Andre Ward is itching for a fight.
And he'll get his chance -- on Nov. 16.
Ward, the Oakland native who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, will return to boxing after more than a year away from the ring after suffering a shoulder injury, according to reports.
In that time Ward, 29, who has yet to lose a professional fight -- and was ranked as the pound-for-pound second-best boxer behind Floyd Mayweather Jr. following his last title defense in September 2012 -- has had to surrender a WBC Super Middleweight title belt for not fighting.
He was supposed to defend his title in January, but had shoulder surgery. Now the ink is dry on his contract to fight Edwin Rodriguez, the No. 1 contender in America at 168 pounds.
Rodriguez, 28, is also undefeated at 24-0. The pair will fight in Ontario, Calif. on HBO, according to ESPN.
In a recent interview in Oakland, Ward said he was ready.
