Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime – By Scott Gilfoid: This is one of those fights that are really hard to pick. We’ve two incredibly talented Americans facing each other with unbeaten Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KO’s) going up against one of the hardest punchers in the super middleweight division in Allan Green (29-1, 20 KO’s). These are probably two of the three best fighters in the Super Six tournament. I like Green a lot and think he’s immensely talented. However, I have to go with Ward, the former 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, to win this one.

I hate these kinds of fights. I think Green would destroy three of the Super Six tournament contestants Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham without any problems whatsoever. But unfortunately, Green is facing the top #2 fighter in the tournament in the 26-year-old Ward, and I think this is a step too far for Green to go. Again, I hate this fight. I wish it had come later after Green had already fought and beaten Froch, Kessler and Abraham.

Then the fight would have so much more meaning behind. But the way it is now, it’s like having two identical number #1 fighters facing off and you know the loser is going to be having huge problems afterwards. I think this is going to be a grueling fight and I think even for he winner, he may not be the same fighter after this one. Green hits too hard and I think he’s going to get his pound of flesh from Ward one way or another.

It doesn’t matter if Green loses the fight, he’s going to get his respect by putting a serious hurting on Ward in this fight. But in the same token, Ward is probably going to do a number on Green by landing a ton of hard shots and it could cause Green some problems in the later rounds if he’s not up to it. Green doesn’t have a lot of practice in going in deep his fights. This no doubt is a product of a his huge power. Like knockout artist Julian Jackson, Green hasn’t had to go deep in his fights most of the time because his power is enough for him to get a quick win.

But he may find himself having problems if he can’t get Ward out of there early. Green is going to have to pace himself, pick his spots and try to conserve some of his power for late in the fight. Green loses power when he goes into the later rounds, so he needs to focus on not tiring out. Ward is going to be pushing the fight at a high pace to try and tire Green out.

Ward is obviously aware of the fact that Green hasn’t had much experience fighting in the later rounds. That’s going to be the real test for Green. If he can still be fighting strong late in the bout, I think he has a good chance of winning. But if he tires out early, then I think Ward will out-box him and win a fairly comfortable decision.