American super-middleweight Andre Ward has warned Paul Smith to expect him to be at his best when they meet in California on Saturday night.
Smith believes that he can capitalise on Ward's recent inactivity, but despite not competing for 19 months, the WBA champion has insisted that he is feeling as sharp as ever ahead of their non-title bout.
The 31-year-old told reporters: "I didn't cut corners on any running. I didn't cut corners on any sparring session. Every round for me counted. Every day counted.
"I'm more than prepared for anything Paul Smith brings to the table and I think this fight isn't going to go the way he anticipates it.
"He's going to be hit early, he's going to be hit often, and he's going to realize very quick that this isn't the guy that he has scouted on paper."
Ward has defeated the likes of Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler during his unbeaten 27-fight career, while Smith is coming off the back of two unsuccessful world title challenges against WBO champion Arthur Abraham.
Darren Plant
