By Scott Gilfoid: Andre Dirrell (20-1, 14 KO’s) sent a strong message to some of the top super middleweights – Lucian Bute, Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler – with his incredible 2nd round TKO win over Darryl Cunningham (24-3, 10 KO’s) on Friday night at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California. Dirrell’s hand speed was simply amazing in taking a very good Cunningham apart. Dirrell made a lot of his detractors angry and sad tonight by taking Cunningham apart in two rounds.

Dirrell knocked Cunningham down with a heat seeking left hand in the 2nd after having hurt him with the biggest left hand I’ve seen someone throw before moments earlier. To Cunningham’s credit, he took the first left hand, but he was in bad shape and was holding on. The referee was so concerned with Cunningham’s plight after getting hit that he stopped the action and asked him if he was okay. I can’t see Froch, Bute or Kessler taking the big left hand that Dirrell landed on Cunningham’s chin early in the 2nd without dropping for the 10 count. Cunningham had a better chin than those guys and he needs to be complimented for some of the shots he took from Dirrell.

Cunningham had the perfect opportunity right there to quit but he said he was alright, so the fight continued. After Dirrell knocked him down with the next left hand he threw, Cunningham’s corner threw in the towel but the referee didn’t halt the fight for some reason. I couldn’t hear the conversation between them but it appears that Cunningham’s corner changed their minds and decided to let him continue. Dirrell didn’t need to do much after that, as he landed a short right hand that appeared to travel no more than 8 inches and that knocked Cunningham flat. At was at this point that Cunningham’s corner threw in the towel for the second and final time in the fight. It was a good stoppage because Cunningham looked scared of Dirrell’s power and didn’t want to get hit again. Dirrell might have seriously hurt him if he landed another monster left hand.

Here’s my take: Dirrell would have knocked out Froch, Bute and Kessler if they had been in there with him tonight instead of Cunningham. Dirrell’s hand speed and power are just too good for these slower European fighters and it would have been a slaughter. I can’t wait until Dirrell gets one of them in the ring because he’s too good for any of them. It’s like he was never away at all. If this version of Dirrell had been in the ring with Froch two years, Froch would have taken a serious beating. Dirrell has really matured and is now in his prime at 28.

He’s not the young 26-year-old kid that entered the Super Six tourney two years ago. He’s really matured and looks really hard to beat now. I think only Andre Ward would have any chance and even he would have serious problems with Dirrell’s speed and superior power.