Will Andre Ward have a better career than Bernard Hopkins?

[The Surgeon]

Ward has done everything right so far and looked great doing it so i cant count him out..... HOWEVER Hopkins' really racked up the defences and his longevity and ability even now at the age of 47 count for a whole lot, he had some big wins too

I cant see it but i will be rootin for young Andre to pull it off

[Brother Jay]

let me know when he gets to atleast 10 title defenses,then becomes undisputed champ then we can begin to debate

I don't think Ward has had a better career than Hopkins yet. However its important to remember that Hopkins career wasn't ATG until he fought Taylor.

Bernard Hopkins hadn't fought a champion from 1988-2001. That's a hell of a long time to avoid champions. I don't care how many guys BHOP defended his IBF portion of the MW championship against.

In my book, Monzon still holds the record for title defenses because Hopkins was defending only one part of the MW championship. Monzon was the undisputed champion. Hopkins most certainly was not.

Hopkins career wasn't really that impressive until 2001 when he fought WW Trinidad and later on WW DLH in 2004. He got some praise, but come on .. he was waiting for little guys to move up. No real challenge there.

Its was in 2005 that Hopkins FINALLY stepped up. Even in defeat, Hopkins did more in his two fights against Taylor than he did in all of those other years as the IBF champion. He actually fought a young, hungry talented fighter. The last time he had done that was against a young Roy Jones.

Then, his career soared when he defeated Antonio Tarver, Not many gave an aged Hopkins much of a chance up at ltHW, but he pulled it out and looked great doing it.

It was at that point that Hopkins began looking like a ATG. He was already a HOF'er because of his title defenses, but he hadn't really beaten anyone legacy worthy except 2 WWs UNTIL he beat Tarver.

After that point, he's only lost once. He's got upset wins over Pavlik and Pascal. RJJ was a shadow of his former glory at the point they rematched.

Still, Hopkins really turned it up in his twilight. I give credit where it's due. I've never been particularly fond of Hopkins as a fighter, but its hard to deny that he finally began conducting his career like a true champion towards the end.

Ward is off to an excellent start. He's got a ways to go before anyone begins talk of him outdoing BHOP career-wise, but if he continues to fight the #1 and #2 in his division, defends his titles, unifies and moves up to ltHW for a showdown with Dawson, he could conceivably outdo BHOP by 2015.

The only reason this is possible is because BHOP squandered a lot of important legacy-building years from 1988-2001. To not have fought any champions within that window really hurt BHOP's legacy.

We have to call it like it is.

[Bushbaby]

Now while many dislike Hopkins, (who I believe is the greatest active fighter), I believe this is a harsh thing to assume of Ward. B-Hop just needs to retire & he's a shoe in to the hof.

[sicko]

I see Ward dominating at 168 (INCLUDING BUTE) and eventually at 175, the problem will be finding that "RIVAL" and having those great matching on his Resume, I think he will dominate so much that a lot of his matches won't even be close...THUS more fans will call him "BORING"

People are hyping up Bute but I think Ward would be Physically TOO STRONG FOR BUTE and would murder him inside and will be able to just Push Bute Around and get him against the Ropes

The Toughest Fight(s) for Ward would be Andre Dirrell (a fight that may never happen) and Chad Dawson at 175...Chad Dawson IMO would be the toughest test in Ward's career, but you also have some up and coming fighters that will be a threat to Ward like Oosthuizen at 168, Groves and DeGales and at 175 Luis Garcia, Ismayl Sillakh, Nathan Cleverly...so Ward will have a lot of people coming after his Crown over the next few years so he will have plenty of chances to prove his greatness

[I Love Jesus!]

Yeah 20 straight title defenses, but how many elite fighters did Hopkins beat during that streak? The most impressive thing about Hopkins career is longevity.

No I think your young and don't understand boxing. No offense but you'll see. Aguy can be an elite fighter for a short time. Then he gets crushed and all the sudden he's a bum. Yeah but he was elite. David reed and Jeff lacy "were" elite fighters.

[$tate of Mind]

I could see Ward reigning as P4P #1 for many years. I just don't see him fighting as long as B-Hop has.

[Boxingtech718v2]

It's difficult to say I think Ward right will end up moving to LHW. So we will have to see how he does there first.

[I Love Jesus!]

I like Hopkins but his biggest wins on his resume are naturally smaller fighters.

People refuse to accept that Hopkins is a natural middleweight. He is 100%. The guy weighed 157 at 40 years old and didn't gain a pound in like 20 years. He has a big frame and looked huge at 160 but that's great genetics. He was a middleweight naturally like any other 160 pounder. The haters can't get over it.

I'm not calling you a hater.

[MurkaMan]

??????????

NO WAY...Bernard has a dolled pretty record, but Ward is in a whole new era...he will NEVER be able to crack that record...I mean Bernard did allot of things...most of his opponents where small cherrypicked....but Ward is in an era where there's not enough names...if he can beat the best and remain undefeated he will get some props

[$tate of Mind]

No I think your young and don't understand boxing. No offense but you'll see. Aguy can be an elite fighter for a short time. Then he gets crushed and all the sudden he's a bum. Yeah but he was elite. David reed and Jeff lacy "were" elite fighters.

Haha, please explain how Jeff Lacy was elite? A fighter needs to beat top level competition for a sustained period of time to become elite. Was Buster Douglas elite because he beat Tyson. Was Mayorga elite because he beat Forrest (RIP) twice?