By Allen Hmiel: Arthur Abraham can have as many tune up fights he wants, they won’t fix the problems he permanently has. A short 5’9″ with little arms and an odd peek a boo style makes King Arthur almost obsolete in competing with today’s modern fighters. Arthur feasted on a steady diet of nobodies on his way to building a 31-0 record.

Take away the wins over a depleted Jermain Taylor and battle worn Edison Miranda twice you can then see a steady stream of average Joe’s such as-Majir Oral, Lajuan Simon, Raul Marquez, Elvin Ayala, Wayne Elcock, Khoren Gevor, Sebastion Demers, Kofi Jantuah, get the point these were the opponents Abraham pounded on in accumulating the impressive on paper record. While gaining a nice European record and reputation while fighting almost exclusively in Germany , Arthur seems to have been making a deceptive boxing reputation against lesser named untalented foes who are not exactly legendary names in boxing circles.

Once faced with better world class competition in Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch, (both who quickly exposed the flaws in the short plodding Armenian fighter) Abraham took two embarrassing lopsided defeats in the Super Six Tourney. The loss to Froch was especially humiliating for Abraham because he absolutely lost all 12 rounds on the judges score cards. Now in a precarious position of having to fight the best fighter in the Super Six in American Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward in the United States, the Abraham camp seems to be faltering and delaying this inevitable career ending defeat.

While requesting and receiving permission from Showtime for a possible tune- up fight in February against an under-classed talent depleted yet unpicked willing opponent for Arthur to beat on just seems to be a sad attempt by Arthur’s handlers to rebuild a shattered confidence. So sad to see a past champion clutching for emptiness trying to rebuild a dream that was imploded when he faced superior opponents with talent. Beating on another fighter for an easy victory to regain confidence will not make Abraham taller, quicker and more mobile in his upcoming possible annihilation against the super quick Ward.

It was great for Arthur Abraham while it lasted, but now at 30 years old and facing a possible third loss to Ward where does a confidence depleted slow short fighter go from there? Maybe back to middleweight at 160 lbs or retirement? Or does Arthur himself turn into that yet unnamed opponent he is seeking for the career confidence building win in February for some other future fighter? The fall from the top of the mountain sure was quick for the once promising career of Arthur Abraham.