Froch-Dirrell: A Contrast in Pedigree

By Boxing News - 09/29/2009 - Comments

By John Dimeck: Boxing fans are quite eager for the start of the super 6 tournament and an intriguing match-up gets things going on Oct 17 when WBC Champ at 168 Carl Froch takes on little known Andre Dirrell from the US in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham England.

What we do know of Dirrell is that he has quick hands, is elusive on his feet, and has not really fought anyone of note. His 18-0 record does deserve some respect but he’s really moving up in class here against a fighter who has little to prove at this level.

Froch has wins against some notable names. He stopped Robin Reid who was only narrowly defeated by the great Joe Calzaghe, and he won a brave fight against an undefeated Jean Pascal. For those who say Froch has no speed, watch the Pascal fight, he went to war with an excellent fighter and came out on top in a bout that had speed, power and endurance and was a contender for the fight of the year 2008. Since then Pascal has gone on to beat a very credible light heavy champion in Adrian Diaconu to seize the WBC belt, and indeed has since defended successfully.

And then there is the fight with Taylor which saw Froch write another chapter in his illustrious career. There has been something of an urban myth sprouted since that fight which states that Froch was being pummeled mercilessly by Taylor for all of the fight with the exception of the dying moments. This, any true fight fan will acknowledge, is simply not true. Certainly Froch started slowly that night and indeed credit to Taylor for putting him down for the first time ever as either an amateur or pro. However, if anyone cares to watch the fight a second time, (or a 10th time in my case), it is Froch who is clearly in the ascendency from at least rd6 on. Taylor’s knockdown was not a very convincing one to be fair, no wobbly legs, no glazed eyes, a bit of a surprised Froch was back up and ready to go immediately after taking his 8.

Froch’s knockdown of Taylor, on the other hand, was a complete clubbing, and again Taylor gets huge credit in my book for withstanding such a tremendous onslaught before finally hitting the canvas. Froch simply imposed his will on Taylor from about 6 on, and it culminated in the vicious assault that we saw in the 11th and 12th rounds.

So that’s what Dirrell is up against. The bookies will give you 14 times your money on Dirrell to win this tournament, that’s a fact. Froch is the favorite, narrowly ahead of Kessler, that’s also a fact.

Hopefully Dirrell is not too overcome by the hostility of the crowd, as we saw with Froch and his slow start against JT. If Dirrell can control his nerves it’ll be an interesting rumble.

Certainly Dirrell has learned to be in top shape, as he knows Froch will be (Froch is probably the best athlete in the 6), Dirrell will be out to prove there’s a bit of substance behind the hype. Froch will want to prove he can start early and not have to always depend on his huge reserves to win the day.

I see them both coming out with a bit of caution in the first round, before Froch lets loose and tests Dirrell’s mettle with those big shots. If Dirrell can take ’em, he may make this interesting, but he will get hit, you can count on that.

Oh, and one last thing, I’ve never met a poor bookie, and they let you put your money where your mouth is. At 14/1, all the Dirrell backers should be gleefully rubbing their hands, I think I’ll have a bet on Froch myself.



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