By Mark Fletcher: As we are all aware, the ‘super six tournament’ has made the super-middleweight division the most talked about division in boxing. After all, it is a great way to get the best to fight the best and has shook up the dark world of boxing politics what with Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler having more to lose than the other four by putting their world titles on the line with have already seen the WBA title change hands, after hot prospect Andre Ward beat Mikkell Kessler by a technical decision.
Three fights into this tournament and I started wondering, could this sort of tournament work on the British domestic scene?
Now before people start ploughing the forum with ‘we’ve already got prizefighter’ I have thought about it, afterall Barry Hearn’s tournament has been great entertainment but the three round fights have mainly only suited young hungry prospects and journeymen with nothing to lose, a lot of Britains top domestic have struggled with it after being so used to 10-12 round fights. Examples of this would be Danny Williams, Pele Reid, Dean Francis, Colin Lynes and Ted Bami neither I expected to go far especially Danny Williams and Colin Lynes who are both slow starters.
Obviously this idea would not work in all divisions for instance, if you were to pick the six best fighters in the middleweight division, we would have Darren Barker, Matthew Macklin and four fighters who are way out of their league, but if you look at say, the light-welterweight division most will probably agree there could be some great domestic match-ups if a super six tournamet was formed, you could have Commonwealth champ Ajose Olusgen (26-0), a skillful fighter who despite his decent WBC ranking is failing to get recognition and has had some up and down performances.
Then there is British Champ Lenny Daws (20-1-1) who at times looks a bit one-dimensional but is relentless and has a good chin, and no fighter has looked good against him (his only defeat being to Barry Morrision on a split decision), I would lke to say former WBA champ Gavin Rees but have heard rumours he is looking towards a title shot again and being linked with Devon Alexander, so I next choose Craig Watson, a former commonwealth champ at welterweight who has since losing his title gone full time and dropped to light-welter (and is arguably Britain’s best fighter).
Now I feel that none of the above three are undeserving in anyway in regards to a european title shot which is why Paul McCloskey would be a great addition to the tournament, a skillful southpaw yet still pretty untested. I thought maybe for the other two it could be decided between the likes of Colin Lynes, David Barnes, Young Mutley or Barry Morrison, all of which are tough domestic fighters not as good as the other four but then look at Andre Dirrell, a fighter who was only brought in surely because Pavlik declined the super 6 tournament.
I think if a tournament like this went ahead it would be brilliant for the winner especially if all belts (i.e Commonwealth, British and Euro) were all on the line like the world titles have been in the current one.
There are a few other divisions where this type of format could work, look at the welterweight divison, there’s Kell Brook; the undefeated and very ambitious British champ, Michael Jennings; a former world title challenger, domestic veteran and the World Boxing Union champ, after these two there is another on par welter in John O’ Donnell, a slick southpaw and also the commonwealth champ.
Another one who wouldn’t be there to make up the numbers would be Matthew Hatton; a fighter who seems to be picking up the results though his opponents have been ‘past it’ but still dangerous, and for the other two again it is quite open for selection, what with Mark Thompson (22-1), English champ Adnan Amar or former British camp Kevin McIntyre (27-6-0-1NC) who since his first round defeat to Kell Brook is determined to get his career back on track (again the WBU, British and Commonwealth title could be put on the line.
If anyone thinks that this format could work, feel free to place a comment, maybe suggesting other division where there lies an open possibility or even fighters that people feel I may have missed on the two divisions that I mentioned.
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