Dirrell should agree to fight Ward in Oakland
August 27th, 2010
By Scott Gilfoid: For the sake of breaking the impasse between them, I think Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) should just give in and agree to fight WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KO’s) in Oakland, California instead of insisting on Detroit, Michigan or a neutral venue. The fight will make more money in Oakland compared to Detroit and if they put it in a neutral venue, like Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham are doing with their October 2nd Super Six tournament fight, it will hurt both Ward and Dirrell because they’ll draw far fewer boxing fans to the fight.
As such, the Ward-Dirrell fight is now a semifinal fight where neither of them can afford to lose. If Dirrell beats Ward, Dirrell will have an identical 2-1 record as Ward, but his win over him will give Dirrell the nod to get to the finals against the winner of the Abraham vs. Froch bout. It’s likely then that Dirrell could be facing Abraham again for a rematch of their March fight. Dirrell beat Abraham in an impressive fashion by an 11th round disqualification.
But first things first, Dirrell has to agree to fight Ward in Oakland so that they can end this impasse and still fight on September 25th. What they don’t need is both Ward and Dirrell being stubborn about it and causing the fight to be postponed. We’ve already had too many postponements and this would be silly.
If Dirrell isn’t good enough to beat Ward in Oakland, then it doesn’t matter where the fight would take place. I don’t see Dirrell ending up a victim of a home town decision in Oakland. I think the judges will get the scores right if it goes to decision.
The only thing that Dirrell would have to deal with is the large amount of boxing fans that would be cheering for Ward in this fight. But Dirrell needs to shut that out and just focus. He can win if he uses his speed and feet. I think the bigger crowd would be better for the fight than if the bout were to be put in a much smaller venue like Detroit.
Tags: 25 Responses to “Dirrell should agree to fight Ward in Oakland”
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Ward is a very dirty fighter. As dirty as I have seen outside a tv movie. But the referees in his hometown are just as dirty. And the commentators who are to weak to comment on it are just as bad. Real boxing fans will simply tune out. Fans who don’t know any better will assume that what they’re watching is boxing and assume the rest are just cry babies. But the weak are always eager to defend the winner, regardless of how they got there.
Stay tough and let’s keep pro boxing out of Oakland.
Dirrell did fake a KO vs AA, and should have won an academy award for it. Having said that, IMO he has a fight here that’s his to lose. He has to be aggressive, stay on the outside and jab the hell outta Ward. He can do that, if he just WILL. He can’t run all night like he did against Froch, and can’t wimp out and quit like he did against AA. Avoid Buttmaster Ward’s head butts, and he’s halfway there. Will Ward make Dirrell fight his fight? Judging by Dirrell imposing his will upon an iron fisted AA for several rounds, I don’t think so. And above all, let’s hope this fight is ANYWHERE but Ward’s home turf. I’m very hopeful that this will be a great fight, not a boring chess match. We should all hope for the same. Now, if the fight will just HAPPEN.
IF WARD IS SUCH A GREAT FIGHTER, WHY IS HE REFUSING TO FIGHT OUTSIDE OF HIS COMFORT ZONE… NO OTHER FIGHTER HAS BEEN PAMPERED HAS MUCH AS WARD! HE SHOULD MAN UP AND FIGHT ANYWHERE OTHER THAN OAKLAND!
DIRRELL SHOULD HOLD HIS GROUND AND REFUSE TO FIGHT WHERE HELL GET ROBBED. ITS SO BAD IN OAKLAND THAT THEY GAVE WARD EVERY ROUND IN THE GREEN FIGHT .WHEN IN REALITY GREEN CLEARLY WON THE FRIST ROUND AS WARD KEPT BACKING AWAY AND JUST PAWING AT GREEN ;FELLING HIM OUT.COME ON :NOT EVEN ONE ROUND. TAKE HEED DIRRELL.
@BN REAL AND REAL SPIT –YOUR SPITIN IN THE WIND AND ITS BLOWING BACK IN YOUR UGLY FACE*** SINGULAR** YOUR ONE FOOL USING TWO NAMES. .Howerever Dirrell isnt a fool and wont fight in Oakland because hes not about to get robed again.
@BN REAL-You got it. I wont cast my pearls at you swine. BN REAL your starting to lose it better pray to Wadd for guidence.but dont get to close to him or you risk a head butt.
Come on now Ward haters… It’s not like they are fighting in another country. Despite what the haters say, both fights in Oakland were not even close enough to blame anything on hometown judges or “rig ups”. At this point it is about where you can get the most fans to come out. Besides the venues were agreed on before the refs’ started cheating for home town kids. No one will be able to fight in their home town for their entire career. But, since this was already arranged, Dirrell gotta man up and bring what he got to Oakland.
Come on now Ward haters… It’s not like they are fighting in another country. Despite what the haters say, both fights in Oakland were not even close enough to blame anything on hometown judges or “rig ups”. At this point it is about where you can get the most fans to come out. Besides the venues were agreed on before the refs’ started cheating for home town kids. No one will be able to fight in their home town for their entire career. So for those that doubt Ward, he will have to fight outside of Oakland again soon, probably in a rematch with Dirrell. But, since this was already arranged, Dirrell gotta man up and bring what he got to Oakland.
Mr britt:The young man was sincere in his concern of Kessler and when I read it I thought it was class. The comments about me thinking the young man is god you are close. I meant to say he is godly like all of us who sincerely believe.but seeing how you represent yourself in vulgar,sick,filthy ways and the sewage that oozes from your rotten mouth it reminds me of another passage from the word. Cast not your pearls to the swine.
@bn real*** Sounds to me like you dont feel ward is SOG.You think he is GOD. Get a life C***h. I Wish Ward only the best and its been a privilege to watch him fight. Believe it and ILL believe Wards comments.Are you sure he said fight him or was it butt him.
People it really doesn’t matter what the critics say ,haters say,so called experts say.ward is going to win his fight and the rest of his carreer fights. Promoters fight over venues but ward is a winner in his yard or yours.the kid is special because he overcomes, he stands up to those who wish his misfortune. And he never has a unkind word about anyone.as it is written if god is for you who can be against you.and it is written I your god will make your enemies your footstool.ridicule and insult these passages all you want gentleman,it’s coming to pass. I just read a statement where ward wished Kessler the best and a speedy recovery,and that it was a privilege to fight him.that’s a man.
one thing for sure,They all who fought in thier home base have won.Froch in Nottingham,Derrell detroit,kessler in denmark,and AA in Germany.Of course Ward in Oakland.The championship will be where?
If Dirrell agrees to fight in Oakland hes foolish.Yes the gate will be good in Oakland but Dirrell will lose a fortune in future fights because he will get jobed sure as well in Oakland.In a fair fight Dirrell has all the tools to beat ward and make him look lost as Dirrell drills him and evades him .Only to drill him some more.The guy who wrote this must be from Oakland BECAUSE HE SAYS WARDS ONLY ADVANTAGE IN OAKLAND IS THE CROWD CHEERING FOR WARD.Maybe he didnt watch the frist two ward fights?
@kosciuszko not everyone luck at AA he hasn’t fought at home yet, thats why I dont agree with Froch making demands they should all fight neutral or 1 each at home and neutral finals
It’s about time Ward fought outside the confines of his own backyard, the referee seems to be far too lenient with his questionable tactics (excessive clinching, head butts and use of his forearm). In this way, I suppose Ward has been his own judge, jury and executioner!!! LOL
To the writer of this article, and anyone who has agreed with it, why should Ward be allowed to fight in his backyard for the THIRD FIGHT IN A ROW?
EVERYONE ELSE has had to fight away from home, so why shouldn’t Ward? Its not as though he is even travelling outside the USA for f**ks sake, get a grip! I think Ward is too hyped, and the fact that 16 of the 22 fights he’s had have been in California, where he lives is a joke! Until he travels oversea’s and defeats someone who his mum cant see him fight from her kitchen window, he’s just another Jeff Lacy.
even though many feel it unfair,derrell perhaps will fight him in oakland.Derrell should just concentrate on how he will outpoint Ward,and not where they fight.i understand they told Ward from the start he would fight there.
Is the Ward-Dirrell winner going to fight the Abraham-Froch winner for the final now???
why dont they just fight in vegas? wtf?
ScouseKO- Dirrell didn’t win that fight but he showed he could. I’m glad he didn’t get the decision fighting like a coward and throwing himself on the floor all night. He’s got to earn it and not try to steal it!
it doesn’t matter if there will be more fans in Oakland over Detroit, Ward has fought both his fights at home and Dirrel has fought once at home once away! add to this that dirrel only lost to Froch because it was in nottingham, (anyone who watched the fight no’s dirrel won) and you absolutley have to stage this fight in a venue of Dirrel’s choosing. If the fight ends up in Oakland and Ward wins critics will say he never left his backyard and rightly so.
i usually dont read gilfords blogs due to anti-british content … but this made me giggle
- just would like to point out the gilfords anti froch talk, as if the Abraham fight is already over lol im not sure it will be as one sided as everyone believes
i have an idea why dont we call this the Super Oakland Tournament ? true i wounder how the judges will react to 2 USA fighters instead of robbing the European ! … but i think the referee will be key, he will make dirrel fight wards fight expect headbutts and clinching and dirrel rolling round on the floor like an argentinian footballer …. no DQ though !!
Dirrel will beat ward and win the supersix you all wait and see
All fight venues should have been on neutral ground and arranged before the tourney began, with fights adjudicated by video replay. That way, there would have been DQ’s for constantly lying/sitting on the canvas for no reason but escape, acting, head butts, low blows, and rabbit punches. The fans just want to see a good clean fight to find out who the best really is. The tourney should be above belts and the money and when a fighter enters/wins the tourney they should be considered at the highest level win or lose because they have entered the realm of the warrior where all is clean and fair.
It’s never gonna happen is it?
I absolutely disagree, The fight should not be in Oakland. If everyone dug in to fight in their hometown nothing would have moved on in the super 6. Ward is running scared of fighting away from Oakland.