Is Andre Ward a "Great" fighter?

[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)

[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.

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)

I thought it was Montreal and then the very next fight - Nottingham?