What if Andre Ward had stuck around for longer when Canelo Alvarez was ascending into the super middleweight division? The two never met in the boxing ring, but have pulled verbal punches in the last couple of years. They have developed a rivalry, and it’s Nate Diaz who has been tasked with making a pick. Who has the former UFC star picked?

Ward, 40, hung up his boxing gloves in 2017 with an unblemished record of 32-0 after stopping Sergey Kovalev. However, he has since flirted with the idea of making a comeback, whether in an exhibition or pro-fight. So, when asked by Fight Hype about a scenario involving Alvarez and Ward, he didn’t shy away from picking the boxer who helped him in his boxing debut.

Nate Diaz expresses his affection for Andre Ward

Notably, Diaz, 38, and Ward had been sparring partners in the past. The former unified super middleweight champion helped him train for his boxing debut against Jake Paul last year. So, the former UFC fighter picked Ward and wished he had never left boxing. He said, “I love Canelo, but Andre Ward is a f*cking different beast. I wish he would have never left.”

It would have been amusing to witness how Ward would have handled Alvarez, who has won all but 4 of his 64 fights. Ward has revealed that Alvarez wouldn’t have fought him had he been active back then. “Nah, I don’t think he would have fought me,” the California native told Stephen A. Smith when asked about the hypothetical match between them.

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‘Son of God’ has also been critical of the Mexican champion and has heavily scrutinized his resume. Moreover, Ward has painted a different picture of Alvarez’s legacy if he fails to fight David Benavidez next, a fight that has attracted traction from the fans.

Ward casts doubts on Canelo Alvarez’s legacy

He believes Alvarez’s legacy will take a hit if the fight doesn’t materialize down the line. While Ward admitted that Alvarez need not fight a top contender and a big name each time he steps into the squared circle, he also needs to bolster his resume as he hasn’t fought the best to call himself the best.

Ward told The Breakfast Club, “You lose me when you don’t fight the best. But you say everybody else has got to fight the best. Canelo is a really good fighter, but you don’t know how good you are until you fight the other best.”

The super middleweight champion will take on Jaime Munguia on May 4 and it remains to be seen when and if he fights the ‘Mexican Monster’. Meanwhile, Diaz is gearing up to fight Jorge Masvidal on June 1 in a boxing match.

What do you make of this comment by Nate Diaz? Do you agree with him? Let us know in the comments below.