Who should Andre Ward fight next?

[kiDynamite92]

Wladamir Klitchko

[Outwest Exp 355]

Ward should be moving up to 175. Hes already cleaned out 168. Whats the point of staying there?

[Bushbaby]

I'd like to see Ward move up to light heavy. Absolutely no reason to remain at 168.

[Weebler I]

Ward should be moving up to 175. Hes already cleaned out 168. Whats the point of staying there?

Ward said at this point in his development he's a 168lb fighter and is not ready to move up.

[MikeRo1972]

I'd like for him to beat the brakes off of his "friend" Andre Dirrell, there's unfinished business there.

Then go international and travel to fight Steiglitz, DeGale, etc. nothing to lose. If he gets robbed he keeps his p4p status anyway and probably increases his fan base. The WBC already wrongfully stripped him and by now he should know the belts mean nothing now that he is almost a unanimous 2nd behind Floyd as the best in the world. He doesn't ever need to pay another sanctioning fee EVER. Go abroad young man, it's the last thing haters have on you, prove you're not afraid to leave the US.

[King_]

Bute.

I'm to probably get burned for this, but..

He has the best chance of any fighter at 168 to beat him, IMO.

SEriously, I don't understand some posters on here logic, especially regarding Bute. Now first and foremost, I'm NOT saying Bute will beat ward.... But people act like Bute is some bum because Froch destroyed him. First thigs first Bute was always known to have a weak chin, even in the amateurs.

The problem I have regarding Bute by some people on this site, is people like to give an unofficial W to ward automatically against Bute just because Froch beat him. COMPLETELY different styles/matchup are Froch and ward. The Froch loss says absolutely nothing about Butes chances against ward. IMO. After that fight people were calling Bute a bum and saying Ward will obliterate him. Bute has MAJOR boxing skills, he got KOd by a ***ing gladiator, a ward-Bute fight will be completeeey different clash of styles.

Again Im not saying Bute will beat Ward, and he obviously would need to pick up a win against Someone like Pascal first..l. But I believe he has the best shot out of anyone at 168 to dethrone ward. People were calling for Bute-Ward before the Bute Froch fight and once Froch beat Bute, all of a sudden Bute is a bum? Froch is a top 3 SMW, a come forward fighter with good power against a boxer with a glass chin........ Totally different type of fight then a potential Ward-Bute fight.

Just because Fighter A(ward) beat fighter B (Froch) and fighter B beat fighter C (Bute) does not mean fighter A will beat fighter C. It doesn't work like that...... Especially considering the fact that Froch and Ward are completely different fighters with different skillsets and styles. it's like saying Bute beat Grachev, and Grachev beat Sillakh, so that automatically means Bute beats Sillakh.


With all of that being said, I would be absolutely stunned to see Ward lose against anyone at 168 (including Froch-Kessler) but I would not be as shocked to see him lose against Bute. I think he has the best shot out of anybody. Froch loss aside, he's still a top 5 SMW I think.


For the record: I think Ward beats Bute. But people have been Wanting to see that fight for a while, and I Dont think a loss to top 3 warrior Carl Froch should disqualify Bute from that opportunity (assuming he takes care of business against Pascal) plus Ward pretty much cleaned out the top 3-5 besides Stiegiltz/Bute, so it's a fresh fight and a W against Bute will be a great title defense and good name for Ward on his resume. Aside from Bute there is really no one else for Ward at 168

IMO.

[teddycanyon]

Ward said at this point in his development he's a 168lb fighter and is not ready to move up.

there aren't any guys who leap out as #1 contenders unfortunately.
I don't think Arum risks any more hits to the Chavez Jr. stock in the foreseeable future, I was surprised to hear that they were even considering Martin Murray. So he's out.

I think Groves is going after Stieglitz's belt, so let's rule him out for the time being.

The four most likely opponents I think all have fights coming up, so it's going to be a while before we see Ward back in the ring again, maybe like November/December.
1) Edwin Rodriguez I think might be the most likely opponent. He's at least #6 rated in all four major sanctioning bodies, and he's the #3 to the belt Ward still holds in emeritus. He's not a bad fighter and he could get some Dominican support if the fight is held in MSG or somewhere on the east coast
2) Gennady Golovkin, HBO seems to be really supporting him, one of the best moves I've seen that network make in a while. Of course they love Andre Ward, allowing him to do guest commentary and such and such. If Golovkin beats Macklin, he either fights Quillin (doubtful) or HBO tries to push for the super fight. It can happen people! No real promotional entanglements on this one.
3) Adonis Stevenson, originally Froch's #1 contender, he's going after Dawson's belt at 175, and if he's successful (he'll probably be a live underdog), we could see Stevenson go down to 168 to take on Ward.
4) the winner of Sakio Bika-Marco Antonio Periban. Obviously the weakest of the four options since Ward already beat Bika, and who the **** is Periban anyway? But Ward might want to reclaim the unified belt upon returning, and this would be an easy way to do that.

[teddycanyon]

having said that, in a perfect world I'd like to see him fight Hopkins, but it won't happen

[Hitman Hodgson]

Hopkins or Dirrell. **** this 'friend' BS.

[KickAzz]

Ward said at this point in his development he's a 168lb fighter and is not ready to move up.

he's waiting on chavez jr and the ginger to move up maybe