Predicting Showtime’s Super Six Classic: And the Winner is…
By Geno McGahee
The latest battle in the Super Six, presented by Showtime, was a dominant performance by WBA Super Middleweight Champion, Andre Ward, easily outpointing the passive Allan Green over twelve rounds. Ward has moved up from a mid level pick to a big favorite after victories over both Green and Mikkel Kessler in his first appearance in the tournament. Ward became the points leader with 4 points and earned his right into the semi-finals, but this is still anyone’s tournament.
The tournament has provided the excitement and drama that boxing has been missing recently and has kept people talking about one of the best divisions currently in boxing, the super middleweight division. Although Ward is considered the favorite, he has a tough road ahead. RSR looks at the tournament and the future bouts lined up.
Round 3
Andre Ward, 22-0, 13 KO’s,
WBA Super Middleweight Champion
4 Points – Leader (2-0)
Vs.
Andre Dirrell, 19-1, 13 KO’s
2 Points (1-1)
When the tournament was first announced, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham were co-favorites, but Ward upset Kessler, took his WBA Title and is now in the top position. His style is not attractive as he mauls and clinches, pinning his opposition against the ropes and clubbing them to death, but it’s effective. It is a similar approach of John Ruiz or Ricky Hatton, although Ward has a better skill set. He is a puzzle that nobody has figured out to date, but he will be facing the toughest opponent, style-wise, in his next fight.
Andre Dirrell will be squaring off against Ward in the near future. Dirrell lost a close decision to Carl Froch in his first outing in the Super Six, but is coming off an upset win over Arthur Abraham, and has the ability to box and move, but can he stay off the ropes when he faces Ward? I believe he can and will most likely pick up the victory. These two 168 pound American fighters upset the tournament and have found each other and both men now occupy top spots to own the rest of it. A victory for Dirrell puts him into the semi-finals, and Ward makes it there win or lose, but he obviously wants to keep the momentum.
The early pick: Dirrell by Majority Decision over Ward in an ugly fight.
Carl Froch, 26-1, 20 KO’s
2 Points (1-1)
Vs.
Arthur Abraham, 31-1, 25 KO’s
3 Points (1-1, 1 KO)
Arthur Abraham is one of the toughest guys in boxing, once fighting 8 rounds with a severely broken jaw to defeat Edison Miranda. He came into the tournament facing former middleweight champion, Jermain Taylor, and sent him to the floor and out of the tournament and was favored to beat Andre Dirrell in his next showing. Some questionable officiating in the fight, but there was no question that Dirrell had the lead when Abraham allowed his frustration to get the best of him and hit Dirrell when he was down, thus getting disqualified. Abraham occupies the second spot with his 3 points and could take the lead against Froch.
Froch, the former WBC Champion, eked by Andre Dirrell in an ugly fight and then dropped his title to Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision in his last fight. He has a powerful punch but is slightly awkward. The question going into this fight is can he overcome the great defense of Abraham?
Abraham has something to prove and may have won his fight with Dirrell had the referee not ruined his one moment in the fight when he appeared to have him in trouble. His defense seems too tight and he will chop down Froch en route to a TKO win late in the fight.
Mikkel Kessler, 43-2, 32 KO’s
WBC Super Middleweight Champion
2 Points (1-1)
Vs.
Allan Green, 29-2, 20 KO’s
0 Points (0-1)
Mikkel Kessler was the favorite heading in and looked great in his one defeat against Joe Calzaghe, the universally recognized best 168 pounder in the world at the time. He can box and punch, but was flustered and confused by Andre Ward, losing a decision. He came back to defeat Carl Froch and win another title and now faces the challenge of Allan Green.
When Taylor backed out of the tournament, the power-punching contender, Green, jumped in. He felt slighted when he was overlooked for a spot and when he faced Ward, many expected him to come in with guns blazing…it didn’t happen. He was passive and had no urgency to change in order to get the victory.
Kessler is a big favorite to not only beat Green but to stop him and we will see that happen late in the fight. Kessler moves on.
The Semi Finals
Arthur Abraham vs. Andre Ward
This is a great fight. I don’t know if Ward can outmuscle Abraham. Both men are incredibly strong, and both have puzzling styles. Dirrell showed that Abraham can be put into a shell by an active fighter, and that is what Ward will attempt to do. It’s a toss up, but I would lean toward the tougher Abraham to defeat Ward by a close decision or late stoppage.
Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Dirrell
This is another very tough fight, and as much respect as I have for Kessler, I believe Dirrell to be too quick of hand and feet to be caught. Expect him to outbox Kessler and come on late in the fight, winning a decision by the scores of 116-112 range.
The Finals
Arthur Abraham vs. Andre Dirrell (The Rematch)
A grudge match to wrap up the tournament…can’t get much better than that. Abraham will be more aggressive and start earlier, which will be bad news for Dirrell. Dirrell will win the early rounds, but the pressure will add up in the middle and later rounds, leading to a TKO victory for Arthur Abraham and the victory in the Super Six Tournament.
A great tournament and anything can happen, as exhibited in the other fights we have seen. The tournament is heating up and the boxing world and Lucian Bute will be eagerly awaiting the end results.