The dates for The Super Six Boxing Classic, Showtime's innovative super middleweight tournament, were announced Tuesday. Here's what the matchups for Group Stage 1 will look like:
October 17, 2009
Carl Froch (25-0, 20 KO's) vs. Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO's)
Skinny: Tough fight to call. Froch was badly out boxed by Jermain Taylor before scoring a 12th round knockout of Taylor earlier this year. Like Taylor, Dirrell is a highly skilled fighter without shocking knock-out power. If Dirrell can work the whole ring and avoid too many heavy shots, he can steal an upset. But Froch's power will probably catch up with him. Factor in that this fight will take place in Nottingham, England and I like Froch by knockout.
Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KO's) vs. Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KO's)
Skinny: Abraham is my pick to win this tournament, and I like him every possible way against Taylor. Abraham has long been one of the most underrated middleweights of this era and one of the toughest fighters in the business. The fact that he fought most of his first fight against Edison Miranda with a broken jaw is evidence of that. Taylor isn't shot like most people think, but his best days are behind him. Not even the partisan Little Rock, Arkansas, crowd can save him here. Take King Arthur by knockout.
November 21, 2009
Mikkell Kessler (41-1, 31 KO's) vs. Andre Ward (19-0, 12 KO's)
Skinny: Why is Kessler, an established world champion with only a loss to Joe Calzaghe, blemishing his resume, traveling to Ward's hometown of Oakland for this fight? I don't have a problem with it, but I would think Kessler would. Still, this fight is a colossal mismatch. Ward is a promising fighter but his resume is thick with nobody's (he outpointed Miranda in May, his biggest win to date) and he's not in Kessler's class. Ward has been on the canvas before and I think Kessler will put him there again. Take Kessler by knockout.
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