All you need is a young, fast puncher with real power. Froch had all sort of chances tonight, but he couldn't connect. He was just too bloody slow. Ward really 'aint all that. This division is full of really good fighters, but no great ones.
I'm buying it! :good I just think you need a better version of Pascal to actually pull it off. But given the current state in 168-175, I'd say Pascal (ironically) probably does have the best chance at beating Ward, because a guy like--let's say Cloud--is a bit too predictable. A guy like Dawson MIGHT have the raw skills and talent to trouble Ward, but I think Ward's mental toughness and superior ring IQ help solve that problem for him.
Who's a young fat puncher in 168-175 that fits the bill? I think you're selling Ward short here. He really actially is all that. At least as I see it.
I think there are several ways Ward can be beat, but I don't think there are guys out there right now with the tools to do so, other than POSSIBLY Bute under the best of circumstances: 1) Someone catches him and knocks him out. Need speed and deception to do it, but Ward unquestionably has no better than an average chin. Just nobody has been able to catch it clean lately. 2) Fight dirtier than him, fluster him a bit, then move outside and utilitze a reach advantage. To do this, you need the reach, and you need to be able to occasionally catch him when he comes inside. Froch tried this, but didn't have the quickness for it to work. 3) Fight moving backwards. The whole fight. And have judges that won't dock you when you do it. Ward doesn't have much reach, and while he CAN fight on the outside, that seems to be where he does worst. I still think someone like Dirrell, at his best, could outbox and defeat Ward. On the other hand, someone who fights moving backwards the whole fight is likely to eventually get discouraged by the fact that Ward won't stop trying. There are very few guys out there better at sticking to a gameplan than Ward. Fourth, I've never seen someone up at 168 be able to successfully execute this plan, but just throw 120 punches a round and don't stop, no matter how much he tags you. Cristobal Cruz was able to have success with this routine for a while, and I feel like that might really bother Ward. That said, it's hard as hell to pull off.
Dirrell is the only guy I could see beating him...and that's a stretch right now but next year he could, don't think he will but definitely would be toughest for Ward.
Need a few things cope with his hand speed tight defense good inside and outside as he can do both body punch, it pays dividends and he is hard to hit in the face Bute has tools that are necessary, speed, hand speed, power, and a wild card his left to the body that can change the fight in one shot
I'd say Dirrell if he fights a near perfect fight. Keep the fight at a distance at all times, counter Ward when he tries to come in. But that's a tall order. He would have to time Ward time and time again to keep Ward at bay. And he would have to really use the jab overtime. But he's got the talent to do it. But again, we are talking about him fighting a near prefect fight to do it.
It takes a bad style matchup. Bika gave him hell the first half of the fight. He's just as rugged as Ward & not scared to bang. He wasn't trying to be cute & box with him. He went in there to put in work. Basically someone like that, but at a higher level could give him fits, but there isnt anyone out there at the moment. I'm thinking it would be a guy that is a bad style matchup, but not necessarily considered the elite of the division.