Andre Ward makes case for No. 1

Until now, whenever the subject of the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world was bought up Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao were the only names in the discussion.

Here’s a case for making Andre Ward (pictured left) the new No.1 pound-for-pound fighter. He’s beaten just about every contending 168-pound fighter in the world. The former Olympic Gold Medalist beat Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch all in succession in the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic.

He had an easy time with Edison Miranda, Henry Buchanan and Sakio Bika. After dispatching the world’s top light heavyweight, Chad Dawson, last night, is there any reason not to put Ward at the top of the fight list?

No other fighter can claim they have beaten as many quality opponents in such a short span. Mayweather was impressive in recent wins over Miguel Cotto, Victor Ortiz and Shane Mosley, but those bouts took place over a three-year span.

Pacquiao has been more active than Mosley, but he hasn't exactly fought the best the boxing world has to offer. Juan Manuel Marquez took Pacquiao to the brink, while Tim Bradley managed to get a controversial win.

None of Ward's fights have really been that close.

"I was carrying the weight of being the champion into the ring tonight, and Dawson was a dangerous opponent," said Ward, who stopped Dawson in the 10th round. "I took the risk of fighting the bigger man.”

Ward certainly did take on the bigger man in Dawson, who dropped down from 175 pounds to take the fight.

There’s no doubt many boxing writers will be reluctant to move Ward to the No. 1 spot in their pound-for-pound lists. The Neutral Corner may have a surprise for its readers when our list is released on Monday, September 17.