Andre Ward is the best boxer today.

I like Ward, but he's not as diverse as Floyd. Ward definitely takes more chances than Floyd does, but that's because he absolutely has to. Andre is a great fighter, and not every fighter has to be a masterboxer. What Andre does well is he remains tenacious throughout the ENTIRE fight. Floyd has proven that he can casually outbox even the most tenacious fighters. Andre is usually the most tenacious fighter when he fights, but when someone is willing to match his tenacity, I've seen him look less than stellar. Bika gave Ward all that he could handle. That fight was ugly and showed that in order to really have a better than average chance of beating Ward you have to get low down, gritty and grimy. I applaud Ward for what he's done in the last few years, but it was more due to the Super Six tournament than it was Ward himself seeking out the best challenges. Ward deserves all credit for winning, but let's try to keep things somewhat in perspective. Dawson was a ltHW champion who came down and got dominated by a champion who fought at his own best weight. Yes, Ward put on a great performance, but in all honesty it wasn't against the best that Dawson had to offer. Dawson took all the risk by draining down. If Andre Ward is to be even considered close to Mayweather, he should go up to Dawson's own best weight, which is 175lbs, and then try a repeat performance. As much as some hate Mayweather, you can't deny that he's come up through 5 different weight classes and beaten the best each division had to offer with the exception of Tszyu, who priced himself out of a fight. Ward is the king at 168lbs, but he has to do more against better to be considered #1. If Floyd doesn't announce a fight soon and Ward goes up and rematches Dawson and wins like he did last Saturday, then Ward will move up due to Floyd's inactivity and Andre conquering a real World Class challenge and not just some calculated weight-manipulated risk. In terms of talent, Andre Ward is not in Floyd's league. In terms of tenacity however, I feel as though ward has Mayweather beat. Talent isn't everything. Its a lot but it isn't everything. I think Andre Dirrell is more talented than Andre Ward but I'd still pick Ward to win simply because Ward has learned to hone his willpower into his greatest weapon. And I believe that if Ward and Dirrell were ever to meet that willpower would be the deciding factor. Just my 2 cents. Your 100% spot on, good post.

I wouldn't say that. He might not look as flashy and sharp as Floyd is, but he can do anything that Floyd can do. Defensively, he's not as great as Floyd, but he isn't that far behind either. I'd say Ward fight more effectively in the pocket than Floyd does. Floyd is more aesthetically pleasing when he does things that Ward also does, Ward seems to be more workman-like but seems to make things more awkward for opponents. Either way they both got a perfect record.

Ward is diverse, but it's simply a different way...I wouldn't all of a sudden say he's greater than everyone else now... but he's young and therefor has his impressive run...no different than a young Pacman ripping it out vs Barrera, Morales and Marquez...at some point, they have an impressive run vs good opposition... now it's time to see how long he remains on top...how he handles being in a dogfight vs another elite fighter who is able to push him there...how he can come back from a loss if he loses, etc..

Well that's obvious. Ward is the best active fighter right now. Bar none.

I guess stamina, durability, and quick reflexes don't make you athletically gifted? :thinking: Not sure what your parameters are for the word. You called Hopkins athletically gifted. I don't know how long you've been following the sport but anybody who knows a little bit about Hopkins would laugh at that statement.

Hopkins is crafty but he has always had a very low punch output. He is too conservative compared to Ward, who likes to mix it up a little more and be more active. I'm reading a lot of 'Oh Ward is more versatile and more offensive then a Prime B-Hop and B-Hop don't like to mix it up' I think people have gotten so used to the old veteran fox Bernard they forgot just how ruthless and aggressive he was during his true prime. Young Bernard had strength, stamina, punching power, decent handspeed, ring savvy and was much more energetic.I think Bernard's true weight class was actually SMW,he would have been very dominate at 168. I was gunna say... Hopkins only had a low ass punch output going into his old age, I think some people need to go re-watch Hopkins earlier career or something :lol1: I do agree that Hopkins was craftier than Ward a while back, maybe he still is, but Ward is the better fighter... time seems to be catching up with Hopkins a bit. As for Mayweather and Ward... I don't think Ward has earned the right to be ranked above him. You can question what 'problems' Mays style creates, but the truth is he's in his 5th weight class, won world titles at every stop on the way and hasn't lost yet. Ward hasn't left 168 yet, so he hasn't proven (to me, anyway) how far his skills can take him. Although, I have to say, Ward is clearly one to watch. Guy has a bright future.

:lol1: I rest my case. I guess stamina, durability, and quick reflexes don't make you athletically gifted? :thinking: Not sure what your parameters are for the word.

Really depends on what you mean by gifted since it can be said in varying degrees. I think you can't really be at the level he is without being athletically gifted in various ways. I think he's gifted in the same way B-Hop is. :lol1: I rest my case.

Do you know what "gifted" means? :thinking: Ward's level of athleticism is good but nothing special, he wins fights with skills, intelligence and determination.That's what's so impressive about him. Really depends on what you mean by gifted since it can be said in varying degrees. I think you can't really be at the level he is without being athletically gifted in various ways. I think he's gifted in the same way B-Hop is.

Wtf? Ward couldn't do half of what he does if he wasn't athletically gifted. The man has brilliant footwork. Do you know what "gifted" means? :thinking: Ward's level of athleticism is good but nothing special, he wins fights with skills, intelligence and determination.That's what's so impressive about him.

He's more skilled than Pac and would probably beat him in a P4P matchup but Floyd is a different story. Ward is crafty but not athletically gifted, Floyd is both. Wtf? Ward couldn't do half of what he does if he wasn't athletically gifted. The man has brilliant footwork.

Is this even deniable? He is so diverse. He's not like Manny or Floyd where their style creates problems. He's more skilled than Pac and would probably beat him in a P4P matchup but Floyd is a different story. Ward is crafty but not athletically gifted, Floyd is both.

Ward is the P4P best boxer know. A lot of ppl don't like his style but this dude can adjust and makes you fight his fight with an excellent defense. I gave the first two rounds to Dawson with that right hook he was landing. Not only he couldn't land it no more he Ward took away his jab. Great stuff by Ward

So much hate for ward. well he's good but Floyd this Floyd that or manny this manny that. The best run in the past couple years make hime #1 P4P in my book. I am from the era of what have you done me lately and Nobody has done more the Mr. SOG Ward. This is the problem in boxing we as the fans allow fighter to fight outgunned opponent and then make em P4P For wining fight that the were ssuppose to instead of boycottig that crap. Then when someone like ward does what he does and dominates and wins a tournament that had arguably 3 or 4 of the sports best fighter and then he beats the #1 light heavy in the world and yet he is not P4P#1. #1 in my book WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY.

Pac wishes he was as versatile as Ward. And you obviously didn't watch the fight from Saturday, SOG didn't hug and hold at all. :crackhead:

Is this even deniable? He is so diverse. He's not like Manny or Floyd where their style creates problems. floyd is a better boxer period. pac is a better fighter period. Ward isn't diverse... he's using the bhop / ruiz hold-n-hit style... that style is hard to beat... it made bhop a legend, and made ruiz a HW champ

I still think it's Floyd, until proven otherwise. Ward is right behind him though, and it's so close. Floyd still looked good against Cotto, only lost 2-3 rounds. I will say that Ward is currently has the best defense in the sport, and the best I've seen since a prime Floyd.

He didn't have fast hands though, as well as the guile, movement and inside game Ward also has very impressive handspeed. His main problem is he's a 168lb fighter who has already fought almost all the credible competition at the weight. No, Hopkins has always had fast hands, maybe not on par with Ward's but the distinction is hardly there, Hopkins' inside game is also better. I don't know if people know this, but Hopkins' game in the pocket, during his prime, was less dependent on holding a fighter's arm. Even then, in the clinches he was craftier as well.

I think Ward is a better athlete than B-Hop, but B-Hop had a very strong mindset which allowed him use everything he had to the fullest for a very long time. I think Ward uses his abilities excellently but only time will tell if he can sustain that level for a long period.

I think a prime Hopkins was more slicker and craftier than Ward. He didn't have fast hands though, as well as the guile, movement and inside game Ward also has very impressive handspeed. His main problem is he's a 168lb fighter who has already fought almost all the credible competition at the weight.