If you take the amount of fights that Ward is into his career and his accomplishments compared to where Floyd was after 26 fights? Personally, I think so. In my mind Ward also has the skills and balls to fight any top guy and make his overall legacy better than Floyd's too.
when you move up 5 weight divisions, it means theres going to be boxers so called ducked. ward being in one division has dominated the division. Id take going through 5 weight divisions and being number 1 in most of them, over just dominating one division.
Even if we use the tiny scope you are, after 26 fights(not to mention Floyd was younger when he turned pro), he's still more impressive. Floyd Genaro Hernandez Diego Corrales Jesus Chavez Carlos Hernandez Angel Manfredy Ward Dawson Froch Kessler Abraham Bika Floyd has the better wins and looked better getting them lol...Imagine if he had said after 27 fights? (Floyd fought Castillo in his 27th)
It doesn't even work within the parameters you've set, it certainly wouldn't had you included their whole careers up to now, with half of Floyd's best wins coming afterward. There's no way you can say Ward's career is more impressive.
Most groupings of 5 or 6 opponents on Floyd's resume include names superior to the likes of Abraham, Froch, and Kesslar. Whatever you want to define as a "murderer's row" is simply trumped by the quality of opposition Floyd has faced.
Floyd best 2 wins out of his first 26 were Hernandez and Corrales, who were about as highly regarded at the time as Kessler and Froch, if not more highly. Manfredy, Jesus Chavez and C.Hernandez were also considered damn tough, top contenders at the time, at least as good as Bika, AA and weight-drained Dawson. I'm a huge fan of both, but you don't really have a case here.
I would have to agree if we are talking about 26 fights. Both at the same age, I'm rolling with Floyd though.
What is greater about Ward's career so far then about Floyd's entire SFW career? How are Ward's first 26 fights more impressive when Floyd's first 26 gained him recognition as arguably the GOAT@130?
nahh Ward took on a division kingpin instead...in Dawson... Bute is and was a fraud... Props Froch for exposing him.. but imagine if was the other way arround... I don't think Froch gets through Dawson and Ward goes on to chopping Bute up... Between the 2 Floyd is the 5 time Division champ and Ward is still climbing.. if Ward has good runs at LHW and Cruiser then in the end his resume may constitute he was better than Floyd..
Ward cleaned out the division which is something Floyd didn't do. Last time I checked, the other two champions in the division are fighters Ward has already out classed. Also Ward is arguably the GOAT at 168 as well (I personally think he is). Ward is on an amazing run right now.