By Scott Gilfoid: Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) says he plans on returning to the ring after a years’ absence in May or June in a tune-up fight. Dirrell, 27, hasn’t fought since last March when he was injured after being fouled by Arthur Abraham in the Super Six tournament. Dirrell has taken a year off now and is completely healed from the blow to the head that he took while sitting on the canvas after a slip in the 11th.

Dirrell now is shooting for a fight against IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute in the near future. Dirrell likes that fight and feels that he has the skills to beat Bute. In a recent interview at eastsideboxing.com, Dirrell gave his opinion on the scheduled Super Six semifinal tournament fight between WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch and Glen Johnson, which takes place on May 21st. Dirrell sees Froch having a lot of problems in that fight, although he does think Froch will win it.

Here’s what Dirrell had to say: “When he [Johnson] fights Froch, I believe Froch will come out victorious because he’s the younger guy. He’s very long and he’s very awkward, but Johnson is going to give Froch one hell of a fight and he’s going to put that pressure on Froch. I believe it’s going to turn out to be a great fight. In the end it could end up being a split decision for Froch.”

I agree with Dirrell. Froch is going to go through hell and back to try and get a decision win, but I’m not so sure he’ll win. I can see Froch losing this fight by getting outworked on the inside or if he does win it, he wins it by a controversial decision. Froch’s fights often end up close because of his lack of defense. He gets hit so much that it often gets in the way of scoring rounds. You want to give Froch credit for the rounds but with him holding his hands down by his waist and letting his chin be the thing that blocks punches rather than his gloves, he makes it hard to score rounds.

Dirrell says he doesn’t care if he fights Froch again because he already feels he did a fabulous job against him in their fight in 2009. I totally agree with Dirrell. I had him beating Froch eight rounds to three with one even. Dirrell only cares about taking on champions, and unfortunately Froch probably won’t be a champion for much longer because either Johnson or Andre Ward are going to beat Froch and eliminate him from the Super Six tournament.