By Dan Ambrose: Challenger Sakio Bika (28-4-2, 19 KO’s) plans on putting a lot of pressure on WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KO’s) in their non-Super Six tournament fight at the Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California. Bika’s only chance is to really go after Ward and try to pressure him with shots. Bika doesn’t have the hand speed or the boxing skills to beat Ward from the outside. Bika is a sitting duck if Ward is able to keep the fight on the outside. Bika doesn’t have the speed to handle him if he’s allowed to pot shot from the distance.

Bika told the AAP, “What I need to do to win this fight is pressure, be busy with my left hand and cut him off and try to break him down very early.” Bika may not have to go looking for Ward, because he may have him in his face all night long. In Ward’s last fight, be bullied Allan Green, beating him against the ropes with a powerful inside attack and Ward seemed very equipped for the infighting. Bika may not be able to deal with Ward on the inside, as Bika doesn’t appear to be as skilled as Ward in battling in close. This is a fight where Ward may have all the advantages and can pick and choose when and where he wants to fight Bika.

In an article at ninemsn.com.au, Bika said “This guy [Ward] is not a great fighter, he’s a very good fighter and I’m very confident that I can beat this guy.” Bika is going to have to show more than he’s done in fights against Lucian Bute and Joe Calzaghe if he wants to beat Ward. Bika was beaten by both of those fighters, and that’s not a good sign going into this fight. Bika hasn’t exactly been busy in the past year. He fought once in 2009 and thus far only once in 2010. For a fighter his age, it’s not good to be so inactive. If this fight goes beyond six rounds, which it likely will, Bika’s stamina could be tested by the younger and busier Ward.