Saturday’s Super Six: Andre Ward Tries to Fend Off the Allan Green Challenge
By Gina L. Caliboso
World class boxing in 2010 has been ho-hum this year, with my man Manny Pacquiao going to school and becoming elected to public office, his boxing life has been temporarily shelved.
Meanwhile, I peruse the boxing headlines and I could have sworn a certain undefeated potential opponent (aka: Floyd Mayweather) has been rumored to be retiring for the second time. There was Joshua Clottey – Pacquiao, Chris Arreola – Tomasz Adamek, Vitali Klitschko and some other person, etc. etc. It’s been an okay boxing year, but the Super 6 Tournament remains as a key headliner for premier boxing, except now it’s between two Americans.
This Saturday, Showtime will showcase Oakland, California native Andre “S.O.G.” Ward, 21-0, 13 KO’s, going up against Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Allan “Ghost Dog” Green, 29-1, 20 KO’s. The fight will take place at Oracle Arena, in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, the same arena where he fought Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler, 43-2, 32 KO’s and defeated him with an 11th round technical decision.
With his win over Kessler, Ward is now the WBA Super Middleweight titleholder. I like that within the Super 6 Tournament any fight is for a title. At this stage of the tournament, Kessler has now earned the WBC Super Middleweight belt when he defeated Froch. Kessler apparently learned something new from his loss against Ward and came away with the unanimous decision.
Ward, the 26 year-old super middleweight, stands as a very determined fighter with great counter punching ability and power. Ward has great ability to pounce on the weaknesses of his opponent. I am always amazed at the fighting style of the European fighter; it’s usually unorthodox, with very little punching power. But the European fighter trains hard with stamina and strength wearing down opponents. When Kessler fought Ward, I thought he counter punched Kessler’s technical ability well. In addition, Ward has great ring savvy. With an undefeated record, I think as the tournament goes deeper, Ward will be at the top.
It’s unfortunate for Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor that he had to pull out of the tournament when he lost in Stage One in the 12th round against Germany’s Arthur “King Arthur” Abraham. The fight was heartbreaking to watch because I believe Taylor could have earned a split decision. To recap, Taylor lost the fight in the last seconds of the 12th and final round. While unfortunate for Taylor, Allan “Ghost Dog” Green has now stepped in to take Taylor’s place. What stood as misfortune for Taylor is like a grand opening and initiation for Green to get right into the mix with all the boxers of the tournament with a win and with two points each. Abraham leads all fighters with 3 points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a KO). Bare knuckles and all, Green must win on Saturday night.
I also offer that for Green, it is a matter of just being able to get into the ring and start boxing. I looked back at the RSR archives and recalled that I wrote a bit on Allan Green. The fight between Green and Ward was to have taken place back in April, but postponed due to an injury by Ward. The Green-Ward bout stands as the last fight for Stage 2 before moving on to Stage 3. I think I’m caught up.
As for Green and I’ll save you some time to research my article in the RSR archives, Green stands at 6’2, aged 30 with a record of 29-1, 20 KO’s. He suffered one loss to Edison “Pantera” Miranda back in 2007 when he lost in a 10 round unanimous decision. The action of this loss included Miranda being knocked down in the 8th round while Green was knocked down twice in the 10th round. Green’s last fight was back in October 2009 when he fought to a 10 round unanimous decision over Tarvis Simms, 25-1, 11 KO’s.
Now, does Green know exactly what type of tournament he is about to enter? Up to this point, the Super Six Middleweight tournament has had a bit of drama. As Stage 2 of the tournament was to take place, the fight between Ward and Green was to have taken place back in April and postponed to this Saturday. Meanwhile, let’s not forget the Andre Dirrell – Arthur Abraham bout where there was a DQ. I started the article with a ho-hum year of boxing, but I’ll add that maybe it hasn’t been ho-hum with the drama of the Super Six.
I think that the entry of Green provides some much needed competition to the tournament. I also just want to see what Green can do. He’s coming into the tournament as the only fighter without a victory. And will now go up against an undefeated Ward and try to earn the WBA Super Middleweight title. As Ward defeated Kessler in his hometown and came away with the win. In defense of his title, Ward will put up a fight and match well against Green.
I predict that Ward will come away with a victory on Saturday night in defense of his belt. However, Green bears the burdens of a ‘put up or shut up’ win because he now faces the added pressure of a victory to stay in the tournament. There’s a lot at stake for both boxers win or lose.
Both Ward and Green have KO potential and the ability to take the fight to a 12 round decision. It’s also a perfect opportunity for both Ward and Green to showcase to the boxing world that the American Super Middleweight division shall not be overmatched by the Europeans Kessler, Abraham, or Froch.
Finally, the time has arrived for a highly anticipated match with two great American fighters. Let’s just hope that Ward and Green show up to battle and prove just who should be at the top of the Super 6 tournament and put some much needed pressure and competition on the other fighters as well.