Did Andre Ward squander his prime, or did he pretty much beat all his rivals

Bute doesn't matter. He's about to take on a bigger monster - Kovalev.
168lbs is his prime weight.
He's only just turned 32, he has a good 6 years to go.

W Froch
W Kessler
W Abraham
W Dawson
...is pretty damn awesome.

 

Both

 

Both really. He beat everyone at 168 except BUTE like you said, but that doesn't seem like too big of a deal now. But since then he has pretty much been a wasted talent.

 

He had a great super 6, a tournament in his own backyard but since that what has he done?

In nearly 5 years he has beaten a weight drained Chad Dawson, Edwin Rodriguez and a seriously overweight middleweight Paul Smith at a catchweight.

 

This.

 

The lack of bouts with Dirrell, Bute, Groves and DeGale stick out IMO

 

A bit of both in my opinion. He has squandered a lot of his prime, but you cannot deny that he has beaten most of his rivals at 168.

However if he actually steps into the ring with Kovalev later this year, all will be forgiven.

 

Ward ducked Bute, he also ducked Stevenson who called him out at 168 and 175. He could have fought guys like Grooves or Degale.

Bute was relevent back then. Even now. A way past prime, post Froch, Bute gave Degale, considered by many as the top guy in the division right now, a competitive and close fight.

Ward never cleared the division. Froch did it for him, and guys that he could have fought, he didn't.

 

Of course he doesn't anymore. But he was the IBF champ. Did Ward ever own the IBF SMW belt?atsch Just like their boy some of these Ward Wagon riders think that time stands still.:nut

 

Ward jumped at Dawson's 168-175 offer. But Adonis didn't deserve a shot.:yep

 

I hope many fighters learned from Chad Dawson's mistake. Never make plans for a future fight right after you win in the ring. Because in the ring , right after a fight the winner is usually still riding the adrenaline rush. And is really in no proper frame of mind to negotiate a fight with Max Kellerman as his agent!:tired

 

A SMW tournament where a former middleweight coming off 2 loses ends up in the semi final match.atsch

 

and let's not forget Glen Johnson, who got in to the other semifinal by beating a janitor named Alan Green who used to entertain people in Bute's undercards.

 

Ward had a prime?