By John Dimeck: As our American cousins like to say, “Enough Already”, when bleating on about a point well made and well taken. I’m talking of course about the Froch Dirrell fight and the very close decision that went the champion’s way. May I make a few points, but they are only opinion, and I’m open to others. Firstly, and most obviously, it was a close contest. Even if there were no challenger and no champion, this was a close contest.

As a writer and observer of things boxing I try to be as objective as I can about fights. For example, I did not concede that Froch was behind against Taylor going into the 12th, and there are many American writers who have agreed with me that the supposed chasm in points between the two at that point simply was not there. In fact, one judge had Froch ahead and probably righly so, these hometown judges can be swayed by the cheering of a crowd or the aggressive nature of a hometown fighter.

Fast forward now to Dirrell being on the road versus Froch.

Like Taylor / Froch it was very definitely a close scrap, (although you could argue more for Froch V Taylor but still ……), it’s a close fight, Dirrell, slick and evasive, Froch, trying to pursue and connect without much success, and so on.

Point is, Froch didn’t give the judges the chance to rob him after he came back so well in the second half of the fight V Taylor, he decided it himself. Dirrell did no such thing, even though he knew that’s what was required, as told to him by his corner. He couldn’t close the deal.

Let’s face it fellas, this was a boring fight, Dirrell was afraid to engage – which is a shame as he looked pretty good when he did and likely would’ve won had he decided (against his trainer’s advice) to trade with Froch, he’s got a surprise for Abraham in my opinion.

So, sports fans, remember, there is no black and white guarantee in sporting contests, but I’ll say two things, and they are merely opinions and observations.

Firstly, in other sports, a team may suffer a freak result (Burnley / Man Utd anyone? or Oakland in the NFL for our US readers?), it does not make the surprise loser suddenly a weak team, these results do happen, ask a mathematician, it’s a given that upsets happen.

Secondly, Carl Froch had a bad night, but still ‘won’. I won’t debate here whether he won or not, I just know that he didn’t lose, and that’s the point folks, Dirrell did not win the fight.

Regardless, Froch is simply much, much better than 9/2 to win this tournament, which is what he’s offered at right now. Dirrell will give anyone fits with his ‘style’, and he may never win anything, let alone this tournament, but at 25/1 I may have a wee bit of that as well.

Dirrell didn’t beat Froch folks, nor did Froch beat Dirrell, ergo the belt stays on Froch’s waist. Got that ? Good, it’s clear then, you’ve got to ‘win’ the belt. We all knew that anyway, right, boxing fans. Let’s move on.

A mention to Jermaine Taylor. Even though he has lost 4 of 5 or whatever it is, I feel he still has something to offer in this tournament. Was competing well with Arthur Abraham but a bit behind before the knockout, but definitely not outclassed by the European and belongs here, so hopefully he stays in and he makes some noise, as I believe he’s a good fighter and not just another over-hyped American getting found out now that he’s got to fight in Europe.

Hopefully Ward beats Kessler and it’s game on..