I'm a big Calzaghe fan but I'll admit in terms of resume if Ward keeps on going the way he has been lately he will have surpassed Calzaghe in about 2 years I think. Not sure the Pavlik fight does too much for his resume though.
He's fought people who used to be good when Joe Cal was about. he has not beat anyone of note and probably will never get the opponents. So far his opposition has been either past it or overrated.
As of today, it's arguable. I'd rate Froch and prime Kessler about the same. Lacy and Dawson fall into the same category, as both were billed as big fights but neither opponent delivered. Then it's declined Hopkins and Eubank, along with Reid and a few others versus (slightly past prime) Kessler, Abraham, et al. It's close, but I think Joe does have a few good contenders in there. But Ward has fought better opposition over a sustained stretch. Pavlik and Eubank are probably comparable at this point. A rematch over Kessler or Froch gets it for Ward for certain.
I would say it already has if not very close to it. Joey beat a going downhill old Chris Eubank and just look at when he decided to fight Kessler? Compare Ward performance with Kessler against Joe's. Andre took on that fight early on in his career and dominated.
I don't see how beating Froch and Kessler again does anything for Ward. He utterly dominated Kessler and he clearly beat Froch. And at Froch's age, the difference in speed will only get greater.
I actually rate Calzaghe still slightly ahead because a win over Hopkins trumps anything in Ward's resume. But a solid win or two will get him the nod.
Calzaghe was a home town fighter.. and this hurts his legacy, but Ward is worse - so until he takes at least one competitive fight abroad, He has never seen adversity in terms of location.
Not until he holds ALL the 168lbs belts. Calzaghe did that and has his name in the record books for it. I think Carl Froch's resume surpasses Calzaghe's in terms of opponents he's fought against and beaten, never mind Andre Ward. However, here in Britain many still regard Calzaghe the better champion because he unified the belts and Froch hasn't. Ward's only held two world titles, Calzaghe held 4 at one point, even if he fought weaker opposition. If Ward can unify all the belts then yes, he'll have surpassed Calzaghe in terms of legacy and fan opinions. Until then though, Calzaghe will be the man the record books remember.