Andre Ward could come out of retirement, admits his manager

Ward stepped away from the sport last year, after extending his professional record to 32-0 with a second victory over Sergey Kovalev

Andre Ward could make a ring return in 2019 (Getty)

Andre Ward’s manager has admitted that the former super-middleweight and light-heavyweight unified world champion could make a return to boxing after retiring last year.

The 34-year-old American, who was ranked as the world’s best active boxer by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board during his year-long reign as light-heavyweight champion, retired from the sport last year with an unblemished professional record.

Ward beat the previously undefeated Russian Sergey Kovalev twice to extend his record to 32-0, before announcing that he was stepping away from the sport.

But speculation over a comeback has increased markedly in recent months, with Ward being touted as a potential opponent for both undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who stopped Tony Bellew last month, and reigning WBA super-middleweight champion Callum Smith.

Ward’s manager, James Prince, has denied that Ward is preparing for a specific comeback fight, but has admitted he could yet be lured out of retirement.

“We had a lot of success. He left the ring a wealthy man and put ‘to be continued’,” Prince told Sky’s Ringside Toe 2 Toe podcast.

“You never know, there may be a 'to be continued' situation.

“Andre is a retired fighter right now. I believe that all things are possible. I'll leave it at that.

“All things are possible, if the right situation is presented, is allowed, you never know.”