It’s been exactly 775 days… but who’s counting?

Following a pristine run in which he fought 32 times against 31 men and never left a ring without a raised hand, Andre Ward walked off into the sunset as the world’s best fighter.

Until the weekend, it was probably a pretty uncomplicated retirement, too.

The light heavyweight division he’d risen to and conquered was in competitive pieces, featuring a fading former two-time rival in Sergey Kovalev and a handful of other eastern Europeans with undeniable prowess – but little name recognition and earning potential beyond the hardcore fan set.

So while he may have missed the limelight, there was no intoxicating allure for Ward to return.

But that all changed late Saturday night.

At precisely the moment Kovalev slumped to his knees after absorbing a left-right that’ll rattle his grandkids, the man known as “S.O.G.” finally got the foil his stature always deserved.

And with it, the sort of payday opportunity that’ll finance his grandkids.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Canelo v Ward.

Think it’s far-fetched… think again, according to at least one insider.

“Always a chance,” said Jim Lampley, who shared an HBO broadcasting position with Ward in the premium cable giant’s final chapters as a boxing storyteller.

“Who, ever, stayed retired at (his) age and without having made Canelo-type money? Didn’t even make Triple-G money. Odds favor him seeking to come back for that.”

Indeed, Ward, who turned 35 last February, maxed out in terms of competition across two weight classes, but never cashed the sorts of checks that matched his resume.

The former Olympic champion earned his first pro title with a defeat of Mikkel Kessler in 2009, then defended six times in four years while routing respected contenders in Allen Green, Sakio Bika and Edwin Rodriguez; a former title-holder in Arthur Abraham; and two reigning champs in fellow 168-pound claimant Carl Froch and ill-advised weight-dropping light heavy king Chad Dawson.

Still, it wasn’t until his own rise to 175 and dual beatings of Kovalev that Ward earned anything approaching respectable pound-for-pound money -- $5 million for the first, $6.5 million for the rematch.

With no similar payouts looming, he exited, claiming his “desire to fight (was) no longer there.”

Now that Alvarez has made $35 million for beating Kovalev, don’t be surprised if his itch returns.

“No booze. Stays in shape. Knee has had time to recover,” Lampley said. “Style matchup totally favors him. Shocked if he doesn’t at least bring it up.”

Though he’s six years older than his Mexican counterpart, Ward has had 24 fewer pro fights – 238 rounds to Canelo’s 402 – and would climb through the ropes with a pronounced four-inch height advantage (6 feet to 5-foot-8) and a narrower edge in reach (71 inches to 70 ½).

They have a combined 23-1-1 record in title fights, and 13 WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF belts between them.

Kovalev – who’s 0-3 with two stoppage losses against the pair – is the only common opponent.

To Lampley, it’s a winnable fight that can put Ward on a level he never reached.

“Only such vehicle now available,” he said. “Worst kind of opponent or Canelo. Not an aggressor. (Against Kovalev) it was always just a matter of time. Andre Ward? Have to go find him. And once you do, then what do you do? I would favor Andre.”

* * * * * * * * * *

This week’s legit title-fight schedule:

THURSDAY

IBF/WBA bantamweight titles – Saitama, Japan

Naoya Inoue (IBF champ/No. 1 IWBR) vs. Nonito Donaire (WBA champ/No. 6 IWBR)

Inoue (18-0, 16 KO): First title defense; Nine straight wins by KO/TKO (32 total rounds, Average: 3.6)

Donaire (40-5, 26 KO): Second title defense; Never lost a fight as a bantamweight (11-0, 7 KO)

Fitzbitz says: Donaire is unbeaten as a bantamweight. He’s got a long resume full of title-level success. But he’s in over his head here. Inoue is too young and too good. He’ll dominate. Inoue in 5 (100/0)

WBC bantamweight title – Saitama, Japan

Nordine Oubaali (champion/No. 4 IWBR) vs. Takuma Inoue (Unranked WBC/No. 5 IWBR)

Oubaali (16-0, 12 KO): Second title defense; Four KO/TKO wins in five scheduled 12-round fights

Inoue (13-0, 3 KO): First title fight; Four decision in four fights at the bantamweight limit

Fitzbitz says: It wouldn’t be inconceivable to see an Inoue bantamweight sweep on this card, but the champion is skilled and accustomed to a better level of opponent. He’ll win. Oubaali by decision (60/40)

SATURDAY

WBO junior lightweight title – Fresno, California

Jamel Herring (champion/No. 12 IWBR) vs. Lamont Roach (No. 2 WBO/No. 15 IWBR)

Herring (20-2, 10 KO): First title defense; Two fights – both decision wins – at 130-pound limit

Roach (19-0-1, 7 KO): First title fight; Seventh fight at the 130-pound limit (5-0-1, 2 KO)

Fitzbitz says: The champion is taller, longer and a left-hander. He’s also likely to get better as a belt-holder. It’s not an easy call, but Herring should win a tight one. Herring by decision (65/35)

WBO super middleweight title – Los Angeles, California

Billy Joe Saunders (champion/No. 13 IWBR) vs. Marcelo Coceres (No. 10 WBO/Unranked IWBR)

Saunders (28-0, 13 KO): First title defense; First fight in the United States

Coceres (28-0-1, 15 KO): First title fight; First fight outside of Argentina

Fitzbitz says: Saunders may or may not be the force at 168 pounds that he was at 160, but he’ll get the reign off to a successful start with an Argentine fighter who doesn’t belong. Saunders in 10 (99/1)

Last week's picks: 2-0 (WIN: Berchelt, Alvarez)

2019 picks record: 85-17 (83.3 percent)

Overall picks record: 1,096-360 (75.2 percent)

NOTE: Fights previewed are only those involving a sanctioning body's full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, etc. Fights for WBA "world championships" are only included if no "super champion" exists in the weight class.

Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. He is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.