Why didn't Andre Ward become a superstar

[-Kev-]

He was at 168, name the last actual superstar at 168? Calzaghe? Froch? not even they were big PPV stars. They were stars but not superstars. Calzaghe benefited from fighting Jones and Hopkins but Ward never had names like that.

No matter who you are in history, it takes two. Ward never had that. Sure he had popular tough opponents like Kessler, Froch, Kovalev, Abraham, Dawson but none of them were superstars.

He was 1 weight class too big. Had he fought at 160, he had gotten the chance to fight Martinez, Chavez Jr, Lee, Golovkin, Pavlik, Jacobs, Canelo, Cotto, Williams, Taylor, Sturm, Wright (at the tail end of his career).

He fought everybody he was supposed to and won but unfortunately none of them were superstars.

[millcitymauler]

He's not that high up.

Not even close to top 25...

[HandsofIron]

Because 168 hasn't been as famous or as popular as the Welterweight division and I doubt it'll ever be.

The problem with Super Middleweight is that it doesn't have enough good prospects and historically it never did.

[dibzvincent143]

Ward is very charismatic compared to someone like Golovkin. He's just as charismatic as an Anthony Joshua

Unfortunately, standards for African Americans are very different than that of other boxers from different ethnic backgrounds

Those are two knockout punchers. And GGG wasn’t much of a draw even then.
Was hopkins ever a draw? Nope. Great technical fighters but they’re hard to watch even for the hardcore fans, let alone the casuals.
Most casuals even find floyd boring.

It’s either you’re interesting outside the ring, or inside. Ward didn’t make up for both.

[Chollo Vista]

Those are two knockout punchers. And GGG wasn’t much of a draw even then.
Was hopkins ever a draw? Nope. Great technical fighters but they’re hard to watch even for the hardcore fans, let alone the casuals.
Most casuals even find floyd boring.

It’s either you’re interesting outside the ring, or inside. Ward didn’t make up for both.

Is Daniel Jacobs not a knockout puncher?

[TonyGe]

Ward is very charismatic compared to someone like Golovkin, Canelo or Pacquiao. He's just as charismatic as an Anthony Joshua

Unfortunately, standards for African Americans are very different than that of other boxers from different ethnic backgrounds

Ward isn't charismatic at all. And that comment about African American boxers is a gross exaggeration.

[Chollo Vista]

Ward isn't charismatic at all. And that comment about African American boxers is a gross exaggeration.

Ward and Joshua have the same personality

If Ward was from the UK he'd be a star. Same with Daniel Jacobs

Blacks don't have to coon in the UK like they do in the US

[moochi]

Heis argubally a top 25 great and one of the most skilled boxers in history. Looking back, I feel he should've been on the same level as Floyd when it came to popularity. Why didn't Ward ever reach those heights?

He didn't become a super star because he WASN'T a super star.

There is only so much you can get for being a great fighter in your own backyard with home town judges and referees.

He really should have had 3-4 losses on his record (inclusive of a couple DQs).

[dibzvincent143]

Is Daniel Jacobs not a knockout puncher?

Aside from being promoted right they are a ton of factors to be a star. Jacobs lost by KO, diagnosed by cancer. Didn’t have significant wins.

Ward just didn’t have the key ingredients. Most guys don’t. Even crawford who is already 31, also not boring, ain’t a star.

Wanna be a star? Entertain the casuals. Have a character. Win the biggest fights. Help yourself. It ain’t gonna be given.

[D4thincarnation]

Boring style, boring personality.