Will Ward eventually vacate and avoid his mandatory challenger in Beterbiev?

If Ward wins, he can maybe do a unification fight with the Pimp. Adonis Stevenson. That's a great way to duck Beterbiev.

 

i don't think this is necessarily true in the case becuase even if he beats kovalev it doesn't mean he has even began cleaning out 175

lots of people think beterbiev would beat kovalev, so it would only make sesne that ward would have to face him, along with gvodsyk and bivol and stevenson

it will be held against him if he decides to retire or cherry pick if he wins this fight, you can't enter a completely packed divison fight one guy and then retire when there are tons of other great fights to be made

for example if usyk moved up to heavyweight , beat wilder then decided to retire, everyone would be like why didn't he face joshua, why didn''t get face fury etc

 

I think Ward has a chance against Beterbiev because of the difference in pro experience and speed. Beterbiev is a beast and not a name so Ward will avoid him and retire without an official loss.

 

I think win or lose, this may be Ward's last fight. If he
beats Kovalev again then retires you can't use the ducking
excuse if he doesn't fight (Stevenson or Beterbiev), he
beat the top LHW.

I personally think whoever the winner is should fight
Beterbiev or Stevenson and I think if Kovalev wins,
he will, but if Ward wins and retires (he's been a pro since 04),
it's not a case of ducking. Only scenario where you
could throw the "duck" card would be Ward wins and doesn't retire, and fights
say Alvarez or Joe Smith, that would be questionable.