Undefeated Andre Ward ready to end 14 months of inactivity

All this is a roundabout way of saying that 2014 will be a big year for Andre Ward. Injuries and a promotional dispute derailed this year, robbing him of the

Chris Mannix | Nov 15, 2013

Undefeated Andre Ward ready to end 14 months of inactivity /

Andre Ward (pictured) will end a 14-month absence from the ring when he takes on Edwin Rodriguez. — Andre Ward (pictured) will end a 14-month absence from the ring when he takes on Edwin Rodriguez :: Alexis Cuarezma/Getty Images

All this is a roundabout way of saying that 2014 will be a big year for Andre Ward. Injuries and a promotional dispute derailed this year, robbing him of the bounce he hoped to get from a knockout win over Chad Dawson last year. But two years after wiping out the pool of potential opponents in the Super Six, Ward suddenly has a new crop lining up to face him.

Published Nov 15, 2013

CHRIS MANNIX

Chris Mannix is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA and boxing beats. He joined the SI staff in 2003 following his graduation from Boston College. Mannix is the host of SI's "Open Floor" podcast and serves as a ringside analyst and reporter for DAZN Boxing. He is also a frequent contributor to NBC Sports Boston as an NBA analyst. A nominee for National Sportswriter of the Year in 2022, Mannix has won writing awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Pro Basketball Writers Association, and is a longtime member of both organizations.