Is Andre Ward a "Great" fighter?

[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

[CFH]

I would say so, but 'greatness' is pretty subjective most of the time.

I voted for the second option.

[ICB]

No i think he's bit overrated at the moment actually, he's been a bit lucky the fighter's he fought are great stylistic match ups for him slow plodders like Froch, Abraham, average fighters like Green, and Sakio Bika who Lucian Bute beat more convincingly as he did with Edison Miranda.

Credit for the Mikkel Kessler win but i think he's overrated aswell, and i don't think he's been the same fighter since the Joe Calzaghe fight. I'd like to see him in with someone like Dirrell, Bute, fighter's who are just as fast and dangerous.

Sorry but no way is he a great fighter at the moment in my eyes, has he got the tools to be one ? yes for certain but let's wait until he fights someone like Dirrell, Bute, then lets have this conversation.

For now he's good fighter with a couple of good wins, but as i said i think he is a bit lucky he didn't have to meet fighters like Dirrell, Bute, even Taylor who i think stylistically causes him problems.

[LobowolfXXX]

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.

This, just about exactly. He's #1 in his weight class, and he's top 5 p4p. That's enough to qualify him as great. It remains to be seen whether he becomes and "all-time great."

[Galaxy]

He's a very good fighter and he's on his way to greatness. If he beats Bute and then a Dirrell his case gets stronger, but it is a little to early yet. Dominate at 168 then success at light-heavy and its sealed imo

[Master]

Yes he has the potentila to be a great fighter like Roy Jones and James Toney.

[erics44]

you dont have to be entertaining to be great

which in some ways is a pitty

[Mars_ax]

you dont have to be entertaining to be great

which in some ways is a pitty

Probably not, but when you get right down to it, isn't that what "prize fighting" is all about = entertainment? Who the fuck wants to watch fights that don't entertain you?

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

It's odd, I really don't find Ward un-entertaining.

Maybe the Green fight was a little teipd but I really enjoyed his fights with Kessler, Abraham, Bika, Miranda, Froch etc..

[Mars_ax]

Yes he has the potentila to be a great fighter like Roy Jones and James Toney.

I reckon, one thing Ward won't have is the popularity and fanbase, and unlike Jones, can you imagine Ward being able to sell a PPV?

If Showtime markets a Bute vs. Ward PPV, they'd better do the fight in Quebec, because it won't draw flies here in the States.

[terrorsid]

Froch: Nobody Beats Ward at 168, British Boxing is Well - Boxing News

[Manos de Piedra]

Right now he's one of the top fighters out there, easily top 5 p4p. Greatness as in all time great he's not there yet but has the potential.