By Scott Gilfoid: The Super Six bout between Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) and Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KO’s) is supposed to take place on September 25th at a still to be determined location. Unfortunately, neither of these two talented fighter’s promoters can agree to a venue for this fight and it’s now looking unlikely that the bout will go ahead for 9/25 unless Showtime can intervene and figure out a suitable venue for the fight. Dirrell and his team wants it to take place in Detroit, Michigan, and Ward and his team want it to take place in Oakland, California. If Dirrell and Ward pull out of the Super Six tournament, then the tourney is finished.

There would only be the October 2nd fight between Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham in the tourney, and few boxing fans would see that fight as any kind of championship fight. You can’t replace talented fighters like Dirrell and Ward. It’s not possible. It’s bad enough that we already lost Jermain Taylor and Mikkel Kessler. It would be fatal if Dirrell and Ward are unable to reach an agreement for a fight and end up leaving the Super Six tourney. There’s no word about which promoter is the one that’s holding up the negotiations.

It would seem logical that the fight should take place in Detroit, even if it makes less money than in in Oakland, because Ward has already twice fought at home. Dirrell has only fought once in his home state. If you this was going to be done fairly, and not just for money, then Dirrell should be the one that gets to fight at home, not Ward. This would be a real pity if the fight can’t be made because Ward and Dirrell need this fight to help cement them as major stars in the sport. This fight will make stars out of both of them. There won’t be any losers in this fight. And the winner will almost surely move on to beat the Froch vs. Abraham winner next year.

It’s almost academic at this point. Kessler and Lucian Bute will both be waiting in the wings to take on the winner of the Super Six tournament, which means that the Super Six tournament winner will get two additional big fights as soon after the tourney ends. If they keep winning, we could have either Dirrell or Ward as the new Floyd Mayweather of the boxing world. Believe me, if Ward and Dirrell win all those fights they will be huge pay per view stars. But first things first. Dirrell and Ward need to agree on a venue so that this fight can still happen.