Ward is in one of those be damned if you do be damned if you dont situations.
Ward is the lineal champion at 168 and has beaten most of the top guys....Bika holds a belt, he beat him. Froch hold a belt, he beat him. Perennial contender former beltholder Kessler is someone he beat. There really is no one left and Martinez and GGG wont be moving up to fight him.
175 has a lot more options. I doubt he fights Hopkins but their is Pascal-Bute winner or loser, Kovalov, Stevenson, former belt holders Cleverly and Cloud. Beibet shumenov is their too.
I say he fights Stevenson outright and claim another world title and clean up at 175