Is Andre Ward a "Great" fighter?

[Mars_ax]

I'm curious what everyone thinks.

[Carl9234]

I thought ward looked fantastic on Saturday. And bearing in mind he was in with one of the top men in the decision makes his performance all the more impressive.

Wether he's 'great' is probably too early to judge at this stage but he certainly looked well on his way to becoming great.

[shza]

I thought ward looked fantastic on Saturday. And bearing in mind he was in with one of the top men in the decision makes his performance all the more impressive.

Wether he's 'great' is probably too early to judge at this stage but he certainly looked well on his way to becoming great.

Agreed. This poll needs an option for "Maybe. It is way too early to tell." He's not experienced enough to have proven greatness but he certainly isn't out of the running.

If he holds down the division for the next 6-7 years (including beating Bute) or goes up to LHW, cleans it out (including beating Dawson, who I think is the #1 toughest opponent for him), and rules there for a number of years, then this question will be appropriate.

I can't vote for any of the listed options.

[ReBeL BLacK]

I thought ward looked fantastic on Saturday. And bearing in mind he was in with one of the top men in the decision makes his performance all the more impressive.

Wether he's 'great' is probably too early to judge at this stage but he certainly looked well on his way to becoming great.

Yes Ward is certainly not "Great" just yet but I believe that he is the fastest growing and most potential candidate to reach great in the coming years. I just dont see him being defeated, no Bute's no Dirrell brothers can defeat this guy and I believe within the next three years he will earn a spot in the top 5 p4p rankings. Certainly on his way to the top, I said this once he dismantled mikkel

[TeleTuff]

I would say Ward is on the cusp,or better put like said earlier Ward has the tools to be Great,but in A effort to not cheapin the term "Great" it is too early to call him Great,..Ward seems to be A humble Guy and would probably say the same himself.

[Beanz]

The morning after the fight I posted this on the fight sticky thread

"In the early hours of Sunday morning, Carl Froch was comprehensively beaten by Andre Ward. His bravery and durability in withstanding a 12 round onslaught by a former Olympic gold medallist 7 years his junior can not be questioned. The Cobra was made to look sluggish, almost pedestrian at times by the slick American, a boxer whose greatest asset seems to be the ease with which he makes himself unhittable. The elusiveness of Ward was not the surprise on the night, it was his willingness and ability to stand and trade with Froch, forcing the old school warrior from Nottingham back against the ropes, turning his own vicious long game back on to the older man. Carl rallied late on and over a vintage 15 rounds he may well have caught up with a fading Ward, but it is 2011 and over a championship distance of 12 rounds the venom was drawn from the cobra's bite. The snap usually present in his punches, was nullified by Ward's excellent reflexes, and as a counter puncher relentlessly marching forward, it is the Californian man whose name will go down in the record books as holder of 3 belts and winner of the super 6 tournament. Pound for pound Ward has made a case to crash into the top 5, and if he continues to fight like he did against Froch it will just be a matter of time before his name is mentioned in tandem with greatness."

On reflection

He is a great fighter but not yet A Great. I find it difficult to call myself a fan because of his style and personality, but I cannot deny his technical ability, determination and heart. His problem maybe finding opposition against whom his greatness can be defined. After Bute, if and when that happens, who is really going to take him into the trenches without going up a division? He does bulldoze forward with his head, and due to a virtually non-existent personality outside the ring I can see him having problems building a fanbase on a par with his not inconsiderable achievements. I called him a chump before the fight and his comments "thanking the saints" who prayed for him really didn't do him any favours, but as a fighter he has shut my mouth. Being allowed to fight at home so much until Sunday raised a few doubts, but I think if he is to avoid a stalemate with Bute, they will both have to fight somewhere unfamiliar and that will answer a few more questions about each fighter.

[ReBeL BLacK]

The morning after the fight I posted this on the fight sticky thread

"In the early hours of Sunday morning, Carl Froch was comprehensively beaten by Andre Ward. His bravery and durability in withstanding a 12 round onslaught by a former Olympic gold medallist 7 years his junior can not be questioned. The Cobra was made to look sluggish, almost pedestrian at times by the slick American, a boxer whose greatest asset seems to be the ease with which he makes himself unhittable. The elusiveness of Ward was not the surprise on the night, it was his willingness and ability to stand and trade with Froch, forcing the old school warrior from Nottingham back against the ropes, turning his own vicious long game back on to the older man. Carl rallied late on and over a vintage 15 rounds he may well have caught up with a fading Ward, but it is 2011 and over a championship distance of 12 rounds the venom was drawn from the cobra's bite. The snap usually present in his punches, was nullified by Ward's excellent reflexes, and as a counter puncher relentlessly marching forward, it is the Californian man whose name will go down in the record books as holder of 3 belts and winner of the super 6 tournament. Pound for pound Ward has made a case to crash into the top 5, and if he continues to fight like he did against Froch it will just be a matter of time before his name is mentioned in tandem with greatness."

On reflection

He is a great fighter but not yet A Great. I find it difficult to call myself a fan because of his style and personality, but I cannot deny his technical ability, determination and heart. His problem maybe finding opposition against whom his greatness can be defined. After Bute, if and when that happens, who is really going to take him into the trenches without going up a division? He does bulldoze forward with his head, and due to a virtually non-existent personality outside the ring I can see him having problems building a fanbase on a par with his not inconsiderable achievements. I called him a chump before the fight and his comments "thanking the saints" who prayed for him really didn't do him any favours, but as a fighter he has shut my mouth. Being allowed to fight at home so much until Sunday raised a few doubts, but I think if he is to avoid a stalemate with Bute, they will both have to fight somewhere unfamiliar and that will answer a few more questions about each fighter.

Very well said by the way
but I don't know about you but Ward's Noble, non cocky antics outside of the ring is one of the main reasons I love Ward as a person and I think he is the perfect personality to represent America if people don't see that then they show complete arrogance, after all he arguably is the best American fighter right now below Floyd ,(perhaps in line are Hopkins Dawson etc) NOTE: I am just talking about why or why not one would like Ward's outside ring characteristics.
He is a humble winner and a good role model instead of his opposite (ala floyd burning 100 dollar bills and picking fights with the elderly)

We have to realize yeah he has a while to Prove to the "Public" that he is great but say what you want about him using his head and elbows during fights. To me that's absolutely nitpicking exactly the way people react to Mayweather and look at the similarities, they are both undefeated. To me Ward is better than Martinez and despite the facts I am deriving from the instincts of a man who is constantly trumping the odds and the belief that he will flourish very far against the odds again and again

But what in the World can you see in Ward's personality that makes you not want to be a fan?
He is the most Humble man in the sport.
During the stare down with Froch, Froch asked him whether or not Ward thought he himself was a great fighter and denied answering the question stating that "he was brought up not to talk about themselves and to let his actions speak for them self"

Well they are and even though the General Public don't think he is great, I believe that he is
and a few more victories in the 168 division will prove that.

Bute cant beat Ward
the guy does not know how to lose.
yeah most would say I am overrating this guy but I barely listen to these people who think drastically low of fighters who show just a tini tiny glimpse of vulnerability. Some people put Pac to #2 with his last fight and began to doubt Nonito when he did not finish Nervaez. I think thats absurd
I believe Ward is a great fighter but it will take time for people to realize his true power
so mark my words he will be "GREAT" One day

[shza]

After Bute, if and when that happens, who is really going to take him into the trenches without going up a division?

Agreed on this (and on everything else in your post -- very well said). I think his toughest potential fight is against Dawson at 175, easily. There's no one else at 168 or 175 who I think is even a 50/50 pick against him. (Excluding Hopkins, since they're not going to fight, but I'd favor the 27 year-old Ward over the 47 year-old version of B-Hop anyway -- not against the 35 year-old version of Hopkins though.)

I'd like to see Bute-Froch before seeing Bute-Ward. I think it's a more competitive and better action fight. Based on the current evidence, I think Ward dominates Bute. But I'd like to see Bute in there with Froch first to better size him up.

[Rantcatrat]

After Bute, if and when that happens, who is really going to take him into the trenches without going up a division?

Agreed on this (and on everything else in your post -- very well said). I think his toughest potential fight is against Dawson at 175, easily. There's no one else at 168 or 175 who I think is even a 50/50 pick against him. (Excluding Hopkins, since they're not going to fight, but I'd favor the 27 year-old Ward over the 47 year-old version of B-Hop anyway -- not against the 35 year-old version of Hopkins though.)

I'd like to see Bute-Froch before seeing Bute-Ward. I think it's a more competitive and better action fight. Based on the current evidence, I think Ward dominates Bute. But I'd like to see Bute in there with Froch first to better size him up.

I want to see Bute versus Froch first too before I size them up. It's too early to tell whether Ward would dominate Bute. What would you say are the main differences between Bute and Ward so far? (1) Ward has faced better opposition. Ward has faced and beat Froch and Kessler, dominating both, Bute hasn't fought either. (2) Against the same competition, Bute has looked better. Bute didn't lose a round against Bika, Ward was staggered in the twelfth. Bute got Miranda out fast, in the third round by KO; Miranda went the distance with Ward and won a few rounds on the way.

Remember Kabrary Salem. He put Calzaghe down before Calzaghe took over. Yet, in his very next fight, Bute knocked him out in 8 and dominated him. Frankly, it's just too early to tell. I'm a big fan of Bute because I love the killer body shots and I like his exciting ko's. Clearly, I'm biased, but I'll admit that if Froch looks good against Bute, I overrated Bute. If Bute KO's Froch, we have a new #1 smw.

[Nameless]

After Bute, if and when that happens, who is really going to take him into the trenches without going up a division?

Agreed on this (and on everything else in your post -- very well said). I think his toughest potential fight is against Dawson at 175, easily. There's no one else at 168 or 175 who I think is even a 50/50 pick against him. (Excluding Hopkins, since they're not going to fight, but I'd favor the 27 year-old Ward over the 47 year-old version of B-Hop anyway -- not against the 35 year-old version of Hopkins though.)

I'd like to see Bute-Froch before seeing Bute-Ward. I think it's a more competitive and better action fight. Based on the current evidence, I think Ward dominates Bute. But I'd like to see Bute in there with Froch first to better size him up.

There are major talks of Bute-Froch at the moment, it's everywhere on the french sport networks, for the moment, negociation are one fight in Montreal in front of 15-20K persons (based on Bute's past fights) and a revenge fight signed for Nottingham. I am pretty sure that this fight is a sealed deal, it's been in the airs far too long and I wouldn'T be surprised if the in-between the fight and its revenge there wouldn't be a fight against the Danish Vicking to stir up another belt in the pot (admitting he'll win against Stieglitz)

[Dropanuke]

Beating froch makes him great.

[Kev]

I think you have to say he's great.

Already he's beaten two Calzaghe opponents in Bika and Kessler more decisively than Joe did, he's dominated Carl Froch, Artur Abraham and Allen Green too.

I believe his opposition in absolute terms is better than Sergio Martinez and Nonito Donaire, I rate guys like Kessler and Froch p4p better than Darchinyan, Montiel, Williams, Pavlik etc.

I don't mean acomplishments here I mean literally. A 12 Kessler beats a 12 stone Montiel, Darchinyan or Williams imo if they were all the same size. Better fighter.

I'm a big fan of Ward.

[Kev]

I should clarify I'm not saying he's an all time great yet, of course not, but I absolutely think he's a great in the current era and a top 5 p4p fighter.

[Nameless]

So far so good, he has beaten all the top opponents that got in front of him and these were the elite of the division. Based on that, I'd say yes, he's a great fighter.

[gest12645]

great as a legend? not yet. But he sure does have the potential