Kessler-Ward, Abraham-Taylor & Dirrell-Froch – Super Six Tournament Preview

By Sean McDaniel: With only a month to go before the first part of the Super Six tournament begins, the build up for the fights between Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward, Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor are already starting to heat up. All of these fighters are hoping to look good, make a good impression on world boxing audiences and come out of the tournament the winner and perhaps a major star in the boxing world.

However, even the losers in the tournament, if they perform well, could make a big name for themselves if they look good and are willing to fight hard and let their hands go.

Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell

World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl Froch (25-0, 20 KO’s) will be putting his WBC title on the line against American Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO’s) on October 17th, in Nottingham, England. Dirrell, 27, a 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist for the United States, isn’t expected to be one of the finalists in the Super Six tourney and finds himself against one of the biggest sluggers in the competition in facing Froch.

Dirrell has fast hands and is similar to recent Froch opponents Jermain Taylor and Jean Pascal in that department. Dirrell, however, has better stamina and size compared to Pascal and Taylor. Froch was able to beat Pascal and Taylor by wearing them down to a state of fatigue by pressuring them through 12 rounds. Dirrell may be a tougher nut to crack for Froch, because Dirrell has thus far shown that he can move around the ring with ease without tiring like Pascal and Taylor.

Additionally, Dirrell has good power and doesn’t slap with his punches the way that Pascal did in his fight with Froch. This is a fight where Froch will have to try and pin Dirrell down or else he’ll end up getting badly out-boxed by the American.

Froch has the advantage in the power department, but Dirrell is the much better boxer, is the bigger fighter with the longer reach and moves better than Froch. This may come down to Froch having to knock Dirrell out to win. If it goes to decision, Dirrell will likely win because of his speed and ability to put his punches together better than Froch.

Prediction: Dirrell by 12 round decision

Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor

Former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KO’s) is struggling with his career and has lost three of his last four fights. It doesn’t get any easier for him in the Super Six tourney as his first fight is against former International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KO’s), who recently vacated his IBF title to move up to super middleweight.

Taylor, 31, has the advantage over Abraham in hand speed, work rate and a slight advantage in height and reach. Where Abraham comes out on top is in the power department, chin and stamina. Abraham has big power and tends keep his power late in his fights.

Abraham also has an excellent chin. Taylor is working hard on his conditioning in Houston, Texas, but it remains to be seen whether Taylor can make any improvements in that area. If Taylor can, that would be a good start for him. Still, Taylor’s chin is a big question mark because he’s been stopped in two out of his last four fights, losing to Carl Froch and Kelly Pavlik by knockouts. Taylor was also hurt in his rematch with Pavlik a couple of times in the fight.

If Taylor can stay away from getting involved with any big exchanges with Abraham, he might have a good enough jab to get the win. Taylor is good with combinations early and might be able to build up a big enough lead to coast to the finish line. However, Taylor tends to go into shut down by the 6th, as he tires out. Taylor is going to have to be able to win at least two of the remaining six rounds in the second part of the fight if he hopes to beat Abraham.

Prediction: Taylor by 12 round decision.

Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward

Unbeaten American Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KO’s) will be challenging for the World Boxing Association super middleweight title of champion Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO’s) on November 21st, at the Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California. Ward, 25, will be fighting in his home city of Oakland, in what will likely be a sell out crowd. Kessler, 30, is considered to be the favorite in the Super Six tourney.

However, Kessler will be facing probably the toughest fighter of all six in Ward. This is going to be a very tough fight for Kessler, who looked very average in his 4th round TKO win over Gusmyr Perdomo on September 12th. Ward, for his part, stopped Shelby Pudwill in the 3rd round last Saturday night and looked very good in winning.

Ward is the whole package. He has excellent speed, power, movement and defensive skills. Kessler has fought only once in the past year due to contract problems with a former promoter. Ward is the younger fighter, with better hand speed, defense and punch variety.

Kessler has faced lesser opponents than Ward through most of his career and was beaten by his best opponent Joe Calzaghe. Look for Ward to outclass Kessler and ultimately embarrass him.

Prediction: Ward by lopsided 12 round decision.

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