By Scott Gilfoid: ESPN writer Dan Rafael sees WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (24-0, 13 KO’s) beating Carl Froch (28-1, 20 KO’s) tomorrow night in a fight that Rafael doesn’t see as being a close one. This may seem a bit jarring for some boxing fans because a lot of people seem to be under the impression that Ward will have to go to the end of the earth and back to beat Froch.

Rafael isn’t one of them and neither am I. I think Ward has already beaten better fighters than Froch and this will be one of easier fights. Froch is strong and probably will resist being knocked out, but I can’t see him mounting any real threat in this fight due to his lack of hand speed, and the way he leaves himself so wide open all the time

Rafael points out that Froch escaped a bomb in facing Andre Dirrell and winning a “hometown split decision.” Rafael notes that Dirrell showed great technical skills in that fight, but he sees Ward as having even better technical skills. That alone would appear to be more enough for Ward to punish and school a near helpless Froch.

It’s nice to pull for the underdog, and I know Froch fans aren’t too happy seeing Ward dominate guys that Froch lost to like Mikkel Kessler, but this is real life. The strong survives and the weak get stepped on. Froch is about to get stepped on and left in the dust as Ward moves on to greatness after he scoops up the Super Six trophy and riches.
Rafael ends with “I don’t think it’s going to be all that close anyway. Ward is an all-around talent entering his prime and will continue his 15-year winning streak by outpointing Froch.

Rafael is so right. Ward won’t lose and it’s not going to be a close one. I wish it was kind of close because it’s almost boring seeing Ward win so easily every time out, but what can you do when one guy has too much talent and the other guy has been struggling badly at this level. Froch really should be limping into this Super Six finals bout with a 2-2 record in his last four fights. Kessler and Dirrell both beat Froch, and his only wins have come against Arthur Abraham and Glen Johnson. Believe me, Ward is a lot better than those guys. It’s time for Froch to taste defeat again.