If Floyd, Ward and Wlad stay retired, they'll be inducted into IBHOF in 2023. That's pretty good list.
Atg at 168 really stellar resume. 175 he fought the man of the division twice - most had him losing the first fight and the second fight he improved but the ending was controversial for sure. So if you're fair you'd say he went 1-1 against the best lhw. However he really broke Kovalev's monster image In the second fight which is impressive in its own right. Great career. Hof. For sure. Tough guy. His father would be proud.
One of the best ever fighters. Ward, Golovkin and Gonzalez are an incredible trio of talent and all will be missed. There's an argument, perhaps a strong one, that Golovkin is still prime, but I feel he doesn't have long left in the fight game. Are they on the Mayweather/Pacquiao level? For me yes. Not there exactly but there or there about a for me.
Ward was P4P #1 for a moment maybe. Like it was written with a sharpie on stone, and then the first rain washed it away. His P4P #1 status was never carved in stone.
very good resume never left home / always had his own judges and ref. the american sven ottke albeit he fought better opposition.
He's far from an all-time great. I don't see much of an historical legacy. How many proper good fighters did he even face ? I never understood how he became rated so highly among all boxers. He seemed to barely fight for a few years and came back with wins over nobodies until facing Kovalev, another overrated fighter. This was a weak division surely On the plus side, he's retired as champion, and 32-0. So he's got a lot to be proud of.
Judging by the hate mongers, SOG is a true heart breaker and soul taker, haters have lost their arses betting against ward, rooting against ward, based on this alone he is a true HOF and ATG. His resume, His record, and skills speak for themselves.
History will look at the undefeated record and the results. The footnotes might mention that the first Kovalev fight was close and that many scored it for Kovalev, but that Ward erased any doubt and sealed his greatness in the rematch. Any 'controversy' about the rematch is just manufactured controversy from the haters that will be forgotten by anyone whose opinion matters. Unlike Floyd it should be pointed out too that there can't be any talk about when he beat his competition. He went through a tournament when he couldn't pick and choose, and beat the best out there, Kessler, Abraham, Froch. And he fought Kovalev in his prime, when he was considered by some as the very best p4p. He fought his best opponents when they were at their best. No, Ward's legacy is secure.
When people hate elite fighters, it usually means they're pretty darn good. HOF for sure. ATG ... not so sure.