Ward can make some $ if he goes to Bellew's backyard. Barely sells in the states. Unless its where Ward only fights (at home) with a small venue. I'd take Ward in a decision.
A Ward fight would bore the UK public, Ward has never been exciting to watch, he stinks the place out, whos gonna pay for PPV with him in it. He should go for Stevenson , or if he's really brave the Usyk/Gassiev winner.
I doubt he'd leave Oakland anyway. Bellew and the UK is where the PPV and money is, so it'd have to be in the UK. Andre BORE gets put to SLEEP at cruiser versus Bellew, it'd be fitting really after he's put all the fans to SLEEP with all his boring cure for insomnia fights for years.
Ward should stay away. He started boxing very young. Look around at all of the past champions with CTE. The next time you guys are in Vegas you should go by Floyd's gym. Maybe you'll show up on a day when Roger is totally in outer space. It's a massive does of reality.
I think Ward is a pretty saleable fight for the casuals. Sky can promote it by referring to Ward vs Froch, which as Froch is on the commentary team and loves slagging off Ward should get plenty of interest. I think it would be much harder to promote a fight against a less well-known "Euro-bot", even if they are far more credible in boxing terms. Stevenson would be an easy sell though - good revenge angle.
I see zero chance of this fight ever happening. Ward strikes me as a guy that enjoys fueling the rumor mills. He's more retired than he lets on.
I don't understand why Ward would be open to fight Bellew at heavyweight for far less money than he would have gotten to rematch Frotch in Nottingham.