By Scott Gilfoid: Since putting on a masterful performance against World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl Froch last month in their Super Six tournament competition in Nottingham, England, the world has been on fire with the prospects of seeing the talented Andre Dirrell (18-1, 13 KO’s) in action again. Dirrell, 27, who looks like a taller, heavier version of Floyd Mayweather Jr., showed incredible hand speed and defensive skills in fighting Froch and making him look, as one poster pointed out recently, like Bambi on ice skates. I have to agree with that comment.

Dirrell had Froch missing with his punches all night long and the only way that Froch found any success at all with his punches was when he briefly was able to turn the side into a dirty inside war from rounds five through eight. Dirrell adapted to the roughhouse tactics from Froch quite fast and turned the tables on Froch in rounds nine through ten, even staggering Froch in the 10th with a monstrous left hand to Froch’s chin. It was thrilling boxing to behold and Dirrell showed the world what they can expect from now one when they see more of him in the Super Six tournament in the future.

A natural southpaw, Dirrell is quite adept at landing with either hand. Indeed, Dirrell’s right hand is in some ways even more powerful than his left. This is what makes Dirrell so hard to fight. Because not only does a fighter have to worry about his amazing hand speed, defense skills and left hand, but they also have to stay watchful that they aren’t clipped by one of his rights.

As most people know, the Mayweather-like Dirrell lost the Super Six fight to Froch by a 12 round split decision, in a fight that many boxing fans feel was a very questionable decision. I saw it as close to shutout for Dirrell, and was only able to give Froch a few mercy rounds where he turned to fouling in the 5th. It doesn’t matter, though, Dirrell will still get a chance at redemption against Froch if the British fighter can get by Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham, his next two fights in the Super Six tournament. Dirrell has two fights ahead of him in Abraham and then fellow American Andre Ward. I believe that Dirrell will win both fights and then be in position to fight hopefully Froch one more time.

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Vitali Klitschko vs. Kevin Johnson bout to be shown on HBO

The December 12th bout between WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and challenger Kevin Johnson will be shown on HBO, according to the latest boxing news from the world. This is great for fans, and for the Klitschko brothers because it was thought that the Klitschko-Johnson bout wouldn’t make it on HBO for lack of interest in the fight. Although Johnson is unbeaten at 22-0, he hasn’t faced stellar opposition during his pro career and doesn’t have a lot of power to speak of. On paper, this looks to be a one-sided fight with Vitali destroying Johnson.