Andre Ward back in the gym after shoulder surgery, not rushing to comeback

Andre Ward has returned to the gym following shoulder surgery that canceled a January date with Kelly Pavlik, and the reigning super middleweight champion says he feels good, but isn't going to try and push it past what doctors recommend.

"I just have to respect the markers I've been given from the doctor. I couldn't go crazy. That's where I have to be careful. I felt great, I felt fast, and my wind felt great. It was an amazing feeling to be able to work out in my gym."

Ward, who celebrated his 29th birthday on February 23, is in a bit of a tough spot as far as staying at 168 pounds -- which he wants to do -- and finding legitimate opponents that make for interesting fights. He's already convincingly beaten Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham, and Mikkel Kessler, and those are the guys who hold titles. He's also beaten Sakio Bika, who just became his WBC mandatory by grinding out a win over Nikola Sjekloca.

Really, the most interesting fight that isn't a rerun might be with Andre Dirrell, but that fight was already completely avoided once, and that was when the two had contracts dictating they had to fight one another. He's not likely to get another light heavyweight to drop down to 168 after what he did to Chad Dawson, and it's not like 175 is bursting with compelling possible opponents, either.

Who do you want to see Ward face when he returns for what is likely to be a single 2013 fight?