By Scott Gilfoid: #8 WBC Andre Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs) will be back in the ring next month in a dangerous fight against knockout artist #4 WBC, #10 WBO, #11 IBF Derek Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KOs) in the co-feature bout on the undercard of the Adonis Stevenson vs. Dmitry Sukhotsky at the Colisee de Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
The Dirrell-Edwards fight will be an IBF super middleweight title eliminator. The winner of that fight will be the No.2 IBF challenger behind James DeGale. What we’re likely going to see in the near future is IBF champion Carl Froch either stripped of his title or where he’s forced to vacate the strap due to him opting not to face DeGale.
In that case, the winner of the Dirrell vs. Edwards fight will soon be facing DeGale for the IBF title. Dirrell has made no secrets to the fact that he’d like to face Carl Froch in a rematch in order to clear up the controversy of their 2009 fight, which took place in Froch’s home city of Nottingham, UK.
While many boxing fans outside of the UK had Dirrell winning the fight, the judges scored the fight for Froch by a controversial 12 round split decision. Dirrell doesn’t count the loss as a real loss, as he feels he was royally robbed. However, he’s not particularly interested in fighting Froch in the UK again. So if there is going to be a rematch between Dirrell and Froch, which would seem highly unlikely, it will need to be stage in a neutral venue or in a place like Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I feel like I’m there and ready for a title shot. And, when the time comes to prove that I’m ready, I won’t leave any doubt,” Dirrell said.
You’d have to favor Dirrell over DeGale if/when that fight takes place, because Dirrell has faster hands, moves better, and is a much better fighter defensively. I see DeGale as a poor man’s version of Dirrell after you strip away the speed, movement and defensive skills.
Dirrell will likely easily beat DeGale by a lopsided decision if that fight takes place
“I know I won that fight against Froch,” Dirrell said. “I think everyone knows I won that fight. He’s the one opponent I want and the fact that he’s a world champion again is just icing on the cake. I don’t think I’ve ever been defeated and I want that title shot. Hopefully he doesn’t retire because I know the world wants to see that rematch.”
Froch will surely retire from the sport rather than stick around and fight Dirrell a second time. Froch is talking about fighting next year against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. If he’s not interested in facing DeGale, then there’s no way on Earth that Froch will stick around to face a guy much better than DeGale in Dirrell, especially after the way Dirrell clowned Froch in their 2009 fight.
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