Before his recent Super Six final clash with Carl Froch, and despite coasting through the tournament unbeaten, few boxing pundits were giving Andre Ward any ‘pound-for-pound’ props.
However, so dominant was the Oakland native’s display against Ward in Atlantic City recently he’s abolsutely impossible to ignore now as a ‘pound-for-pound’ force.
The ‘Son of God’ is 25-0 (13) and now reigns as WBC and WBA champion in a super-middleweight division crammed with talent.
Unlike say Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather, who have been feasting on smaller fighters or asking bigger men to boil down to meet them at catchweight, Ward has taken on the very best at 168lbs and looked a million dollars.
He was criticised for not taking his show on the road and having all his Super Six fights prior to the final in his native California. He was also questioned for not having had his chin checked by an elite puncher.
But in beating Froch, a legitimate world-class operator with power in both hands, and doing it outside of his home state, he has answered his critics.
Ward, of course, is the last American fighter to win an Olympic gold medal (back in Athens in 2004). It’s also heavily reported that he has not lost a fight since the age of 14 (or 12, depending on who you believe).
His amateur record was a spell-binding 114-5 and now he is showing his full potential in the pro ranks. ‘Pound-for-pound’ ratings are uber-subjective. Some prefer fighters who lay it all on the line and are regularly involved in fistic mayhem (see Pacqiuao) while others love to watch pure boxers showcase their skills and beat the best around with minimal fuss (see Mayweather).
