Andre ward vs GGG

[Kirkland Laing]

The options for GGG at 160 are limited. The really big money fight is Cotto but Cotto won't go near him. Otherwise there are just guys like Murray and Andy Lee to fight. Nothing really big.

Ward is in the same boat at 168. Chavez or a Froch rematch are the biggest fights for Ward but neither of them want to get in the ring with him.

I can understand GGG moving up for Chavez but not for Ward. Ward is capable of beating him and doesn't bring a really big money fight. I can see GGG fighting Froch sooner rather than later. I don't think Haymon will make Chavez-GGG and I don't think GGG's people will go near Ward. GGG-Froch would be an absolute war. Done right it'd fill Wembley and be a PPV event in England. The potential money involved I think will see that fight get made.

[Master]

GGG could fight Quillin, Lee and whoever else to unify. He has big money bout with Canelo by that time.

[Rantcatrat]

I have two opinions on this fight. First, there really isn't anyone else at middleweight that GGG needs to face. He's well understood to be the best in the division. He doesn't need to fight Lee or Quillin because he's already beat guys that are at least as good as they are if not better. I get that. I also would understand if there were opponents on the horizon that looked like they might be special that could be lined up for GGG in the future, but I don't see any there.

GGG wants the money fights: Canelo, Junior, and Cotto. He's made that much obvious. We can't blame him either. It's a money game. But, none of those guys will face him!
Junior is on the other side of the street now and backed away from a multi-million dollar pay day to avoid facing him. Oscar isn't risking Canelo against GGG anytime soon.

If there was the reasonable possibility that Cotto would get in the ring with him, I completely understand waiting to face Cotto. Cotto is a p4p guy, he is the lineal middleweight champion, and he is a big name. A win over him would likely increase GGG's popularity big time. He is Cotto's mandatory so if Cotto keeps the belts, he'll have to face GGG after his next fight. I can understand the logic in waiting to see if Cotto relinquishes the belts before I move up in weight.

So, then, move up. If we're talking about legacy, a win over Ward is better than any win against anyone below him. There's no better way to go for legacy purposes. With that said, it's also a tricky fight for GGG. He's fighting above his weight class and against one of the best and I thought Murray's clinching and size played a large role in why he went as many rounds as he did. Ward uses the clinch better than anyone out there. I wonder how amenable Ward would be to meeting at a catch weight. I'm usually not a fan, but this could be one instance where it would make sense.

Also, I can't help but ask: why hasn't Ward moved up in weight? He cleaned out the division a long time ago. Who else is there for him to fight currently at 168? Why not go up to light heavyweight and face Kovalev or Stevenson or Pascal or Hopkins? Does he really need to face a middleweight? Those fights are much more interesting than any fights he could have at 168. And, also, it's not like Ward isn't as guilty as anyone else on going for money fights. I remember when he was calling out Kelly Pavlik and Junior.

[imp]

As much as I want the best fights to happen and see the ward vs GGG clash...the money involved in an easy cotto fight and competitive canelo fight is too much money for GGG to ignore.

He should try to pursue those fights but we cant ignore the fact that GGG is happy to fight Chavez at his weight but not Ward.

Ward needs to sort himself out.