by Ronnie Jordan: After six close fought contests people are starting to look ahead to the third round of Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic. For me the most impressive fighters so far have been Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell and in my opinion their scheduled fight later on this year is the pick of the third round bouts.
The first round saw Ward out class the pre-tournament favorite Mikkel Kessler in a bout held at Andre Ward’s home town in Oakland California. Along with his offensive tools Ward was elusive and hard to hit keeping low and using his fast foot work and good body movement. The significant quality that Ward posses is his variety. He’s able to do everything well and therefore adapt to different fighting styles. Against Allen Green he found success on the inside time and time again and he resiliently stuck to that game plan all night. His ability to make room on the inside getting his short stinging hooks off is impressive. It may look untidy but its very affective. Again he found a way to win and its an example of Wards ingenuity and dogged refusal to lose.
Andre Dirrell wasn’t quite as convincing in his first bout. He went in to the Carl Froch fight relatively unknown and untested. Many felt Froch with his experience would be too strong and dominate down the home strait. It was apparent to me though after watching some early fights that Dirrell had incredible speed and boxing ability and against a slow predictable fighter like Froch he should have plenty of success. Froch’s is rarely in a poor fight and Dirrell is fantastic to watch so for me this was the fight I was most excited by. What commenced however was a slow touchy affair with very little action. Neither men willing to commit and neither finding much success when they did. As poorly as Dirrell performed what was noticeable was the fact that he didn’t get hit with one significant shot. Granted he did a lot of running but even when Froch was in firing range Dirrell’s reflexes were too good.
There were flashes of genius but also a noticeable lack of courage. Against Abraham it seemed the shackles were off and he put together a masterclass of hit and move showing great speed, foot work and agility. The controversy late on spoiled the the fight but for 10 rounds Dirrell looked a class act. Not only did he win the early rounds keeping active with fast combinations and good movement but he kept the fight in the center of the ring and controlled the tempo and when the sporadic Abraham attacks came he not only moved out the way but also countered with stinging hooks and strait rights outlined by the knock down in round four.
Predicting the fight between Dirrell and Ward is proving difficult. Many agree if ward can get on the inside and impose himself then he should win. His keys to victory rely on him keeping busy closing the ring down and trapping dirrell in the corner. Ward is far superior to Dirrell on the inside and if he can get there and stay there the fights won. My thoughts are that Dirrell maybe the only fighter in the tournament who can beat Ward. Ward has a tendency to lean in and lunge when he throws from the outside. He gets away with this against slower opponents but Dirrell can make him pay. His ability to switch hit and avoid shots in one motion using his quick hands and foot speed is what will win him the fight for me.
Green and Kessler were only able to counter ward on occasion but Dirrell will do this far more often. If he can neutralize Wards attacks slipping punches and stepping to the side he can keep the fight in center of the ring. Unlike the Abraham fight Dirrell wont be the aggressor, Ward will be initiating the attacks and trying to press the fight. It may be a cagey affair at first with neither willing to commit to early but unlike some I think this fight will really warm up with Dirrels ability to jab from range Ward may be forced to press and try to get inside. Dirrell needs to ignore his tendency to dance around the ring too much because Ward is quick enough and agile enough to catch him moving backwards. Ward can throw in bunches and would start to find the target eventually. Dirrell needs to jab and counter in the center of the ring which will nullify Wards attack. You cant label this fight as being the outside fighter vs the inside fighter because Ward’s too versatile for that but his only chance of winning is by getting up close. I’m predicting Dirrell has the ability to stop Ward getting close enough to land and with this wining the fight by a close decision.
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