Andre Ward still #2 in Ring's rankings

Andre Ward’s second bout in Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic, a unanimous decision over tournament newcomer Allan Green on Saturday in Oakland, Calif., was so one-sided that many fans and boxing writers consider the 26-year-old 168-pound titleholder to be the best super middleweight in the world.

In fact, Ward’s 12-round shutout of Green, an athletic boxer-puncher who some considered to be a threat to the Bay Area native, was so dominanating that many observers see pound-for-pound potential in the undefeated beltholder.

Some believe that Ward (22-0, 13 knockouts), a calculating technician with superb athleticism and underrated grit, deserves to be in the pound-for-pound Top 10 right now.

Ward will probably get there soon but he’ll have to settle for being the second-best super middleweight in THE RING‘s ratings.

For now, the magazine’s No. 1 super middleweight rating still belongs to Lucian Bute. The only change in the 168-pound rankings is that Green (29-2, 20 KOs) exited the Top 10 following his lackluster performance against Ward.

Some will argue that Ward is more deserving of THE RING’s No. 1 rating than Bute, a talented Canada-based Romanian who has held a title belt since October of 2007. Others will argue that Bute, a versatile southpaw boxer-puncher, deserves his top spot.

The 30-year-old Romanian has been close to the top of the magazine’s super middleweight rankings since the division’s last RING champion, Joe Calzaghe, vacated his title to campaign as a light heavyweight in early 2008.

With Calzaghe’s absence, Danish star Mikkel Kessler was the consensus choice as the best super middleweight. The talented titleholder earned THE RING’s No. 1 spot with his respectable showing against Calzaghe, his only loss at the time, and his dominanating victories over Librado Andrade, Anthony Mundine, Markus Beyer, Manny Siaca and Eric Lucas.

Bute was right behind Kessler at No. 2 on the strength of his victories over Top-10 contenders Sakio Bika, Alejandro Berrio and Andrade.

Ward debuted in THE RING’s ratings at No. 9 following his unanimous decision over Edison Miranda last May. Six months later, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist shocked the boxing world by beating Kessler in his first Super Six bout.

Ward’s dominanating ninth-round technical decision over the Dane vaulted him from No. 9 to No. 1 in THE RING’s rankings. However, the American’s status was short lived as Bute took the top spot with a fourth-round rematch KO of Andrade one week after the Ward-Kessler fight and further solidified his No. 1 status with an impressive third-round KO of Miranda in April.

But more than a few fans and fight scribes believe Ward’s near-flawless showings against Kessler and Green are more impressive than the Romanian’s respectable body of work.

The debate as to who’s No. 1 at super middleweight will probably continue for the duration of the Super Six tournament, of which Bute is not a part. Ward has already qualified for the tournament’s single-elimination semifinals, where he could face the winner of the up-coming Arthur Abraham-Carl Froch showdown. He is scheduled to face THE RING’s No. 6-rated contender, Andre Dirrell, next.

Bute, who is scheduled for a tune-up fight in his native Romania on July 25, is considering high-profile showdowns with Bernard Hopkins and Kelly Pavlik.

If Ward and Bute continue to win, both will likely make a case for being the world’s best super middleweight. The only way to settle the debate is for the two to meet in the ring.

Hopefully, that’s exactly what will happen once the Super Six is concluded.

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/2038/ring_ratings_update_bute_still_no1_at_super_middleweight/

Ward deserves to be #1 after this performance against Green, he dominated.

Ward should be number 1 and if he keeps winning he should stay there, unfortunately for Bute the best in the division are tied up right now. If Bute fights Pavlik or Hopkins and wins his ranking really shouldn't move because both of these guys have nothing to give the division. Bute could raise his pound for pound status if he moves up and fights the winner of the Dawson/Pascal. He could also campaign at both divisions if he can make weight.

He should be #1 for his performance over Kessler.

Ali_1748 wrote:

He should be #1 for his performance over Kessler.

Yes, you're right.

its a toss up but ill give the edge to ward for number 1.either way its a fair choice.

It's not Bute's fault that Showtime wanted 3 Americans at his expense. Andrade beats Green. The win over Kessler was very impressive, but prior to that Ward hadn't fought anyone and you don't jump from #9 to #1 contender off the one fight.

I don't have a problem with some people thinking Ward is #1, but I believe Bute deserves the #1 spot.

The Super 6 winner will likely not be the Ring champ and that is all Showtime's fault.

Hindsight is 20-20, but at the time the super 6 was announced Bute was far more deserving than Ward or Dirrell of inclusion.

Bute - Bika,Andrade,Joppy,Zunga,Berrio,Miranda.

Ward- Miranda,Kessler,Green.

Honestly Ward's win over Kessler trumps Bute's resume.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Bute - Bika,Andrade,Joppy,Zunga,Berrio,Miranda.

Ward- Miranda,Kessler,Green.

Honestly Ward's win over Kessler trumps Bute's resume.

+1

I think Bute will likely fight Pascal after Brinkley regardless of whether Jean wins or loses vs Dawson.

Canvas wrote:

I think Bute will likely fight Pascal after Brinkley regardless of whether Jean wins or loses vs Dawson.

I would love to see Bute vs Pascal, but Bute needs to face Pavlik while there is still money in it.

Brinkley vs Bute & Andrade vs Pavlik

Great great double header idea Ali

HBO needs to cough up the $$$ for it ASAP

that would be a great split site double header. BTW, rumour has it Diaconu will face Shieka next in Montreal.

Shieka is a terrible choice, they should go with Andrade.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Shieka is a terrible choice, they should go with Andrade.

that is the scenario I always called for: Bute vs Pascal and Diaconu vs Andrade. Shieka is a solid choice for a stay busy fight as Diaconnu works his way up the comeback trail.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Shieka is a terrible choice, they should go with Andrade.

Seriously

Pavlik/Andrade vs Diaconu NOW!

Ok we have it all figured out now: Bute vs Pascal, Andrade vs Diaconu, Pavlik vs Brinkley

sets up an interesting series of potential bouts. We should have Greenburg's job.

Funny, I just read Rafael's latest blog and he says the same thing that I've been saying for months: Showtime screwed up royally by not inviting Bute and instead stacking the field with American fighters. (in hope of building a new US star)

"What the poor performances from Taylor and Green have shown me is that as great as the Super Six has been overall -- and make no mistake, I am a major fan of it -- Showtime's Ken Hershman, the tournament mastermind (for which he does deserve props) was shortsighted in not initially inviting Lucian Bute to join".

Actually, this is a solid random thoughts blog all around. I agree wholeheartedly with many of his comments.

http://espn.go.com/sports/boxing/blog/_/name/rafael_dan/id/5318696/tournament-more-super-five-six

All of Butes best opponents fought were spanked by the fighters in the Super 6. Bute has speed and power, but his boxing skill arent very good. Andrade was nailing him frequently in the first and even more in the rematch. i believe if Bute hadnt landed that great body shot, it would of been a long tough fight. Shit, even Miranda was winning the fight up until he started to fuck around and got caught with an uppercut. Bute wouldnt be ranked #1 by the Ring had he gone in the Tourney. The roster would of looked great had they added Bute. Ward, Dirrel and Bute reppin for the Americas (Yes I know hes Romanian, but fights out of Canada). Froch, Kessler and Abraham for Euro.

Ward will be #1 if he beats Dirrell. The argument can go either way, but Bute has been doing it for longer so I'll still give him the nod for now.