Knee Injury Postpones Andre Ward-Allan Green Fight, No New Date Set

I'm pretty sure the rest of the Super Six World Boxing Classic will eventually take place. But it sure is having a difficult time getting through the second batch of round robin fights.

ESPN's Dan Rafael reported today that the Andre Ward-Allan Green fight set for April 24 has been postponed due to continuing problems with Ward's right knee. No new date has been set, though the fact that Ward's doctor is recommending four to six weeks of rest suggests June may be around the right ballpark.

Read the entire piece if you want to be more worried about the health of the Super Six, with plenty of stereotypical boxing BS between promoters Lou DiBella and Dan Goossen. The other tournament fight scheduled for that same date, between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler, will still take place.

In case you're keeping score at home, this fight has already undergone a change in participants (from Jermain Taylor to Green) and two postponements, first from April 17 to 24 and now to an undetermined date. The other two bouts in this phase of the round robin have also been delayed, though hopefully we're less than two week away from seeing Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham do battle.

For what it's worth, I don't put too much stock in DiBella's assertion that Goossen would want Ward out of the tournament. Andre had his biggest win to date when he defeated Kessler in the first phase of the Super Six, and many observers consider him a favorite to make the finals. With every serious contender at super middleweight except for Lucian Bute also taking part, it wouldn't make much sense for Ward to quit.

That being said, the tournament is running a serious risk of losing its momentum and the goodwill it's earned with boxing fans. Let's cross our fingers and hope that all six fighters are in the ring before the end of June.

Posted by The Franchise

Dirrell-Abraham Bout Moved Back 3 Weeks, But Still Not Free of HBO Competition

One of my recurring themes over the past few months has been repeatedly wishing that HBO and Showtime would stop counterprogramming each other with cards on the same nights, because it's not good for the health of the sport in the U.S.

I've been especially irritated about HBO insisting on putting fights on the same weekends as the second round robin fights of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic. From a competitive standpoint, I understand why they're doing it, but I don't like it.

A few days ago, word came down that Andre Dirrell had a minor back injury, necessitating the move of his bout with Arthur Abraham from March 6 to March 27. Though that's never the kind of news you like to hear, the silver lining was that at least it got away from HBO's card on the 6th, a doubleheader featuring Devon Alexander-Juan Urango and Cory Spinks-Cornelius Bundrage.

I was happy for about five minutes. Then I remembered that HBO also has a broadcast all but set for the 27th, a card that looks even better than the previous one with Marcos Maidana facing Victor Cayo and Ali Funeka getting a well-deserved rematch with Joan Guzman. Crap.

I'm not blaming this one on HBO, as its plans for the 27th have been known for a little while (though as far as I can tell, there's no site finalized for that card - time to get cracking on that one, no?). And some of the congestion is due to HBO's ambitious boxing schedule for the next few months, something I wholeheartedly applaud.

Still, looking at the whole picture strictly from a fan's perspective, it stinks that none of these fights will get the spotlight they probably deserve, and that viewers will have to make choices multiple times this spring. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that there's a little basketball tournament going on in late March too, which obviously will take some eyeballs away.

But it is what it is, I suppose. Let's move on to...

SHOE SHINING

As reported by various sources and confirmed by the Showtime Sports site, boxing is still on for March 6. Vic Darchinyan, who qualifies as must-see in my book, becomes the headliner as he steps in with Rodrigo Guerrero, and Lenny Zappavigna faces Fernando Angulo in a fight that was always on the card but wasn't originally going to be televised. Though the broadcast has been rebranded as a ShoBox show, props go to Showtime for keeping it at 9 pm Eastern instead of shoving it back to a later time...

Though it's been common knowledge for some time, it was only yesterday that Allan Green was confirmed as the next Super Six opponent for Andre Ward, making it "officially official," as I like to say. Green certainly isn't lacking for confidence, saying to the AP of his tournament foes, "I know I can beat any of them." That won't be ab easy task, but Green's power certainly makes him a livelier underdog than the man he replaced, Jermain Taylor...

In terms of "Stories I Wish Would Go Away," James Toney's continuing flirtation with MMA ranks right up near the top of the list. But I can't fault a guy for wanting to make a few extra bucks, especially these days, and The Ring's William Dettloff recently offered a well-written examination of why Lights Out shouldn't be blamed for that either.

Posted by The Franchise

Carl Froch-Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward-Allan Green Moved Back a Week to April 24

It's kind of funny that my last post included a mini-rant about how having big boxing cards on HBO and Showtime on the same weekend was not good for the health of the sport in the U.S. Perhaps Showtime agrees with me.

ESPN's Dan Rafael and the AP are both reporting that the Carl Froch-Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward-Allan Green fights - both part of the second phase of the Super Six World Boxing Classic - have been moved back from April 17 to April 24. Though there was no official announcement of the reason, both media outlets mentioned HBO's recently confirmed split-site doubleheader featuring Kelly Pavlik-Sergio Martinez and Lucian Bute-Edison Miranda, which will be held on April 17, as the likely motivation.

Reading between the lines, it's pretty clear that Showtime blinked. There's no shame in that. Pavlik is a much bigger name to Amercian fans than any of the Super Six participants, and Bute is getting to be huge in Canada. Why not give the tournament the open date it needs to have the spotlight to itself?

Froch is quoted in Rafael's piece saying that he's upset about the inconvenience it will cause his fans who have made travel plans (he's fighting Kessler in Denmark), and that does stink. But overall, this is a positive move for boxing fans everywhere who won't have to choose between the two cards, and even though the decision probably wasn't made for this reason, it's good for the sport as a whole.

Now if someone would please move one of the cards on March 6, where a very similar situation is currently set to happen, I'd be a very happy camper indeed.

Posted by The Franchise

Super Six Shake-Up: Jermain Taylor Does the Right Thing and Drops Out

Going into the Super Six World Boxing Classic, it was hard to argue that Jermain Taylor wasn't the most accomplished boxer in the field. He had been the undisputed middleweight champion of the world at one time, after all, earning that title the hard way by defeating Bernard Hopkins twice.

Still, very few people gave him any real chance of winning the super middleweight tournament after losses to Kelly Pavlik (twice) and fellow participant Carl Froch stalled his career. And once Arthur Abraham knocked him cold in the final round of his first Super Six fight, voices from all over the boxing world were calling for him to hang up the gloves for his own good.

Taylor seemed to resist those calls at first, vowing he'd fight on. His fans will no doubt be glad to hear that he's finally had a change of heart.

ESPN's Dan Rafael is reporting that Taylor has withdrawn from the Super Six, effective immediately. His statement stops short of saying he will retire from boxing, saying only that he needs time away from the ring for the good of his body and mind.

Had he remained in the tournament, Taylor would have faced Andre Ward in April. That was shaping up to be another likely loss for JT, as Ward put on a stellar performance in his victory over Mikkel Kessler.

The World Boxing Classic was set up with contingencies governing injury or withdrawal, so someone will be asked to take Taylor's place. What's known is that the substitute will inherit Jermain's point total (which is zero thanks to his first stage loss); what isn't known is exactly who will get the call.

Early reports had American Allan Green as the first alternate, though more recent rumors had Green facing Sakio Bika for that right. To keep the tournament on track, there doesn't appear to be enough time for a qualifying bout of any type to take place.

Other intriguing though much more unlikely possibilities are IBF titleholder Lucian Bute, who many felt was a glaring omission from the field in the first place, middleweight king Kelly Pavlik and light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson, though the latter two would have to change weight classes to jump in.

Posted by The Franchise

20/20 Hindsight: How Lucian Bute Would Do in the Super Six, and Final Thoughts on the Guzman-Funeka Robbery

What a difference a year makes, eh?

I'm talking about the difference in Lucian Bute, who was fortunate to escape with a victory after getting knocked down late in the final round when he took on Librado Andrade last fall. He had no such drama this past Saturday, disposing of Andrade - a guy who says he actually enjoys taking punches - with a vicious body shot in the fourth round of their rematch.

There's much to like about Bute. He's got boxing skills, power and charisma, as evidenced by the fact that it reportedly took only an hour for folks in Quebec to gobble up all of the tickets to his most recent fight.

His performance also made me re-evaluate what a loss it is that he's not taking part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic against the rest of the world's top super middleweights. He supposedly was never asked, and though I didn't think it was a big deal a few months ago, perhaps it was a more glaring oversight than it first appeared.

Right now I'd like Bute to beat Jermain Taylor, Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell. Mikkel Kessler would be a stiffer test, but based on the form each man displayed this month, I'd lean toward Bute there too.

Would he beat Arthur Abraham or Andre Ward, each of whom looked sensational in his own way in the first stage of the Super Six? I don't know, but those would both be dynamite fights I'd gladly pay money to watch.

You could make a case that Bute is the top guy fighting at 168 pounds. BoxRec.com and Tim Starks at The Queensberry Rules already have.

I'm not sure I'd go that far just yet, but he's certainly in the discussion. Bute is definitely among the top six boxers in his weight class, so upon further review, it actually is a shame that he's not in the Super Six. Maybe he can take Taylor's place if/when he drops out...

My Final (And I Mean Final) Thoughts on Guzman-Funeka

I've already written extensively elsewhere on the decision handed down for the Guzman-Funeka fight. To sum up, I thought it was a horrible call to score only six rounds for the fighter that was coming forward, throwing and landing more punches, boxing at his preferred distance most of the time and, at least in the later rounds, displaying the more effective defense as well.

I don't often use the term robbery since scoring fights is so subjective (see: Froch-Dirrell), but it's fitting in this case. Several people hit me up on Twitter to point out that it was one Canadian and one American who turned in the 114-114 cards, while the second Canadian scored it 116-112 for Funeka.

Thanks for pointing that out, but it doesn't change the fact that even one 114-114 score was simply unacceptable. Nor does it change the perception that weird things seem to happen when championship fights are held in Canada. That might not be fair, but perception sometimes trumps reality, like it or not.

One additional observation: Funeka was very nearly the beneficiary of a bad call that would have won him the fight. Replays showed that the nasty cut near Guzman's right eye was opened by a clash of heads, not from a punch as the referee ruled. Had the cut stopped the fight, Funeka would have won because of that ruling.

Still, that was a judgment call that was easy to second-guess thanks to slow-motion replays. The judging was a lot harder to explain, and that's coming from someone who considers himself a Guzman fan and was rooting for him to return to top form.

He didn't deserve a draw. You have to feel bad for Funeka, who ventured to North America for the first time this year and fought his heart out twice, once making an argument that he should have won (against Nate Campbell) and once leaving no doubt he should have won.

Instead, he'll head back to South Africa with a 0-1-1 record in those fights and a bad taste in his mouth. I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't want to come back.

Posted by The Franchise

Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward: Round By Round

It's time for the final fight in the first stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Oakland is the site for hometown boy Andre Ward to try to salvage a win for the Americans as he faces off against WBA super middleweight titleholder Mikkel Kessler.

Gus Johnson is at the Oracle Arena, joined by Al Bernstein and Antonio Tarver. They talk over the first two fights in the tournament, with Bernstein saying the key to the whole thing may be who figures out Arthur Abraham's style.

They also talk about whether or not Jermain Taylor will continue on, and they confirm what the boxer himself said on Twitter recently, that he is still planning on staying in the tournament.

Jim Gray talks with Andre Direll, who says he definitely thinks he won his fight with Carl Froch. He says his confidence is still high, and that he learned he can hang with the champions. Dirrell compares Ward's situation today to the time they were Olympic teammates, when Ward came through as the last American standing and won a gold medal.

Showtime takes a minute to plug an upcoming MMA broadcast by talking to Scott Smith. He'll fight Cung Le in Strikeforce on December 19.

A video package gives us some background on Kessler and his upbringing in Denmark. We see Ward as well, who calls himself a "thinking man's fighter."

Tarver says Ward's key to victory will be his versatility. He likes Kessler's experience and his fundamentals.

Finally we go to Jimmy Lennon Jr. in the ring for the introductions. Oakland's own Ward comes out first, waving an American flag and getting a warm reception from the partisan crowd. Ward is 20-0 with 13 KOs, but this is his first world title fight.

Kessler hears some jeers as he walks to the ring. The Viking Warrior is 42-1 with 32 KOs, with his lone loss coming to Joe Calzaghe in November of 2007. Tarver does not think the crowd will bother him at all.

The tale of the tape shows both men are virtually identical in all physical categories. The main difference is that Ward is five years younger, and Bernstein says it's a fair question to wonder if Kessler is an "old" 30 since he has logged plenty of rounds and had some injury problems.

Lennon does the introductions, and we are all set to go, scheduled for 12 rounds for Kessler's WBA belt.

Round 1

Quick left hook by Ward. A jab hits Kessler, then two more. Now a left hook by Kessler connects. Ward gets inside and escapes without taking any damage. Straight left by Ward. Both men pawing with jabs, and Ward goes to the body. Kessler is trying to cut off the ring. He tries to unload in the corner, but Ward ties up. One-two by Ward followed by some jabs. Fans get a "USA" chant going as Kessler lands a jab. Thumping left glances off Kessler's guard. No big damage done, but that was a good round for Ward.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 2

Kessler looking to get more aggressive, but Ward catches him with a left hook coming in. Kessler has Ward off balance for a second but doesn't connect with any big shots. Ward bulls his way in and ties up. Both men trying jabs. Kessler closes the distance and gets tied up several times. Ward misses with a wild left and they clinch again. Ward is doing a lot of dancing and lateral movement. He ends a combo with a body shot. The ref warns Mikkel for holding, and Ward connects with a right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 3

Ward starts off with nice left but Kessler stands his ground and fires right back. Ward jukes and pops Kessler with a left in the corner. The announcers think Ward's speed is bothering Kessler right now. Mikkel chases and tries to corner his foe. Right to the head and left to the body by Ward. Kessler eats two shots right off a break. Ward smacks his man with a right and takes a jab in return.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 4

The one negative thing about Ward's fight thus far is that he's retreating a lot, and we saw what happened to Andre Dirrell. Ward is cautioned for two shots right on the belt line. Press row has it a shutout for Ward so far. Ward just misses a big left. They fight in close and Ward gets the better of it. Kessler lands a big left hook but gets stunned a bit by a right hand. That was the best punch of the night thus far. Kessler laughs but he gets popped by another right.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 5

Kessler has some blood coming from the right side of his face. He stumbles a bit as they exchange in the center of the ring. Straight right by Ward finds the mark. More grabbing, mostly by Ward. Left hook by Ward, and jabs fly both ways. Kessler lands a left hook to the body before they clinch. Kessler scores with a few shots along the ropes which are answered by Ward. Kessler jabs and takes two left hooks back. Ward has been switching stances a lot. Closer round but still hard to give to the Viking Warrior.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 6

Ward opens with a two-punch combo. Kessler is fighting with more urgency and firing a bunch more jabs. Kessler uses a left hook counter that scores. Mikkel lands a few more shots as Andre loses his discipline for a moment. Nice uppercut by Ward in close. Right-left combo to the head as Ward rushes forward. Bernstein says Kessler needs to take advantage of the openings he's getting. Kessler eats a left but avoids the right. Ward's movement is confusing Kessler more often than not.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 7

Ward goes to the body off his jab. Kessler is getting closer with his power shots. Tarver wonders if Kessler took Ward too lightly. Nice right by Kessler before they tie up. He lands more jabs and Ward fires his own followed by a hook. Wild swing and a miss by Kessler. Ward uses a right to the body and they clinch. Repeated jabs hit Mikkel as he backs up.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 8

Kessler apparently told his trainer he is having trouble seeing. Short right by Mikkel and a jab. Ward uses a right and a left hook to get some space. Right hand by Ward with no answer. Kessler lands a jab but misses the right hand. Both men having some trouble finding the range. Ward lands a short uppercut before the ref steps in. Right-left combo knocks Kessler back, but he gathers himself and tries to return fire.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 9

Kessler is cut over the left eye and below the right eye. His corner tells him he can only win by knockout now. Ward opens the round with two shots to the head. Body shot and a left hand by Andre. Lots more clinching, but Kessler is doing most of it now. Kessler tries short lefts from very close range. Ward uses a right hand upstairs and a left hand downstairs. Another huge swing and a miss by Mikkel. Now Kessler shows some determination for digging in for a flurry.

Franchise: 10-9 Ward

Round 10

Replays make it look as if the cut over Kessler's eye came from a clash of heads. Both men settle behind their jabs. Quick right hand by Ward, then a stiff left jab. Kessler complains about a clash of heads and the fans boo him. Left-right combination by Ward opens up an exchange. Nice left hands both ways. Right hand and a left hook by Kessler on the inside. Ward backs up Kessler though nothing huge landed. Kessler measures a right hand. Give Kessler credit for guts.

Franchise: 10-9 Kessler

Round 11

Bernstein calls Ward out for leading with his head in the last round. Two frames to go, and Kessler likely needs something dramatic to save his belt. Left-right combo by Ward as Kessler tries a straight right. Clubbing shots by Kessler force Ward to stand and trade. Andre jabs his way in and ties up. A lead right gets Kessler's attention. The ref stops the fight, as the doctor says it's over due to a cut on Kessler's eyelid.

We have to go to the scorecards because the cut that stopped the fight was caused by a headbutt. The judges score it 97-93 and 98-92 twice, all for the winner... and new WBA super middleweight titleholder... Andre "S.O.G." Ward.

Gray congratulates Ward, who thanks God first. They talk a bit about the thought that Kessler was unable to make mid-fight adjustments and how that proved to be the case. Ward does say Kessler is a tough fighter and he's not surprised Mikkel was a champ for so long.

Kessler complains to Gray about the holding and hitting and Ward using his head. The ref apparently said there were five unintentional butts, but the Viking Warrior says he thinks they were blatant. Kessler says the cuts may be a problem going forward but he'll see if he can use more lateral movement in future fights.

Asked about Taylor, Ward mentions Jermain's tweets saying he will continue on. Andre says he'll be ready for the next fight regardless of who it is.

Ward scoffs at the idea that he was using his head on purpose and gives Kessler and Gray some props before checking out.

Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward: Predictions

The Franchise says...

When the initial pairings for the first stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic were released, this is the fight that jumped out at me right away. Mikkel Kessler impressed me a lot by giving Joe Calzaghe a good fight a few years ago, and Andre Ward seems like a star in the making. Putting them in the ring together can't help but lead to good things, right?

In some ways this match-up is similar to the Carl Froch-Andre Dirrell fight with a faster American going up against a more powerful European. But that's about where it ends, because Kessler has more boxing skills than Froch, while Ward is a more polished product than the other Andre.

There's certainly a chance that this is too big a step up for Ward, both in terms of competition and the big stage. There are some slight questions about his power and his chin, too, and Kessler will expose them if they are legitimate flaws.

I think Ward is ready to shine. Kessler is too tough and too smart to get knocked out, but I believe he'll come up short on the scorecards and Ward will win a tight but unanimous decision.

Uatu says...

Kessler to win. I foresee a knockdown, and possibly a TKO, and the towel being thrown in.

Posted by The Franchise

Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward: Super Six In-Depth Preview

"The Viking Warrior" Mikkel Kessler

Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Resides: Monaco
Height: 6' 1"
Reach: 73"
Current World Titles Held: WBA Super Middleweight (168 lbs.)
Former World Titles Held: WBC Super Middleweight
Professional Record: 42-1, 32 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: 8-1, 6 KOs
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 4-1
Record at 168 lbs.: 26-1, 22 KOs

Notable Wins: UD12 Librado Andrade, KO3 Markus Beyer, UD12 Anthony Mundine
Notable Loss: UD12 Joe Calzaghe

Andre "S.O.G." Ward

Birthplace: San Francisco, California
Resides: Oakland, California
Height: 6' 1"
Reach: 73"
Current World Titles Held: None
Former World Titles Held: None
Professional Record: 20-0, 13 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: First world title fight
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 2-0
Record at 168 lbs.: 11-0, 7 KOs

Notable Wins: UD12 Edison Miranda, TKO7 Rubin Williams

Analysis:

It may not seem like it right now, but the boxing world isn't on hold while it waits for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather to decide if and when they are going to fight each other. Hardcore enthusiasts know there are a number of intriguing fights in the next few months - and the final first stage fight in the Super Six World Boxing Classic definitely qualifies.

Though Mikkel Kessler has fought most of his career in his native Denmark, he isn't viewed with as much suspicion by American fans as some of his European contemporaries. That's because the hard-punching yet technically solid Viking Warrior has taken on some solid competition and come out on top. His lone loss came while giving a prime Joe Calzaghe a good battle, and that's no easy task.

Andre Ward isn't at the same virtuoso level of the sport as Mayweather, but he does possess a similar ability to make aspects of the game look smooth and effortless. He's got very fast hands and is comfortable fighting in either an orthodox or southpaw stance. Ward's undefeated record includes just one bout that seemed like a true test, when he easily outpointed slugger Edison Miranda earlier this year.

Both men are well-rounded, but that doesn't mean the shape of the fight won't favor one more than the other. If Kessler can use his experience to turn it into a slugfest, he looks to have the upper hand, as Ward has questions about his power and a sometimes unreliable chin. S.O.G. probably wouldn't mind 12 rounds of boxing, because his youth and athleticism would be bigger factors.

Ward can take some solace in the fact that the first two fights in the World Boxing Classic were won by the men fighting in front of their home fans, and he'll be right in his backyard in Oakland. This will be Kessler's first appearance in the U.S., but he did face Calzaghe in Wales and has enough rounds under his belt that it's unlikely that he'll be rattled.

Kessler's Winning Strategy: Get Inside

Usually it's a size differential that makes it imperative for one fighter to close the range, but in this case Kessler and his opponent are almost identical in all areas of the tale of the tape. The Viking Warrior has a good jab and enough skill to box from the outside, yet staying in Ward's face still seems like the sounder plan.

Kessler throws great uppercuts and body shots, both of which are best utilized in tight. As mentioned above, Ward may not have enough pop to keep Kessler honest, and if that's the case, Mikkel should look to back his man up against the ropes and attack with impunity.

Logic suggests that if this fight ends in a knockout, it's going to be Kessler who has his hand raised. The chances of that happening are that much greater if Mikkel can keep the average distance closer than Andre would like.

Ward's Winning Strategy: Let Your Hands Go

Stylistically, Ward doesn't bear that much resemblance to Calzaghe. But the only man to beat Kessler did lay out a game plan that he can use to earn a victory, providing he has the heart to pull it off.

JoeCal flummoxed Kessler at times with combination punching when he didn't expect it, capitalizing on his ability to get off first. Ward should be able to do that comfortably from the outside, using his jab and firing immediate follow-up punches. He'll want to do the same on the inside even though there is some risk involved due to Kessler's heavy hands.

What he should try to avoid is holding as often as he did against Miranda, because that won't cut it against the Viking Warrior. Outworking the other man seems like the way to go here, and Ward has to have the conviction that a high activity level will pile up the points and have him ahead on the cards at the end of 12 rounds.

Posted by The Franchise

20/20 Hindsight: Europe 2, USA 0 Behind Abraham, Froch on First Night of Super Six

Credit the oddsmakers for looking good after an eventful first night of action in Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic.

All three Americans were toward the bottom of the list in terms of betting odds for winning the whole thing, with Jermain Taylor the longest shot of all at 10-1. That looked prophetic as Bad Intentions was victimized by a nasty KO at the hands of Arthur Abraham, delighting his home fans in Germany.

Taylor didn't look too bad in the opening rounds, using a high activity level and a steady diet of jabs to keep Abraham mostly at bay. But of course, King Arthur just settles in behind that high guard to study his opponents, and he starts throwing when he deems it's the right time.

I had Abraham comfortably ahead on the cards headed into the final round, with Taylor needing a KO to win. Instead, he was knocked silly by a gigantic right hand in a scene reminiscent but even worse than the shot that Carl Froch hit him with earlier this year.

Not surprisingly, ESPN's Dan Rafael is reporting that Jermain suffered a severe concussion which includes some short-term memory loss. If I was a betting man - and I am - I'd put money on Allan Green sliding into Taylor's spot for the remainder of the tourney. I think he'd be the weakest link in the field, but I already felt that way about Taylor. much as I pull for him because he seems like a decent guy.

As for Abraham, his last round heroics should play well with fans everywhere, helping him toward his stated goal of becoming a star in America. I think he could catch on (despite his shaky English), as he seems to have that "it" factor. Certainly with three points in the bank and a very winnable fight against Andre Dirrell in Stage 2, he looks like he's in the Super Six for the long haul.

The nightcap between Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell couldn't have been more different. As expected, it was Dirrell flashing the hand speed and Froch trying to walk him down to land power shots.

And it was ugly. Boy, was it ugly. Clinching, hitting behind the head, hitting on the break, holding and hitting, something that looked like a judo throw... you name it, this fight had it. Dirrell was deducted a point for clinching, which he was doing like a madman, but how you could pick just him to single out is beyond me.

Despite that, there was some drama with Froch coming on in the middle rounds and Dirrell fighting a superb 11th round followed by a spirited 12th. All three of us here at BoxingWatchers.com had Dirrell winning by comfortable margins, so much so that they are now calling us out in Hungary. Google Translate claims the one comment reads "I mean, the 118-109 and 117-110 they are not meant seriously."

Uh, actually Hungary, they are meant seriously, and if you browse through the rest of our round by round posts here, I think you'll find we usually do a damn good job of scoring, free of any agendas. I called my brother Uatu after the scores were announced and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade because I was so befuddled by the judges scoring the fight for Froch.

I've calmed down since and been surprised to learn that some people thought Froch won. Other reputable sources (plus this one) side with us. But it is what it is.

Froch deserves credit for a willingness to relentlessly come forward. He cut the ring off well and did trap Dirrell on the ropes at times, I just didn't think he did much clean, effective punching in those spots - mostly because Dirrell showed great head movement - or in many others, to be honest. The Cobra also demonsrated an iron chin, but we already knew he had that.

Dirrell shouldn't hang his head, and I don't think he will. He needs to shake it off and get his mind on Abraham, because that is going to be a tough one.

Discounting some dissatisfaction over the Froch-Dirrell score and some concern for the well-being of Taylor, that was a fun night of boxing. Fans in Europe were certainly digging it, but to really capture the imagination of American sports fans, the Americans are going to have to win some fights. Paging Andre Ward...

Posted by The Franchise

Froch v. Dirrell: Round by Round

The second of tonight's fights is about to get underway. Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell should be making their way to the ring in about 15 minutes.

Jimmy Lennon Jr. handles the entrances for the Froch v. Dirrell fight. Dirrell makes his way to the ring first. The crowd sends some boos his way, but he has a big smile on his face.

Froch comes to the ring now to "We Will Rock You" by Queen, which then changes to "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns and Roses.

Andre Dirrell is 18-0 with 13 KOs. Carl Froch is 25-0 with 10 KOs.

The intros are finished, here we go.

Round 1

Dirrell goes to work first and lands a couple of hooks to the body. Not much action from either fighter yet. They are feeling themselves out in there. Dirrell's speed is evident in the first round. Dirrell lands two jabs. Dirrell keeps talking to Froch; not sure what he's saying. Dirrell counters with a right hand. Dirrell switches to southpaw. Froch comes forward and Dirrell laughs and pounds his chest. Froch is keeping his left hand below his waist, while Dirrell is landing some good jabs.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 2

Dirrell lands a jab to the body. Froch keeps his jab going but misses because he's too far away. Dirrell is using good upper body movement to get out of the way of Froch's jabs. This looks like it's still a feeling out round. Froch leads off with a wide left hook, and Dirrell gets out of the way. Froch keeps both of his hands below his waist now. Dirrell lands a double left jab.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 3

Dirrell goes to work with a double right hand. Froch ties him up. They break apart and Froch goes back to the jab. Dirrell gets backed into the corner, and Froch tries to land but Dirrell gets away. Dirrell reaches inside for a jab to the body. Dirrell gets out of the corner again, and Froch misses with a body shot. Dirrell smiles. Froch lands a good right hand while Dirrell was off balance, and Dirrell counters. Froch can't take advantage of Dirrell when he is in the corner.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 4

Dirrell unleashes two left hands from the southpaw stance, and Froch puts his gloves up. Dirrell looks to be waiting to land his power punch. He switches back to orthodox stance. He counters with a right hand. Froch has Dirrell against the ropes, but Dirrell dances away. The crowd starts to boo. Froch goes to the body, and Dirrell comes forward and tries to land a straight left hand. Froch throws wildly while Dirrell is in the corner but misses.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 5

Froch throws a left hand, and Dirrell counters with a right hand. Now another great right hand by Dirrell. Froch isn't doing enough to win these rounds. He's really hesitating before throwing. The fighters tie up and Dirrell gets tackled down. Froch gets a warning. He looks frustrated in there. Dirrell throws a good combo, and they tie up. Froch lands a big shot to the body on the break, and the ref warns him again. Froch is clearly frustrated.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 6

Dirrell comes out in the southpaw stance. Dirrell gets caught in the corner. Froch throws wildly, and Dirrell slips. Dirrell lands two big shots. This has completely turned into a brawl. There's a lot of punching in the tie ups and on the breaks. The ref stops the action and tells both fighters to knock it off. Dirrell slips a right hand with a "Matrix" style move, earning his nickname.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Froch

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 7

Froch comes out and looks to be fighting with more urgency. They trade hard punches and tie up in the corner. Dirrell is baiting Froch while against the ropes to land a counter. Froch lands a punch to the body, and Dirrell clinches him. Dirrell has been clinching a lot, and the ref warns him. Froch lands a good right hand, and Dirrell ties up his other arm. This fight has really turned sloppy. Froch is now holding and hitting, and Dirrell complains to the ref. Dirrell lands a big left hand that backs up Froch.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 8

Froch goes back to the jab. Dirrell answers back with a jab of his own. Dirrell counters Froch's jab with a left. Not much from either fighter. Dirrell slips, which stops the action. Dirrrell lands a big right hand, the best of the round. Dirrell clinches, and Froch starts holding and hitting. Dirrell throws a power combination, and Froch smiles. Dirrell gets caught with a big right hand, and the crowd gets on its feet. Froch goes for a knockout, but Dirrell ties him up.

Spartan117: 10-9 Froch

Uatu: 10-9 Froch

Franchise: 10-9 Froch

Round 9

Froch goes to work with the jab again. Dirrell looks to counter. Dirrell gets a double left hand in. Dirrell misses with a jab but connects with a right hand. Froch starts coming forward more now. Dirrell is landing some great punches in this round, mostly left hands from his southpaw stance. Froch keeps trying to punch Dirrell in the back of the head; the ref warns him. Good round for Dirrell.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Froch

Round 10

Dirrell keeps his jab going. Froch gets him in the corner and tries to throw his big power punches. Dirrell gets out of the way. Dirrell lands a stiff jab, and they tie up in the corner. It's still pretty sloppy in there. The ref stops the action and deducts a point from Dirrell for holding! Dirrell is not happy. He has already held twice since the point deduction. Dirrell lands two huge left hands. Dirrell lands an huge right hand, and Froch is on wobbly legs. He barely makes it out of the round.

Spartan117: 9-9

Uatu: 9-9

Franchise: 9-9

Round 11

Dirrell looks to be going for the knockout. This is the first fight where Dirrell has gone past 10 rounds. Dirrell is landing some thunderous shots in this round. Froch keeps tying up. Now Froch lands a good left hook. Dirrell goes to work in the corner and lands a two-punch combo. Dirrell is using great movement to dodge Froch's punches. Dirrell lands a great right hand counter. Froch is taking the punches well. Froch is still bouncing on his feet. Good round for Dirrell.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Dirrell

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 12

They touch gloves in the center of the ring. Froch was told between rounds that he needs a KO to win. He comes out swinging. Dirrell lands a big right hand. Froch fires back with a combo that grazes. Dirrell lands an uppercut. Now he goes to the body. Dirrell dodges two punches while trapped in the corner. Froch lands a jab. Froch throws a combo in the corner. Dirrell gets stuck in the corner again, and Froch lands a combo. This has been a great round. Froch comes forward to land a a big punch but goes to the body. The bell rings. This one is up to the judges.

Spartan117: 10-9 Dirrell

Uatu: 10-9 Froch

Franchise: 10-9 Dirrell

The judges score the bout 114-113 Dirrell, 115-112 Froch, and 115-112 for the winner... and still WBC super middleweight titleholder... Carl "The Cobra" Froch.

Spartan117: 118-109 Dirrell

Uatu: 116-111 Dirrell

Franchise: 117-110 Dirrell

Dirrell says he "worked his ass off" and says he knows he did enough to win, "but that's a hometown decision." He says he didn't think he needed a knockout, and he deserved the decision. He sees a harder opponent in Arthur Abraham, who he fights next. He says he's ready to get back into the gym to put in that extra mile.

Froch says that he knows he won the fight. He credits Dirrell for being tough and quick but says that he didn't fight on the inside and fight like a man. He says that Dirrell had to make an excuse for his loss, and that's what he did. He says that Dirrell will never beat The Cobra.

Posted by spartan117

Abraham v. Taylor: Round by Round

The broadcast has just started, live from Nottingham, England. Al Bernstein, Gus Johnson and Antonio Tarver are taking care of the commentary. This is the first time I've seen the Super Six Championship cup. It looks pretty cool.

Steve Farhood is live from Berlin. Michael Buffer is handling the ring entrances. Jermain Taylor is coming to the ring first. Taylor is entering to Michael Jackson's "Bad." The crowd sounds surprisingly behind him, clapping to the beat and cheering him on.

Arthur Abraham comes to the ring now to music by The Scorpions. The Scorpions are actually performing above the entranceway. The crowd is really into the band. Abraham descends from behind the screen in an elaborate robe with fur.

Michael Buffer is working on the intros now. Abraham is 30-0 with 24 KOs. Taylor is 28-3-1 with 17 KOs.

And here we go!

Round 1

They meet in the center. Taylor's style looks slightly different than when he fought Froch. He's not rocking back and forth as much. Abraham lands a good jab. Taylor tries to back him down with his strong jab. Taylor tries a left hook that gets partially blocked. Abraham is starting slowly as expected. He backs Taylor off with a wide right hand. The crowd starts an Abraham chant. Taylor lands a right to the body. Taylor ducks a right hook. Abraham lands a jab. Taylor gets out of the corner. Taylor lands two hooks to the body.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor

Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Franchise: 10-9 Taylor

Round 2

Taylor gets the jab going again. Abraham's hooks are very wide and are getting blocked easily by Taylor. Taylor gets some more jabs between the gloves of Abraham. Taylor lands some hooks and one was way low. Abraham gets some time to recover and Taylor gets a warning. Abraham is using his own jab more now. Taylor keeps his going and mixes in an uppercut. Taylor lands a good left hook. This has been a good round for Taylor so far. Abraham gets in a left hook and Taylor backs off. Taylor gets against the ropes and Abraham goes to work. Taylor complains that the punches were in the back of the head.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 3

Taylor starts his jab again. Nothing from Abraham yet. Taylor keeps the jab going. Abraham unleashes a combo of hooks to the body. Taylor is wasting a lot of energy throwing his jab into Abraham's gloves. Abraham goes inside again and throws his combo of hooks. Abraham lands a great right hook. Abraham is starting to come alive. Taylor starts jawing with Abraham about punches to the back of the head at the end of the round.

Spartan117: 10-9 Abraham

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 4

Taylor comes out swinging hard and backs up Abraham immediately. Now he gets back to his jab. Taylor lands a shot to the body that the ref called low. It didn't look low to me. Abraham works the body with a hook. Taylor's corner told him to use his right more, and it looks like he listened. Taylor gets backed up with some Abraham jabs. Abraham goes to the body once more. Taylor throws an uppercut, but Abraham blocks it. Abraham throws a four-punch combo to the body again. Very close round toward the end.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor

Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Franchise: 10-9 Taylor

Round 5

Taylor throws some more jabs and one right to the body. There is some swelling starting over the right eye of Abraham. Abraham is starting to throw more punches now but almost all jabs. Taylor lands a good hook to the body. Abraham goes to his trademark combo to the body. Abraham lands a good right hand upstairs. Taylor dodges another combo from Abraham. They trade blows on the inside now, swinging wildly. Abraham lands a great straight right. Abraham's best round yet.

Spartan117: 10-9 Abraham

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 6

Abraham is starting to go to work now. His punches look way wider than I've ever seen them. Taylor gets a left hand around Abraham's glove. Taylor keeps his jab going. Abraham gets a good right hand to the body. Taylor goes to the body again that Abraham calls low. The ref takes a point away. It looked like it was right on the beltline. Abraham gets in a good right hand. They trade in the middle of the ring but nothing landed for either fighter.

Spartan117: 10-8 Abraham

Uatu: 10-8 Abraham

Franchise: 10-8 Abraham

Round 7

Taylor lands a combo to the head and body. Abraham answers back with a hook upstairs and one good shot to the body. Taylor keeps throwing his jab. Taylor gets rocked with a big right hand. Taylor isn't throwing much other than his jab. Abraham lands three shorts to the body and one more with a right to the head. Abraham tries for a knockout punch but misses by a lot. Abraham lands a right hand and Taylor shakes his head. The crowd is on its feet now.

Spartan117: 10-9 Abraham

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 8

Taylor has already thrown about 10 jabs in the first 30 seconds. Abraham drops his gloves below his waist now. Taylor throws a right hand but misses. Taylor misses two jabs as Abraham backs away. Not much coming from Abraham in the first two minutes. Taylor lands another jab. Abraham misses with a right hand. Taylor tries to sneak in another right hand. Abraham lands a flurry while Taylor is against the ropes. Abraham backs off for the last 10 seconds of the round.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor

Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 9

Taylor continues to throw the jab. Not much from either fighter yet in Round 9. Abraham gets through a crushing right hand, and Taylor is on wobbly legs. He's holding on to survive. He's trying to regain his composure in there. I'm surprised he survived. Abraham backs off now. Taylor lands a right uppercut on the inside. Taylor has his legs under him again. Abraham does almost nothing for the last 20 seconds of the round.

Spartan117: 10-9 Abraham

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 10

Taylor keeps his jab going. Abraham goes back in defensive mode. Taylor's not throwing enough right hands to win these rounds. He's throwing the jab almost exclusively. Abraham throws some more wide hooks. Taylor gets backed into the ropes and eats some hooks from Abraham. Abraham is pouring it on now and Taylor is backing off. Good round for Abraham.

Spartan117: 10-9 Abraham

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 11

Taylor lands a right to the body after a jab. Taylor starts throwing some more right hands. Taylor gets out of the corner and Abraham misses some wide hooks. Taylor goes back to the jab. Abraham lands a five-punch combo to the body while Taylor is in the corner. Abraham throws a flurry and lands at will. Taylor is in trouble in there. He's not doing enough to win any of these rounds, and Abraham should be well on his way to a decision victory.

Spartan117: 10-9 Abraham

Uatu: 10-9 Abraham

Franchise: 10-9 Abraham

Round 12

Taylor keeps his jab going and throws one to the body. The ref tells him to keep his punches up again. Nothing from Abraham yet. There isn't a sense of urgency from Taylor like there should be if he wants to win. Abraham lands a right hook. Abraham lands a right hand that backs him up into the corner, and they trade wild shots. Abraham lands a left hook and then another. Taylor throws a right hand but misses. Abraham lands an enormous right hand and Taylor is knocked out hard. The fight is all over. They are checking to see if Taylor is OK in there.

The winner by TKO at 2:54 in the 12th round... "King" Arthur Abraham.

Abraham says that "it was a great fight and a great KO, and Taylor is a good fighter, but I am better." He says he wasn't looking for the knockout, his main goal was only to win. He's asked if Taylor hits hard and he laughed and says no. He says his next plan is to go to America and "take America."

Taylor sounds really discouraged in his interview. He says he trained hard and of course he wanted a victory. He says he just got caught with a punch he didn't see.

Posted by spartan117

Live Froch-Dirrell Round By Round Updates Plus Abraham-Taylor Round By Round Tonight

It's time! Time for the Super Six World Boxing Classic to get underway, that is.

Tonight's first wave of fights will see Arthur Abraham take on Jermain Taylor, while Carl Froch defends his super middleweight title against Andre Dirrell in England. Showtime will televise both fights in the U.S., and it appears that Abraham-Taylor will air on a delay and Froch-Dirrell will be live.

That being the case, we'll be here for any boxing fans unfortunate enough to not be able to see the bouts on TV. We'll have separate posts for both fights out on our home page, and we'll even act like the Abraham-Taylor fight is happening live. Just keep yourself away from spoilers elsewhere on the internets and you'll be fine!

Join us here around 8 pm Eastern time tonight as the World Boxing Classic begins.

Posted by The Franchise

BoxingWatchers Round Table: Super Six Picks

The BoxingWatchers each have their own opinions on the sport, but we don't get a chance to come together and express them very often. On the eve of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, we figured now was as good a time as any.

It goes without saying that we're excited for the super middleweight tournament to begin. Everything from the format to the participants suggests that boxing fans all around the world are in for a treat.

What's going to happen over the next year and a half? Here's our take...

Who is most likely to win?

Uatu: This is a difficult question. All of these fighters have question marks. The consensus pick seems to be Mikkel Kessler because of his size, his strength, and his skills. He also only has one loss, and that was to Joe Calzaghe in his prime. But he doesn't fight often and not here in the US. Still, he is the most likely.

Spartan117: I like Kessler to win it all. He has more experience in the ring than most of the other fighters in the tournament, and he has faced some tough competition in the past. An argument against him is that most of his opponents throughout his career have been no-namers and he faced them in his own country, but he's the only one in the tournament that faced future Hall of Famer Joe Calzaghe and even made it somewhat competitive.

I think he and Arthur Abraham have the most pure boxing skill in the tournament, but I have more faith in Kessler's style to win it all.

The Franchise: Will Abraham be the same fighter at super middleweight that he was at middleweight? If he is, then I think he's got the best shot at winning. He's tough, accurate, patient and powerful, and I don't think any of the other entrants have styles that will be too much for him to figure out.

I like Andre Ward's chances too, provided he gets past Kessler in his first fight, which should give him confidence that he can win it all. He is just so solid in all facets of the game, I would not be at all surprised to see him in the final.

Who is least likely to win?

Uatu: Since all of the fighters have question marks, this is also hard to choose. Could be Andre Dirrell since he lacks experience or Abraham since he's coming up in weight, but I will go with Jermain Taylor.

Despite his vast experience edge over the others, he has already lost to Carl Froch, and he's always looked a little shaky in the late rounds. So unless he has something new up his sleeve, Taylor will have the hardest road to victory overall.

Spartan117: Dirrell is the underdog in my book. We haven't seen him face the top-tier opposition, unlike every other fighter who's competing. This could make him a bit of a wild card, but I think experience will decide the winner, and Dirrell might be a bit over his head. That being said, I am still looking forward to see what he brings to the tournament.

The Franchise: I'm having the hardest time envisioning Froch as the last man standing. I respect his toughness and power, but considering Taylor was about 15 seconds away from beating him on the cards, I can see all of the others winning decisions against him.

What will happen during the tournament that will surprise a lot of people?

Uatu: Dirrell will both impress and excite the naysayers out there.

Spartan117: I feel the biggest surprise of the tournament will be Taylor. I see Jermain as the only fighter in this whose career is at stake if he doesn't perform well.

We have seen him fade in late rounds in many of his past fights, but it looks like he's been working harder to fix that then ever before. He's seen plenty of elite competition in his career (most notably bringing Bernard Hopkins' title defense streak to an end), which should prepare him for what he's about to face.

I think he understands what this tournament means for him and his career, which means we'll see him at the top of his game.

The Franchise: I'll go in a different direction with this question and say I expect that we'll see at least one of the Super Six drop out, and the substitute will shake things up by winning a match. It will cause some controversy but not enough to take away from the whole thing.

Some people may be surprised when more mainstream media start paying attention to the tournament in its later stages, but if it delivers as I expect, I won't be surprised.

Anything else to say about the Super Six?

Uatu: There is absolutely no way this tournament can fail. None.

Even if every fighter gets hurt in the first round, or if every fight is boring, so what? These are all matchups we want to see, even in the first round. It could slightly fall short of expectations if some of the fighters drop out along the way, but once again, so what? You might as well aim high. At least there is a blueprint in place.

Now, maybe the true champ at 168 won't truly emerge at the end, but once again, so what? I am not watching this to see a true champ crowned as much as I am watching to see a slew of even fights among super talented fighters in their prime. I am not getting those types of fights anywhere else.

Dare I say, this is a very UFC way of putting together fights. There are winners, there are losers, but we get a bunch of even fights and one loss doesn't take you out of the picture forever.

Oh, and for right now, I like Abraham to win it all.

The Franchise: It's been said before in other places, but it bears repeating: I hope other promoters, networks, etc. are paying attention to the fan reaction for this event, because it has been almost entirely positive. I don't expect the Super Six will "save" boxing, but it's a giant step toward eliminating some of the ill will and indifference toward the sport that's been building up over the last 20 years.

Goods fights speak for themselves, and while nothing can ensure exciting matches, this format provides the best conditions for them to occur. I hope and I truly believe that the eventual winner, and perhaps one or two other boxers who impress along the way, will emerge as big stars.

Posted by The Franchise

Predictions: Abraham-Taylor and Froch-Dirrell

The Franchise says...

The Super Six World Boxing Classic is finally here, and it's a damn good time to be a boxing fan. If you're like me, one of the things you always hope for is to see top fighters facing each other, and this tournament ensures that we'll be watching exactly that in the super middleweight division for the next year and a half or so.

The first two fights have some intriguing subplots. Arthur Abraham and Jermain Taylor were both champions at 160 pounds, and while Taylor has two fights under his belt at 168 (going 1-1), Abraham is making his first serious foray into the division.

He's physically the smallest man in the tourney, and that could turn out to be an important fact, because he's a serious threat to win the whole thing if he can translate his style to the higher weight class. Abraham is efficient and accurate, content to wait for the right time to let loose even if that takes a few rounds.

Taylor is the only man in the field for whom the event is something of a final stab at regaining elite status. His days as the undisputed middleweight champion seem far behind him now, and he heads in off of three losses in his last four fights.

If Taylor can use what looks like a significant reach advantage and keep Abraham at bay with his jab, he has a definite chance to make his statement. He's capable of some very smart boxing - it's easy to forget that he did some good things in his first loss to Kelly Pavlik and would have beaten Carl Froch is he could have held on for another 14 seconds - but he has to be able to put it togehter for 12 rounds, and his track record on that score is not good.

I think this fight will be closer than some will suspect based on each man's recent performances, as Taylor uses what he's learned fighting some truly top-notch competition to make it very competitive. Ultimately, I just believe that Abraham will show his true quality over 12 rounds, and with the home fans urging him on, King Arthur will earn a narrow but unanimous decision.

The other fight on the tournament's first night sees WBC super middleweight titleholder Carl Froch put his gold on the line against undefeated but relatively untested American Andre Dirrell. It shapes up as the champ's power and toughness against the challenger's flashy quickness in front of Froch's literal hometown fans in Nottingham, England.

It's really hard to know exactly what we've got in Dirrell, who is two years older than fellow participant Andre Ward but has been in even lighter to this point. It's no mystery that he has a solid amateur background as a former Olympic bronze medalist, has speed in both his hands and his feet and he can switch from his normal southpaw stance to an orthodox look any time and be comfortable either way.

The unknown is how he'll handle taking shots from a puncher like Froch, who proved he can bring the thunder even after going 12 rounds with his dramatic victory over Taylor earlier this year. We should know early on if he has an answer for the movement and hand speed of Dirrell, and if he does, it could be a long, painful night for the American.

This is the rare fight where no outcome would surprise me. There's a lot to like about Froch's experience and power (plus the friendly crowd and, perhaps, judges), but it's possible Dirrell's athleticism will trump those factors.

I'm going to go with my gut over my head for this pick. While acknowledging Froch could catch his foe with a fight-ending shot, I think Saturday will be a coming out party in the form of Dirrell winning by decision, which may be closer on the cards than it appears on television.

Uatu says...

I like Abraham to wear Taylor down late and win by KO.

I will take Froch to wear Dirrell down late and win by decision.

Spartan117 says...

I like Taylor to get the upset victory tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to see how his new training methods will prepare him for a tough opponent like King Arthur. Taylor by decision.

I see Dirrell trying to make a statement with an early round K.O. Dirrell by K.O. in round 3-6

Posted by The Franchise

Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell: Super Six In-Depth Preview

Carl "The Cobra" Froch

Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Resides: Nottingham, England
Height: 6' 1"
Reach: 74 1/2"
Current World Titles Held: WBC Super Middleweight (168 lbs.)
Former World Titles Held: None
Professional Record: 25-0, 20 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: 2-0, 1 KO
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 4-0
Record at 168 lbs.: 16-0

Notable Wins: TKO12 Jermain Taylor, UD12 Jean Pascal

"The Matrix" Andre Dirrell

Birthplace: Flint, Michigan
Resides: Flint, Michigan
Height: 6' 2"
Reach: 75"
Current World Titles Held: None
Former World Titles Held: None
Professional Record: 18-0, 13 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: No previous title fights
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: None
Record at 168 lbs.: 16-0

Notable Wins: TKO6 Victor Oganov

Analysis:

For those who care about the sanctioning body titles up for grabs in the Super Six super middleweight tournament, this will be the first time one of them is on the line. Reigning WBC champion Froch won his strap by beating Jean Pascal last December, and he'll defend it against a man who's never been in a spot like this - or anything close - in Dirrell.

Froch has a unique claim to fame among the Super Six in that he's already beaten one of them, knocking out Jermain Taylor in dramatic fashion six months ago. Down on two of the three scorecards and having already shaken off a third-round knockdown, The Cobra rallied to stop Taylor with just 14 seconds left in the fight.

In contrast, Dirrell isn't taking a step up in competition as much as he's taking a leap. The 2004 Olympic middleweight bronze medalist has dazzling athleticism and tons of potential, but he's never had to deal with the kind of quality he'll be facing as long as he hangs around in the tournament.

Direll himself has broken down the fight as his speed versus Froch's power, but that's probably oversimplifying things, because he has some pop, and Froch isn't exactly a plodder. The Cobra has also demonstrated a sturdy chin and championship-caliber heart; the next time Dirrell has to show what he has in either of those categories will be his first.

The other factor that can't be overlooked is that Froch will practically be fighting in his backyard in Nottingham's Trent FM Arena, also the site of his victory over Pascal. All of Dirrell's fights have come on U.S. soil, so he'll have to be mentally prepared for having a hot crowd solidly in the corner of his opponent.

Froch's Winning Strategy: Don't Wait

No one can find fault with Froch's assertion that Dirrell has never fought anyone of his caliber, so his pre-fight confidence is understandable. He can also feel good about the fact that he's shown in his last two fights that he is able to handle guys with really quick hands (Pascal), and that he has the power to win even if he's down on points (Taylor).

Indeed, he may be the hardest single-shot puncher among the Super Six. That doesn't mean he can afford to sit back and wait for his spot too long, though, because Dirrell is an entirely different animal than his two previous victims.

Dirrell is more technically sound than Pascal, and his young legs aren't likely to fade on him like Taylor's did. He'll also gain confidence from every round he wins or even fights competitively.

The Cobra's best bet will be to make Dirrell feel his power early and stay in his face. Winning the initial rounds will keep the crowd excited, give his younger foe some self-doubt and make the knockout shot he's looking for later on more likely to come from opportunity rather than desperation.

Dirrell's Winning Strategy: Keep Things Unpredictable

Even Froch himself would probably have to admit that Dirrell has the faster hands. The Matrix earned his nickname with his ability to get off first and throw truly ridiculous combinations that look like they came straight out of a video game.

But boxing is much more than a hand speed competition, and Froch is both crafty and sturdy. He's not likely to wilt under simple volume and he's too dangerous to stand in front of for too long, especially with Dirrell's whiskers so untested.

Fortunately for Dirrell, he has more tricks up his sleeve. Listed as a southpaw, he's actually adept at fighting from either stance and is fond of switching numerous times over the course of a fight. He's capable of some nifty moves with his feet too, hopping in and out and leaving opponents flailing.

Dirrell can't worry about proving himself or trying to impress anyone. He'll find success if he can keep Froch guessing by continually changing the distance, pace and his stance, and yes, unleashing his long combos when he gets a chance. Froch will be the best boxer Dirrell has seen, but The Matrix can win if he gives the champ something he's never seen before either.

Posted by The Franchise

Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor: Super Six In-Depth Preview

"King" Arthur Abraham

Birthplace: Yerevan, Armenia
Resides: Berlin, Germany
Height: 5' 10"
Reach: 72"
Current Titles Held: None
Former Titles Held: IBF Middleweight (160 lbs.)
Professional Record: 30-0, 24 KOs
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 8-0
Record at 168 lbs.: 6-0

Notable Wins: TKO4 Edison Miranda II, UD12 Edison Miranda I, KO5 Kingsley Ikeke

Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor

Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas
Resides: Little Rock, Arkansas
Height: 5' 11"
Reach: 74 1/2"
Current Titles Held: None
Former Titles Held: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, Ring Magazine Middleweight (160 lbs.)
Professional Record: 28-3-1, 17 KOs
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 7-2-1
Record at 168 lbs.: 1-1

Notable Wins: UD12 Bernard Hopkins II, SD12 Bernard Hopkins I, TKO9 Raul Marquez
Notable Losses: TKO12 Carl Froch, UD12 Kelly Pavlik II, TKO7 Kelly Pavlik I

Analysis:

The first bout in Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic features a battle between the two men in the field who have the most accomplishments to their names, though those honors came one weight class south of super middleweight. Taylor is a former undisputed middleweight champion with two victories over Bernard Hopkins under his belt, while Abraham gave up his IBF 160-pound title to enter the tournament after making 10 successful defenses.

Those similarities aside, the two men couldn't be more different when it comes to styles and career paths. King Arthur may not have truly elite power or speed, but he's been able to turn back all challengers to this point by taking several rounds to study them, then dishing out punishment once he sees openings.

Taylor, meanwhile, limps into the Super Six off of a dramatic TKO loss at the hands of fellow participant Carl Froch that punctuated a 1-3 record in his last four fights. Despite his middleweight reign, he's never quite seemed to get his boxing savvy to the same high level of his physical gifts, and he's had a worrisome tendency to fade after looking good early.

While those factors would seem to dovetail into an easy night for Abraham, there's still intrigue thanks to the fact that he's physically smaller than every man he'll face in the tournament. He'll be giving away height, reach and overall bulk to Taylor, and he'll have to prove he can retain his effectiveness against top contenders at this higher weight.

The format of the Classic ensures the loser won't be out of contention to win it all, but of all the first round matches, this one stands to do the most psychological damage to the boxer who ends up in that position. Abraham would have to quickly show that he can deal with tasting his initial defeat, while Taylor would undoubtedly hear the whispers that he's finished - or even worse, that he shouldn't have been in the field at all.

Abraham's Winning Strategy: Patience is a Virtue

King Arthur's usual M.O. is to cover up on defense until he's comfortable with what he's seeing, unleashing accurate jabs and power shots once he thinks he's got his foe figured out. It's worked for him so far, and there's no reason to think he'll do anything radically different.

But Taylor could test his commitment to the game plan in a couple of ways. Jermain often looks impressive or even scores knockdowns in the first few rounds, earning a lead on the scorecards. The American can also be awkward and doesn't throw a ton of punches, leading to fewer opportunities for counter-punching than Abraham usually sees.

Though Taylor's chin is now rightly suspect, Abraham could still find his power punches don't do as much damage at 168. There are also the pressures of earning the extra points for a KO and fighting in front of thousands of adoring fans in his adopted homeland of Germany that could tempt him into extra aggression.

Abraham can't worry about any of that. He needs to dance with what got him here because it's his best chance to stay undefeated.

Taylor's Winning Strategy: Attack Early, Defend Late

Several media outlets have reported that Taylor has been working with doctors and coaches specifically to solve his problem of running out of gas in the late rounds. He'd better hope they come up with something, because Abraham will make him pay if he reverts to his old form.

That doesn't mean Taylor should sit back for the first few frames. On the contrary, he'd probably be better served by dialing up the aggression even more than usual in the hopes of building a lead - a task that may be tougher in Germany.

Since he's naturally bigger than Abraham, Taylor should be able to muscle him in the early rounds. King Arthur covers up well, so Jermain would be well served to mix things up to the head and body and throw combinations with the knowledge that not all of the punches will get through.

Assuming he feels like he's ahead after the halfway point, Taylor can ease off a bit and use the fact that he's taller and rangier to pick off a foe who will have to push the pace to catch up. And while it may not be pretty, getting on his bike may be called for as well, the better to avoid more final round drama going against him.

Fight Camp 360: Episode 1 Recap

Fight Camp 360 is Showtime's answer to HBO's 24/7 or countdown series. It's a documentary style behind the scenes look into Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic.

It starts with ESPN's Dan Rafael discussing how this tournament came to be. There's some great footage of George Foreman and Mike Tyson commenting on how big a deal the tournament is.

Carl Froch is shown at dinner with his wife and family discussing his fight against Taylor and what the tournament means to him.

Next is Andre Direll. He's been training at Big Bear, California. He's been close with his father and he's dedicating his performance in the tournament to him.

Jermain Taylor gets the floor now. He's met with doctors to see why he's been getting tired late in his fights. They say it's because he's been losing weight too fast. Since then he's completely changed his training style.

Showtime now focuses on the meeting between all of the fighter's promoters. There were long conversations discussing how the tournament would be scheduled and who would face who.

Arthur Abraham gets focus now. He talks about how he got into the sport. He idolized Mike Tyson growing up and he says that this tournament will get him to where he wants to be in boxing.

That's it. It was a great look into the 4 boxers that fight next week.

Posted by spartan117

Super Six: A Case For and Against Each Man Winning the World Boxing Classic

First it seemed like a pipe dream that couldn't possibly come true. Then it felt far enough in the future that it would never get here.

Yet here we are, less than two weeks away from the start of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic. A half-dozen of the world's best super middleweights are getting set to take part in a tournament that will last into 2011, with the promise of fame and fortune going to the winner.

For boxing fans, one of the most appealing aspects of the tournament is that despite the differences in age, experience and nationality among the participants, all six men are (on paper anyway) fairly evenly matched. Handicapping the field is tricky, and it's not hard to make compelling arguments for why each fighter can win the whole thing - or why you could see each one coming up short.

So I'm going to do just that. In no particular order, here are the boxers who make up the Super Six and the biggest factors that could help them succeed... or fail:

Andre Ward

Why he'll win: Ward has youth on his side. At 25, he's a full seven years south of the oldest competitor, Carl Froch. He's already gone 12 rounds twice in 2009, so he's shown the ability to keep up his movement and activity level while going the distance. That could prove vital when fighting top ranked foes every few months.

As a former Olympic gold medalist, S.O.G. also has the full compliment of boxing skills. Ward looks smooth om both offense and defense and has no glaring weaknesses in his game.

Why he won't win: Of the Super Six, only Jermain Taylor has a lower KO percentage, so there are legitimate questions about Ward's power. He dominated Henry Buchanan and Edison Miranda earlier this year, but he was never able to put either man away.

It's another significant step up to the level of the competition he'll face in the Classic. Ward may be able to take a decision against any man in the field, but winning five in a row is a tall task.

Andre Dirrell

Why he'll win: In terms of pure athleticism, Dirrell may top everyone in the field. He's got ridiculous hand speed and can throw combinations that can dazzle judges. The Matrix also likes to switch from southpaw to orthodox repeatedly in the middle of fights and is comfortable fighting either way.

Dirrell has less wear and tear on him than any of his potential opponents, logging under 100 rounds as a pro so far. On paper, at least, he's the tallest man in the tournament and has the longest arms as well.

Why he won't win: There's stepping up in competition, and then there's leaping, which is what Dirrell is about to do. None of his former victims were top ranked contenders when he beat them, so there's no telling how he'll fare against the best in the world at 168 pounds. He's still raw in some areas and is more of a work in progress than anyone he'll face.

It's also worth noting that Dirrell has never fought 12 rounds and has gone past eight rounds just once. So while he should be able to go the distance without a problem, he has no experience to fall back on should one of his bouts last into the the championship rounds.

Jermain Taylor

Why he'll win: In contrast to the other two Americans, Taylor has been to the top of the mountain. A former undisputed middleweight champion, he owns a pair of wins over a man (Bernard Hopkins) just about any boxing fan would say is better than anyone in the Classic.

Even when he was on top of the sport, Taylor has always been more athlete than boxer, but that sometimes works to his advantage because his style can be awkward. And motivation shouldn't be a problem - he's lost three of his last four fights, and his career could go into a tailspin with a poor showing.

Why he won't win: A tendency to fade late plus a questionable chin have been tough problems for Taylor to solve. He's lost two fights by knockout, and one of those came at the hands of a fellow Super Six member (Carl Froch).

Taylor was never a huge puncher at 160 pounds and his only win at 168 was by decision. If he can't get ahead on the cards early and make his foe respect his power, he may be facing some tough sledding.

Mikkel Kessler

Why he'll win: This may be the best boxer casual boxing fans don't know. The 30-year old Dane has skill and stamina, plus enough pop to get anyone's attention. He's tied with Taylor for the most pro rounds boxed of the six participants, so it's unlikely he'll see anything new.

Kessler shouldn't be intimidated, as he's fared well against top competition in the past. He completely dominated Librado Andrade when they met in 2007, and he gave a good account of himself while dropping a decision to Joe Calazghe - no shame there - eight months later.

Why he won't win: It's possible that Kessler may actually be a bit rusty, at least in terms of fighting elite opponents. By the time he takes on Ward in November, he'll have gone 13 months with just one bout, and that was against the hopelessly outgunned Gusmyr Perdomo.

Kessler has never fought in the U.S. and will be facing hostile crowds against any of the Americans. He'll have to be mentally tough because it's quite possible his opponent will be the rooting favorite in every one of his tournament matches.

Arthur Abraham

Why he'll win: King Arthur fights in a very deliberate style that's served him well over the course of 30 straight wins. Though he's a slow starter, he's excellent at covering up and avoiding serious damage while he figures out his opponent. He's got an uncanny sense for when to go on the attack, and he throws hard, accurate shots when he decides to flip the switch.

Abraham has made a trip to the U.S. to fight once before and won't be rattled by taking on the Americans on their home turf. It goes without saying that any fight that ends up in his adopted home of Germany, like his opener against Taylor, will give him tens of thousands of fans urging him on.

Why he won't win: Most of Abraham's career has been spent at middleweight, so it remains to be seen if the same approach that wilted people at 160 will work at 168. If he can't make his Super Six opponents respect his power, he may have to get out of his comfort zone and fight more aggressively in the early rounds.

Abraham is also the shortest man in the field and has the shortest arms. Against taller men like Dirrell and Froch, those disadvantages could be tough to overcome when added on top of the weight factor.

Carl Froch

Why he'll win: If there's a definite underdog in the tournament, it's probably Froch. His chances seem to be discounted by many fans, but that "me against the world" mentality can be a powerful motivator. He shouldn't lack for confidence since he's already beaten Taylor.

Speaking of that last round KO, The Cobra proved he's never out of a fight. Froch isn't the fastest or most gifted boxer in the Six, but he's resilient and has already demonstrated his chin and heart.

Why he won't win: Not to put too much stock in a single fight, but he was about 15 seconds away from losing to Taylor before he pulled out the knockout. He won't be able to lure headier fighters like Abraham or Kessler into the same type of situation, and it's not hard to envision him coming out on the wrong end of a decision against everyone else in the Classic.

Froch did beat speedy Jean Pascal last December, but he's certainly going to be at a hand speed deficit against the likes of Dirrell (who he fights first) or Ward. He'll have to be accurate and hope judges prefer quality to quantity.

Posted by The Franchise

BoxingWatchers.com: Boxer Power Rankings - October 2009

Slacking. That's what we've been doing on the site this week, and that's what I've been doing for several months with our power rankings (patent pending).

If you're new here, you're going to look at these and go, "Whoa! Hold up! Where's Money Mayweather?"

Yes, Floyd would likely be on top if this was a pound-for-pound list, but it's not. We only do one of those at the end of each year.

The power rankings are a mathematical way to show who's been staying active, winning and winning decisively against opponents with good records over the past three years. Boxers like Mayweather (since he retired for about two years) just haven't fought enough in that time period to qualify. A "perfect" score is 36, but anything over 17 is pretty impressive.

Now that that's out of the way, here's our list for the beginning of October:

1. Arthur Abraham - 24.13 - It's always easy to criticize fighters who build up gaudy records staying close to home, but King Arthur has begun taking on more challenges. He should get tested big time in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, where he'll not only face top fighters but he'll do it while stepping up in weight.

2. Wladimir Klitschko - 21.07 - Speaking of challenges, this guy could use one. It's hard to recall the last time Wlad was in any danger during a fight.

3. Juan Manuel Lopez - 20.59 - Over the last three years, JuanMa is 9-0 with 9 KOs. He'd have a truly monstrous score in these rankings except for the fact that two or three of his victims fall into the "highly questionable" category.

4. Nonito Donaire - 17.60 - The Filipino Flash is likely to stay somewhat in the very large shadow of countryman Manny Pacquiao for the next few years, but he's been doing some impressive work of his own. He should squeeze in one more fight before the end of the year.

5. Manny Pacquiao - 17.49 - Pac-Man has made it to the point where every time he steps in the ring, it's an event. Beating Miguel Cotto won't be an easy task, but you know Freddie Roach will have his man ready to go.

6. Celestino Caballero - 17.08 - Pelenchin wasn't exactly in tough his last time out against Francisco Leal. It's tough to see who may be on the horizon for him to fight that would get fans excited.

7. Kelly Pavlik - 16.97 - After several stops and starts related to a staph infection, The Ghost has finally been given the okay to fight Paul Williams on December 5. At least that's how it looks right now. That should be an entertaining bout.

8. Felix Sturm - 15.75 - The obvious fight between Sturm and Abraham is out of the question now that Abraham has departed middleweight for bigger (literally) and better things. Maybe he'll get a shot at the Pavlik-Williams winner, but I kind of doubt it.

9. Lucian Bute - 14.36 - He's possibly the most glaring omission from the World Boxing Classic, so he'll content himself with a rematch against Librado Andrade in November. You may recall he was lucky to avoid becoming a late KO victim the first time.

10. Carl Froch - 13.60 - Since he's also part of the Super Six, The Cobra could go soaring up this list over the next year. And he could just as easily be all the way out, too.

The next 10: Miguel Cotto, Fernando Montiel, Tomasz Adamek, Vitali Klitschko, Chris John, Juan Manuel Marquez, Mikkel Kessler, Robert Guerrero, Paul Williams, Chad Dawson

Posted by The Franchise

Live Kessler-Perdomo, Ward-Pudwill Round By Round Updates

Hey all. If you're new here, welcome. And if you've visited before, welcome back.

Here's what we're going to do tonight: we're going to make sure that everyone who can't watch the doubleheader on Showtime, featuring Super Six World Boxing Classic participants Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward in tune-up fights, knows what's going on as it happens.

How will we do that? Well, we'll have our very own Spartan117 blog live during the fights to give you the round by round scoop. We'll have new posts for Kessler-Perdomo and Ward-Pudwill out on our home page. The fun begins shortly after 10 pm Eastern.

Oh, and yes, technically the Kessler fight won't be live, but will instead be the dreaded "same day coverage." Just stay off the internets until tonight and you can act like it's live, just like us.

Posted by The Franchise