Got into a 30 min debate with a guy proclaiming Ward to best p4p #2 and clearly one of the best fighter lacing them up right now.
While I agree Ward is a high caliber fighter, I still feel like he hasn't lived to his potential.
Im not saying hes a failure or anything like that I just simply believe for this stage of his career he should've accomplished more than he has at this point.
With his career highlight wins being Kessler,Bika and Abrahams that leaves me feeling...meh.
I cant really predict where his career is going at this point. How do you guys feel?
Hopkins* (2013)
Bute* (2013)
Froch* (December 2012)
Abraham
Bika
Green
Kessler
Miranda
That wouldn't be "close to, if not, a a HOF resume"?
He's fighting Froch in December, so I'm not off base assuming he gets 2 fights in 2013. Bute will be the next fight because Showtime signed him to a 3 fight contract and they won't settle for Kessler being the 3rd fight. After he unifies the 3 titles and becomes the Ring Champion, I see him going after another money fight against Hopkins. Don't confuse HOF with ATG status, the HOF standard isn't as high.
I must be missing something.
Who has he beat or what has he accomplished thus far to even have his name mentioned in the same sentence with HOF?
You say by 2013? That mean 2-3 max more fights?
Unless he beats Both Klitschkos after froch then thats impossible to say he has HOF status by 2013.
His resume thus far is highlighted by Bika, Kessler and Abraham. I wouldnt call those HOF credentials.
Ander Ward will be top 5 P4P before the year closes out. I predict one of the top 3 will lose in the next year and it'll move him into the top 3 at this time next year.
I don't really enjoy his fights, but he just has all the tools he needs to takeover, except for power. His strength, speed, skills, and strength of opposition is just going to have him close to, if not, a HOF resume before 2013.
He's a real good fighter. He'd definitely be able to make an argument for top P4P if he beat both Froch and Bute convincingly. I also wouldn't mind him moving up to LHW and taking on Hopkins if the Bute fight doesn't happen should be beat Froch.
If he whips Froch he might have an argument for 3 or 4 P4P.
Bute is still out there though.
I wonder if a move to Light Heavyweight is in his future, Ward vs Dawson would be interesting.