Dirrell says he’s ready to get back in the ring and show his stuff

By Boxing News - 02/15/2011 - Comments

Image: Dirrell says he's ready to get back in the ring and show his stuffBy Scott Gilfoid: Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) is ready to bust loose on the super middleweight division after a year away from boxing to recover from a late hit by Arthur Abraham in the Super Six tournament last March. Dirrell, 27, has since had a lot of time to recover from the neurological symptoms he was suffering from the shot he was hit by while he was on the canvas.

Dirrell wants to fight WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward and IBF title holder Lucian Bute in the near future. Those are couple of fighters on Dirrell’s target list. Those are really the only ones that frankly count, because WBO champ Robert Stieglitz isn’t well known enough in the U.S and WBC title holder Carl Froch will likely have lost his title after facing either Glen Johnson or Ward in the Super Six tournament. There’s no point in facing Froch if he doesn’t have a title other than to clear up the controversy from their fight in October 2009, in which Dirrell lost the fight by a questionable 12 round decision.

Speaking with writer Eric Woodyard from the Flint Journal at mlive.com, Dirrell said “People want to see the fight [Dirrell vs. Ward], but they just won’t see it when they want to see it. But it will come. I can’t wait, I know he can’t wait and that’s definitely going to put a stamp on who’s the best, and I’m ready to get in there and show the people what’s up.”

Dirrell speaks the truth. The winner of the Dirrell-Ward fight will be the top fighter in the super middleweight division bar none. The only fighter remaining for Dirrell to knock over will be Bute, but that guy doesn’t compare with Dirrell. Bute had problems with Librado Andrade, and that’s a fighter that Dirrell would easily beat.

Dirrell needs a tune-up or two before he takes on Ward or Bute. Dirrell will be back in the ring by April, but it’s not going to be a great fighter. You have to take things slowly while Dirrell gets his fighting legs back under him. Once he destroys one or two fighters, he’s going to be ready to get back in there with the best.



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