Hes damn near CLEARED OUT 168, beat the top 175 in Dawson. Theres really not much competition left for him.in these divisions. He's got Bute/Pascal winner, the Russian who KO'd Campillo, thats about it. He WHOOPED Kessler/Froch, so.theres.no.point in facing the winner. Could he dominate at CRUISER also???
While I agree that it's unlikely anyone beats Ward 168 or 175 it isn't quite as clear cut as your trying to make it sound. He beat Dawson, but a weight drained Dawson a rematch at 175 could be quite different. I think he would take apart Pascal or Bute, both fights could probably sell though. The Kovalev fight could be interesting 12-18 months down the line. He didn't whoop Kessler or Froch he outboxed Kessler while using some very questionable tactics. He won the Froch fight but it was a lot more competitive than a lot of people like to acknowledge, neither guy got whooped and Ward would get a lot of credit for defeating the winner of the 2 in their own country. He's still got enough options to keep him busy for the next year or 2.
There will be a point in fighting Froch or Kessler again depending on which one comes out on top later this year, and that point will be $$$. Ward/Froch II or Ward/Kessler II are the biggest potential super fights Ward has on the horizon and the biggest potential payday, and either man will be the most legitimate challenger to Ward in his current division after the result of their fight. If Ward move up, fine. No point in fighting Froch or Kessler then. He'd have beaten the best the Super Middleweights had to offer and moved on to pastures new, but if he's going stick around the Super Middleweights for the next few years then he's going to have to fight one of them, he'll have no excuse not to.
I have to agree, there are not many if any that would be able to beat Ward. He is unfortunate that there are not many top fighters around that havent been beaten already. Ward didnt really clear the SMW division, he beat Kessler and the rest happened. The problem was that Kessler was the best the division had to offer and Kessler was past best. At LHW Hopkins at 48 has already cleared that out a bit which shows that it is also not a very strong division, so unless Bute clearly beats Pascal, which I think he will, then there arent too many top fights for Ward. I dont think it would be a good idea for Ward to go up to CW as I think he might be a bit undersized with his close style of fighting
I say he easily outclassed Kessler not whooped . . . but your second part of your statement really makes me wonder if you watched the fight. Ward looked Floydques that night against Froch, he made Carl look like a amateur that night. I seriously had a hard time find rounds to give to Carl. I was not a fan of Wards at that point but the S6 showed how special he was.
Now I'm not saying he will beat him, but I'd like to see the challenge, Perivan fighting BIKA next on Showtime Undercard to maidana lopez, angulo lara. This content is protected MARCO ANTONIO PERIVAN 6'3 with 78" nicknamed the Mexican Monster! won 20 (KO 13) + lost 0 (KO 0) [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X42Kx_lZxTA[/url]
lol i don't know much about this guy, but Bika is going to destroy this guy, nevermind what Ward would do..
Ward vs Pascal is a good match, although Pascal is limited and his stamina is terrible we havent seen Ward's chin tested, Pascal would at least test it, Ward probably win a UD but Pascal will give him a hard fight for the first 6 rounds, i can see Ward getting knocked down
how would Pascal be the one to test it, when he's already fought Bika, Froch, Kessler, and Abraham? old man Bhop sonned this mental midget twice... easy night of boxing for Ward.