With the 172 catch weight, is andre ward really a 168 fighter, or a 175 fighter?

[Scipio2009]

gold medalist at 178 lbs who squeezed down to 168 for advantage

should fight at 175 as a professional

once claimed he would finish career at heavyweight

won the gold medal at his walkaround weight of near 174 (moved up a division to open up a spot on the Olympic team for Andre Dirrell, another medal hopeful for Team USA), and then immediately debuted at 160 as a pro (where he fought his first ten fights and spent the first two years of his career).

Started to fill-in to a bigger frame, so he moved up to 168. Just turned 31, the body is filling out even more (not to mention the 16-month layoff), so he's at the point where he's considering moving up to 175.

The claim of wanting to win a heavyweight title one day, not campaigning as a heavyweight, is an aspirational goal (Roy Jones Jr, at the age of 34, was the undisputed light heavyweight champion, saw John Ruiz with a heavyweight championship, and took his shot; spent the next 6 months getting his body to 200 pounds, walked into the fight likely near 195, used his speed/skill to outclass a plodder, and then immediately vacated the belt to go back down to 175).

Ward is easily 6' tall and looks to have the frame to comfortably get himself into the 195-205 range needed to give himself a chance (about 4 years ahead of Roy's path, with a more fundamental boxing craft to back him too, likely giving him a bit more time than that).

Ward isn't going to fight Klitscko or Wilder or Fury or Joshua or any of the giant heavyweights, but if one of those guys slips up in Ward's time window (ie a regular-sized fighter like Marco Huck gets his hands on a heavyweight championship), why wouldn't he take the chance? Skill for skill, he'd be the better fighter, and the size discrepancy wouldn't be super ridiculous. Once one of the giant's becomes a mandatory, you drop the belt and move down a division (Roy made the mistake of trying to go from a fit 195-200 pounds immediately down to a fit 175).

[Fetta]

It's 4 lbs above his usual weight, and he IS getting older. I imagine these are the 1st steps into a 175 run. He cleaned out 168 and he can't afford to wait for GGG to move up as he waits his own meal ticket with either Cotto or Canelo.

Holy Crap!! The Rock-n-Roll Express!!

[Achcauhtli]

He should move up to 175 already. Time isnt on his side and he beat everyone of not at 168lbs. Time to prove his worth. I really want to see if he can be great, not just good.