The return of Andre Ward to the ring is a development I’ve been harping on. Why? Because the WBA super middleweight titleholder might just be the best pure boxer on the planet.

The Oakland-based hitter, on the shelf with some injuries off and on, and then because of a contractual beef with then-promoter, the late Dan Goossen, is real close to gloving up again.

I heard rumblings that current promoter Roc Nation Sports, the entity headed up by mega mogul Jay Z, is readying to put on its second show, likely sometime in April. I touched base with Roc Boxing spokesperson Ron Berkowitz to try and nail down some specifics. Is there a show common in April? “We are talking about it,” he told me yesterday.

I reached out to Ward adviser James Prince to get the scoop. “There have been a lot of conversations,” he told me. “Nothing is set in stone. Things are being discussed.” He didn’t shoot down a possible return on an April Roc date, should that come to fruition.

And what foes are in the mix? Prince didn’t want to get into that. Names we know and maybe some guys we aren’t as familiar with, maybe an Eastern Euro hitter or what have you, could be in contention.

Prince told me we could hear real, real soon what’s next for Ward, absent from the ring since beating Edwin Rodriguez (UD 12) on Nov. 16, 2013.

The 27-0 master pugilist, who holds 14 KOs to his credit, turns 31 on Feb. 23, so his fans will be happy more of his potential athletic prime isn’t going to be spent on the shelf.