Saturday night Showtime Special from Oracle Arena at Oakland, California had the attention of fight fans with undefeated local Andre Ward defending WBA Super Middleweight strap against veteran Allan Green - Ward also looking to grab the Second Stage top slot in the Showtime Super Tourney. 

Started on the slow side over stanzas one and two with both seemingly playing it close to the vest - then numero tres with Ward on the offense while working at close quarters. Green in no mood to swap with Ward, who wasn't delivering heavy duty, but the far busier. 

Ward continued the brawling, mauling approach on the inside and Green unable to get off anything resembling a counter - nothing pretty but clearly in charge. 

The defending champion finally gave Green some breathing room come the halfway mark - clearly had made his point to the Green pre-fight remarks concerning Wards' fighting style as being combination of running and holding. 

With the fight nearing the championship stanzas of 10-11-12 - Ward began loading up with power punches against a tiring Green - was clear Green had nothing more than a puncher's chance - problem on this night the Green gun wasn't loaded. 

Final round came and went with Green surviving while not claiming a single stanza - nor anything resembling a power punch. 

Official numbers saw all three official judges having it Ward 120-108 - in yesteryear round by round method 12-0 Ward. Only Green family members could have seen it different. 

Post Scripts: Ward (21-0, 13 KO) ~ age 26 - at prime age - good size at 6'1" - saw what he had in front of him and abandoned the expected M.O. of stick, move, feint,   from the outside. Not biggest banger among the "names" at 168 but bright enough to know when it's safe to deviate from the norm.
                   Green (29-2, 20 KO) ~ age 30 -  old and tired version - needs picking and choosing at triple-A boxing level - post fite comments pretty much sums it up - claims he was tired and had no legs coming in. Back in the proverbial day the losing club fighter would say "I just couldn't get off."   Fits the today Green to the letter. 

Closing comments: On paper, the thought here was Green would be a test for Ward - second thoughts are how come Lucian Bute wasn't among the tournament mix. Next up is Andre Dirrell which should give the fans a better feel what both these young fighters are all about.