Andre Ward is widely considered the second-best, if not the best, pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. Unfortunately for Ward and boxing fans, he has been mired in a lengthy contract bout with his promoters and hasn't fought in over a year.
That is expected to change relatively soon now that Ward has signed with Roc Nation Sports. The question is-who should Ward fight? At 30 years old Ward isn't a spring chicken and he's lost significant momentum in terms of fan consciousness. Ward is talented enough to jump into the fire sans a tuneup fight against a lesser opponent, so here are five potential bouts that would garner a lot of attention.
Carl Froch (33-2-0, 24 KO)
Ward has already beaten Froch, but he's probably the biggest name at super middleweight right now. Froch scored a vicious knockout of George Groves his last time out that boxing fans aren't soon to forget, and he's got the charisma to carry promotion for a fight against Ward, who is far from flashy or attention-grabbing.
Froch desperately wants to fight in Las Vegas-it's unlikely Ward would oppose it. Beating Froch again would re-establish Ward in his No. 2 pound-for-pound spot and open up the door for bigger things.
James DeGeale (20-1-0, 14 KO)
DeGeale has a large British fan base, and bringing in known fighters to face Ward is important while Roc Nation works on growing his profile. DeGeale has won his last 10 bouts in a row, his last three by knockout, and hasn't tasted defeat since 2011.
DeGeale does not have Froch's name value, nor the cadre of top-flight opponents on his resume, but he's a quality fighter with a following that would probably jump at the chance to take on a guy like Ward in the United States.
Anthony Dirrell (27-0-1, 22 KO)
Anthony Dirrell has more pop than his brother Andre, and a glossy record to boot. His chances of beating Ward are questionable-he fought Sakio Bika to a draw in late 2013, who is hardly comparable to S.O.G.-but the knockout rate is something the promoters can hang their hat on.
While Ward probably can't afford to fight a no-name in a tune up bout, Dirrell probably wouldn't offer much resistance to Ward, while giving credibility to his first fight back. It lacks the sizzle of the previous too, but seems makeable.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-1-1, 32 KO)
This is the fight Ward definitely wants, but promotional concerns abound. Chavez Jr. linked up with adviser Al Haymon in the fall, and Haymon notably doesn't get along with Jay Z.
This might be the best time for Chavez Jr. to face Ward, however. Ward is coming off a long layoff, and may not be as sharp as he's been previously. Chavez Jr.'s appeal comes from his granite chin and power; that kind of style doesn't help much against slick, intelligent boxers like Ward who can easily escape the power shots and deliver their own punishment. Of any fight on this list, this would make the most money and be the most interesting. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it any likelier to come about.
Gennady Golovkin (31-0-0, 28 KO)
Golovkin is the current knockout king of boxing, a puncher so fierce that despite not having faced any of the top middleweights he is believed to be too strong for all of them. While he has underrated boxing ability, it is difficult to imagine him traveling up to 168 pounds and facing arguably the world's most skilled fighter.
That said, Ward may not face punching power such as Golovkin's from anyone at super middleweight. It's a dream fight that honestly might be better off gestating for a little while. Golovkin has megastar potential if he can land that big fight, and that super fight seems like it will happen in the fall.
Golovkin is the mandatory challenger for the WBC belt, so if Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez finally meet, Triple G is next in line. Beating one of those fighters puts him squarely in the spotlight of boxing's masses and would create a fervor for a Ward fight.
[ESPN]
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