Not seen enough of both, but probably Ward by hard fought UD. But Bute ko'ing Ward is also possible, Bute body shots are wicked.
Just consider the level of competition of late. Ward is going around taking on top 10 SMWs while Bute is fighting Larry, Moe and Curly. And Ward doesn't just win, he pretty much dominates. He dominated Kessler and Green. Bika was closer but he separated himself from 9-12.
Bute is a Glass Jawed fraud and irrelevance in the 168lb division. As long as he keeps fightin' school teachers, off duty cops, liquor store workers and janitors, he always will be.
Do you really think Allan Green is a worthy opponent? Ward's next opponent was Bika. Guess what, Bute has already beat him, and he did it better than Ward. Bute has faced more top ten than Ward who has only 2 on his resume. Saying Ward is dominating his opponents is hilarious. Have you watched the fights? He was not able to knock Green out in a boring fight. He struggled against Bika until the last bell. You call that dominating? What are you talking about?
My two favorite fighters...pretty much a toss-up for me. I could see Ward outworking Bute on the inside, incorporating some dirty boxing and getting into his head. Bute is a slick boxer though, and great on the counter. It's pretty much a matter of who can impose his will. In this circumstance you have to favor Ward, although Bute has heart and that is the wild card IMO...
Bute by knockout!!! However, Ward will have to have his home town, his judges, his personal referee. Only Ward can use his head, his referee said so.............SOB Ward is a cheat..............Ward refused to fight in the tournament unless he got "all" his fights in his home town with his personal referee, with head butts legal, for SOB Ward only. Ward used his "billy goat" punch from across the entire ring, Ward's personal referee should have disqualified Ward, but instead stopped the fight on an illegal head butt, claiming that illegal head butts are legal for Ward, and only Ward.........watch the tape.............even the commentators mentioned the illegal,intentional head butt! Even when Ward fought a champion, he had to have the fight in his home town! How sick......................