Andre Ward easily outpoints Alexander Brand to set up fight with Sergey Kovalev

OAKLAND, Calif. – Undefeated Andre Ward used a steady left hook to repeatedly score and unanimously outpointed Alexander Brand to take the WBO Intercontinental light heavyweight championship Saturday night.

Ward (30-0) was never seriously threatened by Brand (25-2), the 39-year-old Colombian who lost for the first time since 2012. Ward stunned Brand early and opened a small cut over his right eye while winning every round

All three judges had the fight 120-112 for Ward.

Ward is in position for a long-anticipated matchup with unified light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev. That fight has already been penciled in for Nov. 19 in Las Vegas.

That would be Ward’s third fight in eight months, overtime for a boxer who fought only three times from 2012 to 2015.