Fighting Ward - is the risk worth the reward? (please excuse the unintentional rhyme)

[ykdadamaja]

The Ring's top 168 pounders:

Super Middleweight

Limit: 168 pounds

RingTv image CHAMPION: Andre Ward
CHAMPION
Andre Ward
Country: U.S.
Record: 27-0-0 (14 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: C | Last Week: C | Weeks On List: 248
Title: RING, WBA super middleweight
RingTv image Carl Froch
Carl Froch
Country: U.K.
Record: 32-2-0 (23 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Weeks On List: 399
Title: IBF
1
RingTv image Mikkel Kessler
Mikkel Kessler
Country: Denmark
Record: 46-3-0 (35 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Weeks On List: 60
2
RingTv image Robert Stieglitz
Robert Stieglitz
Country: Russia
Record: 46-3-0 (26 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Weeks On List: 232
Title: WBO
3
RingTv image George Groves
George Groves
Country: U.K.
Record: 19-1-0 (15 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 4 | Last Week: 4 | Weeks On List: 236
4
RingTv image Arthur Abraham
Arthur Abraham
Country: Armenia
Record: 38-4-0 (28 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 5 | Last Week: 5 | Weeks On List: 224
5
RingTv image Thomas Oosthuizen
Thomas Oosthuizen
Country: South Africa
Record: 22-0-2 (13 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 6 | Last Week: 6 | Weeks On List: 143
6
RingTv image Sakio Bika
Sakio Bika
Country: Cameroon
Record: 32-5-3 (21 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 7 | Last Week: 7 | Weeks On List: 356
Title: WBC
7
RingTv image James DeGale
James DeGale
Country: U.K.
Record: 17-1-0 (11 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 8 | Last Week: 8 | Weeks On List: 36
8
RingTv image Andre Dirrell
Andre Dirrell
Country: U.S.
Record: 21-1-0 (14 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 9 | Last Week: 9 | Weeks On List: 13
9
RingTv image Marco Antonio Periban
Marco Antonio Periban
Country: Mexico
Record: 20-1-1 (13 KOs)
Ranking:

This Week: 10 | Last Week: 10 | Weeks On List: 4
10

[Beanflicker]

That's a good point about the risk and reward. I think it's a double edged sword with Ward.

Obviously, the risk is enormous. Ward is a top 3 talent in boxing today, and not only is he going to be extremely difficult to beat, there's also a strong possibility that he's going to make you look like shit (like slickers like Mayweather, Hopkins, Pernell, ect did).

On the reward side, unfortunately there's probably more money out there fighting opposition like Froch or JCC Jr, who are much softer opponents but who have more of a fan base.

But that's looking at the short term. We have to remember that Ward has more credibility within the boxing world than anyone outside of Mayweather. You beat Ward, and your stock skyrockets, which means bigger future purses and earning potential.

Bottom line IMO is that if you're a boxer - or an athlete in general - your ultimate goal should be to be the best in your field. If you really are worth a fuck, you should be gunning for the top guy to try to take his spot. Ward is undeniably the top guy, so anyone who's avoiding him is a straight up clown in my eyes.