By Dave Lahr: The group 1 stage of the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic six-fighter tourney will start on October 17th, with WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch (25-0, 20 KO’s) fighting challenger Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO’s) in Nottingham, England. In a different location on the same date, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KO’s) will be fighting former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KO’s).
Arthur Abraham
Showtime’s Six-Man Super Middleweight Tourney First Round Preview
Photo: SE – By Jason Kim: In looking at the opening match-ups for Showtime’s six-man super middleweight tournament there appears on paper to be three evenly matched fights between the top fighters in the division. Absent unfortunately is IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, who would have no doubt had as much of a chance at winning the tournament as any of the fighters. In the opening match-ups are as follows:
Will the Losers of the Six-Man Super Middleweight Tourney be Ruined as fighters?
Pictures courtesy of Winfried Mausolf / Sauerland Event – By Scott Gilfoid: Recently in an article at Vindy.com, WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik remarked that the six super middleweight fighters – Arthur Abraham, Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch – would “Ruin their careers for peanuts” by taking part in the tournament that begins later on this year in October. My immediate thoughts were that Pavlik sounded hurt and disappointed that he hadn’t been asked to participate in the tournament and was making a snap remark by devaluing something that he might actually want.
Is The Super-middleweight Tournament The Best Thing To Happen To Boxing In A Long Time?
By Adam Laiolo: Our star is on the wane, whether we like it or not. Our sport is in grave danger of disappearing into obscurity. With UK firm Setanta going into administration, ESPN Wednesday Night Fights being pulled and rumors of HBO having trouble paying out for the biggest fights, boxing needs an injection of adrenaline. Cutting through all the politics between rival promotion companies, more belts than you can shake a stick at and whole divisions in a complete mess, something has got to give.
Super Middleweight Tourney Involving Froch, Kessler, Dirrell, Taylor, Ward and Abraham – News
By Jason Kim: A number of super middleweights will be getting a huge chance to prove themselves in a prospective super middleweight tournament that Showtime, the U.S. cable network, is in the planning stages to get up involving the best fighters in the division such as Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham, Andre Ward, Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell.
Boxing Results – Abraham Defeats Oral, Licina Decisions Esparza
By Erik Schmidt: IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KO’s) continued with his recent struggles in defending his crown, this time having to battle hard to defeat challenger Mahir Oral (25-2-2, 10 KO’s) by a 10th round TKO on Saturday night at the Max Schmeling Halle, in Berlin, Germany.
The Embarrassment of the Two Best Boxing Divisions
By Simon Hirst: As a boxing fan who consistently forks out money to watch boxing, goes out his way to watch fights that aren’t on telelvision here in the U.K, waiting up until the early hours for American fights, I feel somewhat cheated by the greed of some of today’s fighters and concerned at the lack of what I can only describe as ‘lack of testicular fortitude’ of some boxers.
Abraham vs. Oral on Saturday – Boxing Preview
By Erik Schmidt: Unbeaten IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (29-0, 23 KO’s) will be fighting in a stay busy fight against German Mahir Oral (25-1, 10 KO’s) on Saturday night at the Max Schmeling Halle, in Berlin, Germany. Abraham, 29, has made it a habit of taking on soft opposition since capturing the International Boxing Federation middleweight title four years ago in a 5th round stoppage of Kingsley Ikele in December 2005.
Pavlik Could Be Fighting Mora in September Then Abraham – News
By Matt Stein: WBO/WBC middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik recently had his June 27th bout with Sergio Mora cancelled by his promoter due to a staph infection on one of Pavlik’s hands. How that Pavlik has resigned a contract with his promotional team Top Rank, Pavlik’s promoter is reportedly looking to reschedule Kelly’s bout with Mora for September.
Abraham vs. Oral on June 27th – News
By Jim Dower: According to Fight News, International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (29-0, 23 KOs) will be defending his IBF title against light-hitting German Mahir Oral (25-1-2, 10 KOs) on June 27th. The choice of opponent for Abraham leaves a lot to be desired, because Oral, 29, isn’t well known outside of Europe and even in his native Germany, he’s not a particularly popular fighter.