Since SMW (168lb) was created.. Who beats Andre Ward

Ward is immensely talented, and I think he genuinely believes he never got the respect he deserved, and I tend to believe there is truth in that. On the flip side, Ward definitely seemed to have a sense of self-entitlement.

If the right opportunity emerged, I wouldn't be surprised to see him back again at some point in the next few years, but I also wouldn't be shocked if he really did call it a day.

As for the Kovalev fights, the majority of observers did believe Kovalev won the first fight. I had Ward edging it myself, but I am definitely in the minority. But the rematch I think Ward proved above and beyond that he was the superior boxer all around. And it seems to me that among his critics and detractors, that his most vocal haters act as if he was performing like Golota from Bowe-Golota II, and that couldn't be further from the truth. As Roger Bloodworth was always fond of saying with regards to the specifics of any boxing match, "That's why they call it a fight".

I wish Ward hadn't retired either, in the sense that I think match-ups between him and a lot of the up-and-comers at 175 would have been fascinating match-ups. And I think there's a chance that Ward could have gotten through that bunch with his unblemished record intact. But I don't think any of those guys, paired with Ward who himself is no big name, make it lucrative enough in the risk-reward realm.

Now if one of those guys emerges as the clear best among the rest, maybe Ward will come back if the dust doesn't take too long to settle. But sadly, I think it will take awhile to settle. And I wouldn't be surprised if Kovalev is the one standing atop the mountain when the dust eventually does settle. That could maybe make a 3rd Kovalev-Ward bout feasible. And even if I'm wrong about Kovalev being the guy, and it winds up being Gvozdyk or Beterbiev or Bivol or someone else (take your pick), that could maybe be something that lures Ward back.

As great as I think Ward's career was, it does fall just a bit short of the mark where his critics have just enough of an opening, where the extremist faction attempts to reduce him down to the lowest possible denominator, all things considered.

 

Of the fights he had from the start of the Super 6, I actually think Bika gave him his toughest test. Calzaghe advocates are big to jump on this point, along with the fact that Joe beat Kessler first, as a couple of the primary reasons that Joe should be ranked higher than Ward. It's true Joe beat those guys first, and it's true Kessler was probably better for wear back when he fought Calzaghe. But Bika always ran a little hot and cold, and I think he was really on his game against Ward. In fact, if memory serves, Ward himself conceded it took him about 6 rounds before he was able to effectively make an adjustment to Bika's tactics.

He dominated everyone else from the start of the Super 6 up until his last fight at 168. Unless you want to count the Boone fight, but that was definitely pre-prime, and in the developmental phase. So Bika's the answer.