Is it time to move on from Andre Ward?

[ikorolev]

Ward's fight with Rodriguez showed that his skills didn't go anywhere. I think he can still kick anybody's ass at SMW. Regarding p4p, he should probably slide a little, but not outside of top 5-6.

[ReggieDiggs]

Eh rankings. Don't really give a damn. It should obviously have a negative effect on him @ some point though.

The main issue here for me is we got a top guy in his peak who's fighting less than old top guys past their peaks like Floyd & Manny. Thats a bad sign right there when a old ass Floyd & Manny are more active then the guy many if not most see as the next #1 guy. One would think it would hurt his overall progress as a fighter no matter how active he is in the gym between his yearly fight.

[Spazzed Out Lenny]

That is a tough one..... On the one hand he is inactive, on the other hand his talents speak for themselves and on the third hand...... Damn....... they do not have third hands on planet earth..... My Bad.

[keirw]

The problem is that he has already beaten all the top guys in the division, so unless he wants to fight one of the younger, less proven guys his only option is to move up in weight and he hasn't seemed too keen on that option from what I've seen in interviews.
As a Froch fan the last thing I want to see is him granted the lineal title due to Wards inactivity alone, a hard earned number 2 spot is worth alot more than a number 1 spot that is given, in my eyes

[polecateddy]

There got to be an increasing danger of ending up in a heap on the canvas wondering where his championship days went, Chad Dawson style.

[sucracristo]

this only reminds me of how many great fights there are out there to be made
if the promoter issues could be solved, with GB, TR, Goosen, main events,
dibella, banner, matchroom, warren, sauerland, etc

there could be megafights going on all the time and maybe some new superstars
to be made. they really need to clean up the titles, though

[diddy]

Move on? From what? He's in the middle of a lawsuit?

What the hell are you even asking?

He's still top 2 p4p. Why wouldn't he be?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

[diddy]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

Gonzalez? Johny Gonzalez? The guy you have losing to Jorge Arce's corpse?

[Taansend]

I'd love to see a rematch with Froch. I know Ward fought like a 1980's Italian (Jab smother) in their first bout but Froch tried to box with him too much. He'd go all out in a rematch (as it's probably his last bout) leading Ward to open up more. I think we'd see fireworks.

Think about it, how many exciting first fights have had dull rematches. The opposite can be just as true.

I think Ward would stop Froch in a rematch but I don't give a toss who wins. I think it would be a great bout.

Unfortunately Ward thinks he is worthy of a purse well above his 'pull'.

[Bard of Boxrec]

A year since his last fight and he drops out of Boxrec's rankings, then seems like a good time for him to disappear from the p4p ranks. Until then, he should be somewhere in the p4p top ten, maybe. But I don't really care about his fights until he gets beat by GGG or Kovalev.

[Counter-puncher]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

Gonzalez? Johny Gonzalez? The guy you have losing to Jorge Arce's corpse?

there's a litte Nicaraguan dude you might want to check out

[Cherrybomb]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

Gonzalez? Johny Gonzalez? The guy you have losing to Jorge Arce's corpse?

there's a litte Nicaraguan dude you might want to check out

[Datsue]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

Gonzalez? Johny Gonzalez? The guy you have losing to Jorge Arce's corpse?

there's a litte Nicaraguan dude you might want to check out

Though, if it was me saying "I now have Gonzalez over him" then yes, contextually that's you know at least possible that you'd hear Gonzalez & think "Jhonny".

'Cos I loves me some Jhonny, blindly & forever & true. & I am stupid.

But to think that "Gonzalez" = "Jhonny" in the context of someone who isn't a squealing fan-girl for "The Bargain Basement Low-Budget Etiolated Shadow of the Mexican Tommy Hearns" is, frankly, ridiculous.

[danamba7]

I'd love to see a rematch with Froch. I know Ward fought like a 1980's Italian (Jab smother) in their first bout but Froch tried to box with him too much. He'd go all out in a rematch (as it's probably his last bout) leading Ward to open up more. I think we'd see fireworks.

Think about it, how many exciting first fights have had dull rematches. The opposite can be just as true.

I think Ward would stop Froch in a rematch but I don't give a toss who wins. I think it would be a great bout.

Unfortunately Ward thinks he is worthy of a purse well above his 'pull'.

I'd be shocked if Ward stopped Froch in a re-match. I don't think he's capable. He would however win on points again though Froch might be able to make it a little closer.

[danamba7]

Move on? From what? He's in the middle of a lawsuit?

What the hell are you even asking?

He's still top 2 p4p. Why wouldn't he be?

What if it goes on another year? How long do we give him before everyone moves on? You can't not fight a top SMW for 3 years and still be SMW number 1 (even though everyone knows his ability is number 1).

[Counter-puncher]

"The Bargain Basement Low-Budget Etiolated Shadow of the Mexican Tommy Hearns".

neat. catchy, amazed if this one doesn't catch on

[Datsue]

"The Bargain Basement Low-Budget Etiolated Shadow of the Mexican Tommy Hearns".

neat. catchy, amazed if this one doesn't catch on

I may start referring to myself as a "Zeitgeist-surfing Pop-Cultural WunderGuru" if it does, & start making posts about those boring days before I was a Zeitgeist-surfing etc etc

[Baby Face Finster]

I'd love to see a rematch with Froch. I know Ward fought like a 1980's Italian (Jab smother) in their first bout but Froch tried to box with him too much. He'd go all out in a rematch (as it's probably his last bout) leading Ward to open up more. I think we'd see fireworks.

Think about it, how many exciting first fights have had dull rematches. The opposite can be just as true.

I think Ward would stop Froch in a rematch but I don't give a toss who wins. I think it would be a great bout.

Unfortunately Ward thinks he is worthy of a purse well above his 'pull'.

Hahahaha. You got to be kidding. There is no way he is stopping Froch unless it's due to a headbutt or a cut.

[Counter-puncher]

"The Bargain Basement Low-Budget Etiolated Shadow of the Mexican Tommy Hearns".

neat. catchy, amazed if this one doesn't catch on

I may start referring to myself as a "Zeitgeist-surfing Pop-Cultural WunderGuru" if it does, & start making posts about those boring days before I was a Zeitgeist-surfing etc etc

you've got a great cultural brain

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

Gonzalez? Johny Gonzalez? The guy you have losing to Jorge Arce's corpse?

If that's what you truly think, you're not qualified to make lists.

[drunkenpiper36]

There is no good which comes from long periods of inactivity. We haven't seen evidence that Ward's abilities have diminished, but the longer he goes without fighting, the more likely his skills will tarnish. I guess the only thing to do is wait and see if he has a more productive 2015.

[diddy]

I have Gonzalez over him now. As for relevance, I couldn't care less if he ever fights again but he's clearly a great fighter.

Gonzalez? Johny Gonzalez? The guy you have losing to Jorge Arce's corpse?

If that's what you truly think, you're not qualified to make lists.

No just even more surprised you would mention a guy who weighs 100 lbs fighting against garbage in the same sentence. At least Jhony has some credible opponents on his ledger.

[Impractical Poster]

No just even more surprised you would mention a guy who weighs 100 lbs fighting against garbage in the same sentence. At least Jhony has some credible opponents on his ledger.

Roman has actually fought quality opposition. It's just that most casual viewers are not aware of pretty much anyone at or around Roman's current or past divisions. So, in turn, they are unaware of what is good or bad competition there.

[Taansend]

I'd love to see a rematch with Froch. I know Ward fought like a 1980's Italian (Jab smother) in their first bout but Froch tried to box with him too much. He'd go all out in a rematch (as it's probably his last bout) leading Ward to open up more. I think we'd see fireworks.

Think about it, how many exciting first fights have had dull rematches. The opposite can be just as true.

I think Ward would stop Froch in a rematch but I don't give a toss who wins. I think it would be a great bout.

Unfortunately Ward thinks he is worthy of a purse well above his 'pull'.

Hahahaha. You got to be kidding. There is no way he is stopping Froch unless it's due to a headbutt or a cut.

I know it seems completely unlikely given Froch's ultra toughness but if he's walking onto some sharp punches from a strong accurate operator it can happen, especially with Father Time on your back.

Personally I'd love for Froch to win but I doubt we'll see the fight either way.