OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ Andre Ward claimed the WBA 168-pound
title with an unanimous technical decision over Denmark's Mikkel
Kessler on Saturday night, adding his first world championship belt
to his Olympic gold medal with a stunning upset victory in his
hometown.
Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) announced his arrival among the world's
elite boxers with a dynamic thrashing of Kessler (42-2), the WBA
champion for most of the past five years and the early favorite to
win the Super Six super middleweight tournament.
Ward's speed, discipline and work rate gradually reduced
Kessler's face to a bloody mess, and the ringside physician stopped
the fight midway through the penultimate round after looking at the
growing cut on Kessler's face, which was caused by a head butt.

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