Quote Originally Posted by Bilbo View Post
Quote Originally Posted by amat View Post
I'm somehow agreeing with both of you

I think in the divisional rankings, it's Ward 1 because he did in fact beat the man regarded to be the man. When you do that you're top dog imo, even though Bute has the better resume.
Why has Bute got a better resume though?

Bute's resume.

Top Tier Fighters - None
Second Tier - Berrio, Miranda, Andrade (1-1), Bika

Ward's resume

Top Tier Fighters - Kessler

Second Tier - Miranda

If this were the Olympics Ward has a gold and a silver versus Bute's 3 silver (don't give him anything for Andrade as he lost the first fight) and thus wins.
I think you have to look at how Bute get his wins against these guys too. He pretty much wins every round, then more often than not knocks them out in a brutal fashion.

He may not have a huge name on his resume yet but other than the slip up in the first Andrade fight he has totally dominated six second tier fighters in a row. He doesnt just beat them he KOs them early or wins every round.
No one, not even Calzaghe dominated Bika as much as Bute did. Andrade had never been KO'd til Bute did it, he dominated Zuniga more than Pavlik did. Berrio was IBF champ and but dominated him and KO'd him so bad it pretty much ruined him.
If Bute was eeking out home town decisions Ottke stye i'd agree with you, but i think his performances prove he belongs rght at the top of the division.