By Dennis Broadhurst: When Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham step into the ring tonight, most are backing Abraham because of his speed and power but I think that Dirrell will be the one who comes out on top because of his speed and skill. Dirrell has almost all the advantages in this fight, he is taller, more athletic, faster, has better defence, better footwork, youth and the home crowd going for him. Abraham has advantages in power, experience, maybe heart and probably chin.

Dirrell does not like to get hit and uses his remarkably fast hands and quick reflexes to avoid most punishment, I think that Dirrell can use his height speed and fitness to outbox Abraham, constantly hitting then moving before Abraham charges forward with his primitive attacks. Dirrell will be able to move out of the way of the attacks of Abraham. This will not be a walk through for Dirrell because Abraham will be gunning for him with every shot but if Dirrell uses his advantages well then he will likely outbox Abraham for a twelve round decision.

Abraham is tough, but Dirrell can hit pretty hard and if Abraham gets hit too much then the fight could even be stopped late on, however, Dirrell will most likely hit and move and not exchange where he doesn’t have to, he probably won’t risk being knocked out when he could get a decision.

I see these styles being a little like Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston, of course, I do not think Dirrell compares to Ali in terms of greatness because Ali had a lot more to himn than Dirrell and has already achieved so much, however, Dirrell does have height, speed, defence and movement advantages over Abraham, much like Clay had over Liston. Dirrell has a three inch reach advantage over Abraham, something Clay didn’t have. Dirrell does not posses the chin of Clay/Ali so he will have to be careful when he meets his own Sonny Liston tonight in Arthur Abraham.

I think that Dirrell will be able to stick and move and avoid Abraham’s shots, my prediction is Dirrell winning a decision.