By Scott Gilfoid: The World Boxing Council has handed unbeaten Anthony Dirrell (24-0, 21 KO’s) a golden opportunity to pick up the WBC super middleweight title the easy way by sanctioning a fight between Dirrell and #3 WBC Nikola Sjekloca (24-0, 7 KO’s) for the full WBC 168 pound title.

The current champion Andre Ward is being moved to “Champion in recess” while his injured left hand heals up. I had thought it was already healed, but it looks like Ward still needs more time.

Dirrell vs. Sjekloca is a huge mismatch, because the 33-year-old Sjekloca, #3 WBC, #8 WBO, #14 WBA, can’t punch his way out of a wet paper bag and is nowhere near as powerful, fast or talented as the 27-year-old Dirrell. This is a slaughter waiting to happen. The only thing Dirrell, 1 WBC, #3 WBA, #6 WBO, #9 IBF, has to worry about in facing the light hitting Sjekloca is to make sure he doesn’t get hugged into submission because Sjekloca seems to love to clinch.

In watching a few of his fights on Youtube, it was incredible how long and much Sjekloca like to clinch. In his fight against Peter Mashmaite last November, Sjekloca was literally grabbing him and holding him long stretches while resting. He would then pull apart, throw a few punches, and then fest for another long stretch.

I was astonished that the referee let Sjekloca do this, but I was even more shocked that he needed such long breaks to get his wind. The guy must run out of gas quickly, because he was draped on Mashmaite from the 1st round until the last one. It was like Mashmaite was wearing Sjekloca like he was a coat. If the fight had been held in the U.S., I think Sjekloca lost points and/or been disqualified for all the clinching.

Sjekloca has fought only one fighter that recognize on his resume and that’s super middleweight fringe contender Khoren Gevor. Sjekloca barely beat the 32-year-old Gevor by a narrow 12 round unanimous decision last July. Gevor had lost three out of his last four fights going into the Sjekloca bout.

I see Dirrell knocking Sjekloca cold in two or three rounds. This is one of those mismatches where Dirrell will be able to toy with the Euro fighter until taking him out whenever he wants. I just don’t understand how or why these sanctioning bodies give inflated rankings to guys that have never fought anyone other than 2nd and 3rd opponents their entire career. In watching a few of Sjekloca’s fights, he doesn’t look like a fighter that deserves a #3 ranking by the WBC.