Andre Ward reaches the elite level

Ward vs Dawson, on paper, appeared to be one of the closest fights of the year. Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world squaring off to determine who is the undisputed king of the super-middleweight division and arguably at light-heavyweight too. In reality, it was a demolition job as Ward turned Dawson into his own personal punching bag from the 3^rd round onwards.

During his recent exploits in the Super Six tournament, Ward dissected high class opposition like Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch with surgical precision but never brought fans to their feet. Last weekend that all changed. Ward put down ‘Bad Chad’ three times including a beautifully brutal five-punch combination in the 10^th that finished off the Canadian, producing that essential ingredient into his game that could make him a box office colossus.

Such was the lop-sidedness of Ward’s victory that you surely have to reconsider his position in the pound-for-pound rankings. Not only whether he has cemented his place at number three but also, dare I say it, whether he can gatecrash the duopoly of Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao.

It’s a tough ask though based on Mayweather and Pacquiao’s fight history, consistent box office successes and huge fanbases. Mayweather’s commanding unbeaten record still stands up with the very best and has recently added Miguel Cotto to an already impressive resume. The ease of which he has won every contest and his ability to show only his vast experience in the ring and not his age means the brash Pretty Boy is still at the top of the game.

Pacquiao though is under threat with a string of stumbling performances. A win over a faded Shane Mosley kept the doubters at bay but his controversial fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley show a fighter who may have peaked and is starting to slide down that slippery slope. Of course ‘Pacman’ can still respond with a great performance in his next fight – whomever that may be against – but one thing is for sure. Ward and Pacquiao’s long term careers are heading in exact opposite directions.

The 28-year-old has looked better and better with every fight he’s had against quality opposition and the scary fact for anybody within Ward’s reach is that he still looks as if he can add another two or three gears to his game. Pacquiao is becoming more and more involved with politics away from the ring and that can only have a detrimental affect on his game.

So two world-class fighters, one on the way down the other on a meteoric rise up. Surely the time has now come for the new kid on the block to rise above the grizzled 33-year-old veteran. I think so.