Smith came in at 176.6lbs with American Ward at 171.8, and although the fight still looks set to go ahead, the Liverpudlian may have to give up a percentage of his purse as a result.

For his last fight, against WBO super-middleweight champion Arthur Abraham, Smith weighed 165.5lbs.

Ward looked lean and in relaxed mood as he returns to the ring after 19 months away and he hit out at Smith for coming in at cruiserweight.

"I'm disappointed with Paul," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "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.

"Right now my team has work to do with the commission and with Paul's team. We're just not going to be okay with that. I did my part to make my weight like a professional. If he struggled that much with the weight he should have alerted us a long time ago. There could have been a change in the weight. If you wait until the last minute and then get on the scales - it's not a good look.

"It makes you think, 'is this a strategy?' It doesn't make me more confident - it makes me more motivated. I did my part to make the weight. He didn't and I feel a certain way about that."

Smith's promoter Eddie Hearn admits Smith miscalculated.

"Obviously he got things wrong," he said. "Mainly with the travelling and the water retention, the way he does the weight - he's taken on a lot of fluids - and it hasn't worked out for him. Now he's missed the weight.

"We'll talk - I'm sure it will be fine for the fight. It seems to be a common trend right now in boxing. There are always issues now to resolve and discuss."

Watch Adrien Broner v Shawn Porter and Andre Ward v Paul Smith live on Sky Sports 1, this Saturday night from 1.30am