By Sam Gregory: In the second bout of the stage 1 Super Six tournament, undefeated WBC champion Carl Froch fought undefeated Andre Dirrell at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom.

Round 1 Dirrell came out strong fighting right handed going right to the body; Froch missed with the right hook. Dirrell showed his confidence early talking to his opponent and switching to southpaw; both men fought very cautious until the closing bell.

Round 2 both men fighting right handed and testing each other throwing jabs; Dirrell switched to southpaw again, every time Froch threw a punch the crowd erupted. Dirrell remained very composed, he was very quick with his jab, Dirrell landed with his counter punch.

Round 3 Dirrell came out throwing his jab, both men clinched, Froch punched in the clinch and was warmed by the ref, Froch cut off the ring, Dirrell was able to counter and catch Froch with a glancing blow. Dirrell landed very fast counter punches; Froch landed a straight right hand at the end of the round.

Round 4 Froch kept his distance using his jab to measure his punches, Dirrell landed a beautiful two handed combination. Blood began dripping from the upper lip of Dirrell. Dirrell countered very well with 2 punch combinations off Froch’s jabs. This was a very close round and could have gone either way.

Round 5 Dirrell landed a very quick, solid right hand to Froch’s face; Froch moved to his right, Dirrell was able to counter and land his jab being the busier fighter. Froch threw and landed a solid left jab; Dirrell countered and landed a straight left hand.

Round 6 Froch began showing his frustration at being beat to the punch. Dirrell slipped and went down, it was ruled no knockdown. Froch threw several wild left hooks; Dirrell landed a solid left hand. Froch looked frustrated with his wild left hooks, none of which landed.

Round 7 Froch came out throwing his jab, both men clinched separated by the ref; Dirrell punched out; Froch threw his left hook which didn’t land; he clinched and again was separated by the ref. Dirrell continued to hold which frustrated Froch; Dirrell landed a solid left

At this point unofficial scorecards have Dirrell winning by a point

Round 8 Froch had his hands high, Dirrell went to the body landing solid shots; both men were holding and hitting. Froch had Dirrell against the ropes and landed 2 solid left hooks to the head. Froch clearly won this round.

Round 9 Froch came out throwing solid left jabs that were finding a home on Dirrell’s face. Dirrell caught Froch on the chin with a right hand. Dirrell landed a couple more solid left hooks. Froch began finding himself against the ropes; Dirrell throwing double and triple jabs. This was a good round for Froch; Dirrell also landed solid shots and had a good round.

The unofficial cards have Dirrell by 1 round

Round 10 Froch threw his left jab then clinched; Dirrell punched out answered with a solid left jab. Ref stepped in and took a point from Dirrell for holding, Dirrell began landing big solid left hands and hurt Froch. Froch was hurt in the closing seconds of the round.

Round 11 Froch had Dirrell in the corner and unloaded with fast hard combinations; Dirrell punched out and hurt Froch, both men held on, Dirrell showed great defense rolling with the punches; Froch continued to hold and punch until the closing bell.

Round 12 Froch came out strong throwing his jab; Dirrell countered; they clinched separated by the ref, Dirrell lands big solid uppercut; Froch dancing around the ring throwing his jab; Froch briefly had Dirrell on the ropes but Dirrell punched out, both men held on, Froch threw punched until the closing bell.

After 12 rounds the fight goes to the judge’s scorecards: 114-113 for Froch, 115-112 for Dirrell and 115-112 for the winner by split decision Carl Froch.

Carl Froch improves his unbeaten record to 26-0 with 20 KO’s. Andre Dirrell suffers his first defeat and falls to 18-1 with 13 KO’s.