With more and more of the top Heavyweights coming from Europe one man looking to snap that dominance and bring back the Heavyweight title to America is Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola. The 30 year old Californian currently sports a 30-2(26) ledger, he fights on the undercard of Andre Ward-V-Arthur Abraham at the Home Depot, Carson, Ca on the 14 May against fringe contender Nagy Aguilera. He’s looking for an impressive performance to set him up for bigger business in the second half of 2011. Currently Arreola is ranked by all four major governing bodies WBC 3, WBA 15, IBF 5, WBO 12 & The Ring 10.

Hello Chris, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You will be fighting Nagy Aguilera on the Ward-Abraham card. What are your thoughts on this fight & what are your expectations going into it?

Chris Arreola – Umm the main thing man, I’m going in there and be me. When I say me is come in there an aggressive Chris Arreola but yet smart and throwing a lot of combinations.

Anson Wainwright – Last time out you demolished Joey Abell in a round. Can you tell us about that fight?

Chris Arreola – Well the thing about that fight it was the first lefty I had fought in many years. It was kind of hard getting sparring to imitate him but the one thing Ronnie (Shields) kept on emphasising was when I throw my punches that I step through and follow through. I saw that he threw his left hand and would always pull back so I just timed it when he threw a jab , I countered with a right hand as he was going back and I caught him flush on his chin.

Anson Wainwright – After the fight you leant in and kissed him, can you tell us about that?

Chris Arreola – You know what; it was a spur of the moment thing I was caught up in the moment. I didn’t mean any disrespect with that. I’m sure a lot of people took it that way and I apologise for that. I’m not a poor sport or one of those guys who likes to showboat. It was spur of the moment, that was it.

Anson Wainwright – Though you won’t want to look past the Aguilera fight, what are your plans for 2011? Who are you targeting?

Chris Arreola – My main thing is staying busy man. Right after this fight staying busy, busy, busy, staying active. I want to get one of the top 10 contenders out there, one of the top 5. And prove myself, prove I’m worthy of my top 10 (ranking) with the Ring magazine and other belts (Other organisations rankings) That’s my main thing proving myself this year and by the end of the year if I keep winning I’ll probably get a title shot.

Anson Wainwright – Can you talk to us about your weight? Many people believe you are a few pounds over what would be a better fighting weight for you. How do you respond to them & what sort of weight are you looking at being for the Aguilera fight?

Chris Arreola – Umm you know what, the weight thing is gonna be answered the night I weigh in. I’m very comfortable where I’m at right now. People won’t believe the numbers I throw out there so regardless I’m coming in ready and prepared. People are gonna see a dedicated Chris Arreola. That’s main thing about this year dedication.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team; who is your manager, trainer & promoter?

Chris Arreola – My manager Al Haymon, Wes Crockett and all them. Henry Ramirez (Trainer), Dan Goossen there always behind me they believed in me more than I believe in myself. That’s part of the problem. I probably didn’t believe in myself as much as I should have. And umm now I’ve got to prove to my promoter, manager and my trainer that I am a world class fighter and come May 14th that’s what I’m going to prove everyone that believes in me right.

Anson Wainwright – Where do you train?

Chris Arreola – I train at it’s my cut man’s gym. He built a Boxing gym, It’s in his back (yard) it’s very nice. It’s like a barn type of set up. It’s very nice and there’s not kids around so I don’t have to kick them off the bags Haha

Anson Wainwright – Back in September 2009 you met Vitali Klitschko, though it wasn’t a positive experience as you were stopped in the tenth round, you showed a big heart and gained many fans from your stout performance. What are your thoughts on the fight looking back?

Chris Arreola – You know what, I recently watched the fight for the first time since the day of the fight and honestly he kicked my ass, there’s nothing to it. My trainer did the right thing by stopping it. Of course me being a fighter I am I never wanted the fight to be stopped. But Vitali Klitschko was just a better fighter than me that night. He was smarter, that’s the thing that stood out above everything. He’s such a smart fighter in the ring. I made him fight and he threw an unbelievable amount of punches because I made him throw those punches. He was smart enough to throw those punches at the right time and they kept connecting on me. My hat goes off to him that’s why he’s the champion and he came out victorious that night.

Anson Wainwright – The other loss on your record was to Tomasz Adamek a year ago, it was a very entertaining fight. You rocked him several times. What are your feelings on that fight now?

Chris Arreola – That fight I kicked my own ass! With regards that fight I probably trained 3 weeks for that fight. I was stupid and I was full of myself, I was believing the hype Chris Arreola is the next big thing. I fell into that trap of just believing the hype. Did he beat me? Yes. But the thing that beat me was his preparation and my lack of preparation. If I was prepared better like I am now that fight wouldn’t of lasted as long as it did and I hate myself for that fight it really gets me mad. The loss to Tomasz Adamek no disrespect to him, he came in and beat me because he prepared himself better , that was the bottom line to that fight.

Anson Wainwright – How do you see some of the big upcoming Heavyweight fights coming up like Wladimir Klitschko-V-David Haye how do you see that fight?

Chris Arreola – If I was a betting man, I’d put money on David Haye. David Haye is a very fast fighter, he’s a very active fighter, a hard puncher, he moves around very well. I don’t think Wladimir Klitschko has seen anyone like him. There’s a lot of times I’ve talked crap about David Haye but to me he’s earned his stripes. I believe he’ll beat Wladimir Klitschko.

Anson Wainwright – How about two men you know well Vitali Klitschko-Tomasz Adamek?

Chris Arreola – I see Vitali Klitschko beating him, there wont be much of a fight. Tomasz Adamek isn’t strong enough for someone like Vitali Klitschko. He is fast, I’ll give him that but Vitali Klitschko’s ring knowledge and the way he uses his size and his training and everything. So I’d have to give the edge to Vitali Klitschko easily.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your younger days growing up in Los Angeles, Ca were things tough for you & how did you first became interested in Boxing?

Chris Arreola – You know actually I wouldn’t say I had a tough upbringing because it wasn’t tough. I stayed in the Boxing gym since I was 7 years old. My father never gave me chance or the opportunity to be part of a gang or be a hoodlum on the streets or anything like that. My life since I was a kid revolved around Boxing. I didn’t have a silver spoon in my mouth, I’m very humble, we had beans and rice to eat. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my father which I don’t give enough of. I’m where I am because of him. My toughness in the ring is because of my father. My father used to make me spar with professionals when I was 12, 13 years old. And then If I wanted to get out of the ring he was like ‘get your butt back in there’. So all my toughness, my Boxing balls or cojones come from my preparation as a kid. My father always encouraged me to be a tough , rugged professional boxer.

Anson Wainwright – Who were your hero’s growing up?

Chris Arreola – Actually growing up it was easy to say Julio Cesar Chavez because I saw him many times, he used to come to our gym and train when he was on his tour before fights. When I was in Mexico I met him plenty of times. But the reason he was such a big hero to me was because he was an even better person outside the ring than he was inside. That’s what drew a lot of people to him, he was a real person, what you see is what you get. It’s what I try to emulate , is him inside and outside the ring.

Anson Wainwright – Who do you like to watch today?

Chris Arreola – I love watching Manny Pacquiao and the reason is because I’ve seen him a couple of times training and everything that he works at in the gym with Freddie Roach he does in the Boxing ring. It’s amazing to see someone perfect his craft so well that it translates in the ring in the Boxing fight. That’s probably one of the main reasons I like watching Manny Pacquiao.

Anson Wainwright – When you’re not Boxing, what are your hobbies and Interests?

Chris Arreola – I’m not a hobbies type of guy. I like going to the movies, I watch movies all the time. Every weekend if a new movies out I’ll go watch it. (I like) Playing video games every now and then but mainly watching movies. Like the man that I am going to the pub, going to a club, hanging out and being a man, having a couple of drinks here and there, nothing wrong with that as long as you know when to stop.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Heavyweight division?

Chris Arreola – The main thing is I’m a focused Chris Arreola . I’m coming in here, I’m coming to fight. I mean no disrespect to anyone but the Heavyweight division they better be scared. That’s it they better be scared.

Thanks for your time Chris, good luck on the 14 May.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that the May 14 Super Six Super Middleweight semi-final between WBA Champion Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham is now up in the air due to Abraham’s camp being upset with the appointment of officials.

“Contrary to what has been previously agreed on, the California commission all of a sudden insists on installing a Californian judge as well as a Californian referee,” said Abraham’s promoter Wilfried Sauerland. “That is totally unacceptable. This turnaround comes as a huge and unpleasant surprise.

“Two months ago, everybody involved agreed that this tremendous fight would be served by neutral officials. We agreed to have one judge from California, one from Europe and one from neither Europe nor the U.S. The referee is supposed to be neither American nor European either. Unless this issue is sorted, King Arthur will not leave the country. We have put his flights on hold.”

“King Arthur is more than happy to challenge Ward in his backyard, but we demand neutral officials as agreed on,” Sauerland said. “We have learned our lesson from the Kessler-Ward fight. Back then the California commission insisted on having a Californian referee. His performance was, to put it mildly, a joke.

“This is not some beach bar brawl but the semifinal of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, a sensational tournament that has captured global attention. It’s a shame that the clash is jeopardized just because a local commission refuses to honor existing agreements and basic rules of fair play.”

“Their accusation that California insisted on a California referee [for Ward-Abraham] is 100 percent inaccurate and, as far as I know, we have agreed to have one California official of the four officials, which is unusual to do. I don’t know how much more neutral the commission can be.”, said Dan Goossen, who promoted Ward.

“I felt the California commission bent over backward to accommodate the parties,” Goossen said. “It is out of my hands. It’s going to be up to them.”

The Super 6 has been plagued and beset by several injury’s, postponements and various other things. To Showtime’s credit they have always had an answer and managed to keep the general theme of the tournament going along. What they were hoping to achieve from the start was that one elite guy would prevail and introduce himself as a Superstar to the Mainstream possibly with crossover appeal. They are still on course for that and that star could be Andre “S.O.G” Ward. After impressively winning gold at the 2004 Olympics for America at Light Heavyweight he turned professional, initially at 160. He soon realized that wasn’t in his best interests and promptly moved up to Super Middleweight. Though he kept his unbeaten record he wasn’t particularly impressive and many believed he wouldn’t be as successful as he had in the amateurs. All this spurred Ward on, he quietly got on with his job progressing daily under the expert tutelage of trainer Virgil Hunter. Having beaten noted puncher Edison Miranda in May 2009, Ward had served notice of his intent to make a run for title glory. That chance came with the invention of Ken Hershman’s “Super 6” he was first matched with vastly more experienced Mikkel Kessler, also the pre-tournament favourite. He dually won a technical decision when the fight was stopped in the eleventh due to cuts whilst along way ahead. A Star was born that night in hometown of Oakland in Northern California since then he’s beaten both Allan Green & Sakio Bika barely losing a round. Next up is a Semi Final fight with German transplant Arthur Abraham. It remains to be seen if it will be his star that is still shining come the competion’s end next year but so far he’s certainly doing a fantastic job. Here’s what the loquacious Ward had to say.

Hello Andre, welcome to 15rounds.com

Thank you

Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulations on your most recent win when you beat Sakio Bika. What are your thoughts on that fight and how happy were you with your performance?

Andre Ward – Well I wasn’t happy with it. But at the end of the day you want to go in there and perform. You always want to have the ideal setting, you want to look good. Everything be nice, neat and tight. But this isn’t a reality, it’s not a reality in life, it’s not a reality in Boxing. But that being said, now that I’ve had time to think about it. I’m pleased we won and we won ugly, we were able to find a way. I retained my belt and I move on in this tournament.

Anson Wainwright – You injured i believe your hand in the last fight and had a few cuts from headbutts from Bika, how are they healing up?

Andre Ward – Actually the injury happened prior to the fight, probably 2 weeks, 2 and a half weeks out. I had to take anti inflammatory. I just kept my eye on it. As I say we were 2, 2 and a half weeks from the fight so pulling out wasn’t an option. I just dealt with it. The individual who wrapped my hands Jacob Duran did a great job of making sure my hand was protected the night of the fight with the smaller gloves and everything. I had no problems the night of the fight but it is inflamed. I’m in the process of getting checked out. I’m getting an MRI. I should be doing that soon and get the results back shortly after. As far as the cuts, there fine. I think it looked worse on TV. The worst cut, was glued shut no stitches whatsoever and is healing just fine.

Anson Wainwright – Your next fight is against Arthur Abraham, what are your feelings on that fight? He hasn’t looked that impressive in his last two fights?

Andre Ward – I’ve only watched a few rounds of his fight with Carl Froch. Everybody pretty much knows the blue print on how to beat Arthur Abraham. He’s not real active, I don’t know if he’s afraid, getting tired. I don’t know. But he’s going to be the same Arthur Abraham. Having a game plan is one thing and executing it is another that’s what I have to do. I’m not taking Arthur light, he’s coming off a DQ which is disappointing. He’s coming off a loss when he could of won another title. He could of been a two division champion but he fell short so I know he’s disappointed. He’s after the WBA belt and my job is not to let him win this title. That’s all I’m focused on. His previous loses and how he looked that goes out the window because he has a fresh start and I have to make sure he stays in his place.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a time frame for that fight?

Andre Ward – I haven’t really got a solid date. My promoter is waiting to see what happens with my hand. Hopefully in the next week we can lock something down.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us what the Super 6 has meant to you because it seems looking from outside that it has been magnificent for you really putting your name out there on the global stage?

Andre Ward – I think it’s been great, I mean Showtime has done an exceptional job with the tournament it’s self, dealing with adverse situations with injuries and so on an so forth as well as just the promotion of the Super 6, Fight camp 360, you name it. They’ve done a tremendous job and I take my hat of to them. Some people have had some negative things to say about the Super 6, we all want things neat and tidy in order all the time but things happen it’s a reality of life guys get hurt and pull out but there ability to bounce back and deal with this stuff and I’m talking about Showtime is incredible. As well as the promoters involved. Personally the further I get into the tournament, the deeper I go I’m appreciating the Super 6 more and more. From the stand point of the promotion people who don’t really watch Boxing have watched Fight camp 360 and that’s caused them to want to watch the fight and just to get the reaction from the fans and not even Boxing fans just regular people who come up and say I saw you on Fight camp with your family and I’m pulling for you. It means a lot. Obviously the winner of the Super 6 and I want that to be myself, this is going to catapult their career to another level. It’s been an awesome thing to a part of. There’s still work to be done, a lot of work to be done but thus far I’m very pleased with this.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve been with your trainer Virgil Hunter ever since you first became involved in Boxing. Could you tell us a little about the relationship you have?

Andre Ward – Virg is awesome, from a trainer stand point he’s very innovative, he thinks outside the box and he’s just got an innate ability to motivate, just through his hard work, his faith. He produces winners, he had several fighters that were winners before I came along and he’s done a great job you can’t argue with a guy who’s a gold medalist and world titlist. I’m pleased with Virg, he’s more than just a coach to me he’s my godfather and I’m just thankful to have a guy like that in my corner. Especially in this day in age when you know fighters and trainers they don’t necessarily mesh all the time. Sometimes there switching trainers every couple of years. For me to have a strong foundation like a Virgil Hunter is just an awesome thing. I know that it benefits my career all around.

Anson Wainwright – You won a Gold medal for America at the 2004 Olympics that must of been a tremendous honour, could you describe what it was like to achieve that goal?

Andre Ward – You know what winning a world title is awesome, tremendous thing to do to accomplish but it’s a business in the professional ranks. But representing your country on a stage like the Olympic games. Nothing will ever surpass that, it will always be in my life, in my heart. Everyone can relate to the Olympics, everyone may not relate or understand professional ranking and professional Boxing. The Olympic games is something that always gets people’s attention. Not only did I compete but I won the highest prize. I don’t think anything I accomplish as a pro with surpass that or be dear to my heart as that. I’m just thankful I had the opportunity, I’m thankful I have the opportunity to tell my kids and share that experience with them, it’s really surreal. In that category in Olympic style Boxing I’m in the record books with the likes of Cassius Clay and some other tremendous people, Hall of Famers in professional sports. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.

Anson Wainwright – In Late 2009 you beat Mikkel Kessler as an underdog, to win the WBA Super Middleweight title how did winning that fight compare to winning the Olympic gold medal?

Andre Ward – Like I just mentioned the Olympics is a special place for that but there’s also a place for winning my title. It’s one thing to be a gold medalist but you know how it is people will think I can’t do it as a professional. Can he adjust his style and win a world title. So to do it against a guy like Mikkel Kessler that meant the world to me. It’s one thing to win a vacant belt, it’s one thing to beat a guy who’s not supposed to be champion but to beat a seasoned guy who’s the real deal like Mikkel Kessler that just made me a better fighter. I know I belong at the top of the class of the 168 division and in the world.

Anson Wainwright – If you win your next fight with Abraham you will meet either Carl Froch or Glen Johnson in a unification fight. What goals do you have in Boxing?

Andre Ward – I want all the belts at 168 and I’m prepared to put in the work to go get it. It’s going to be a lot of work. There’s still a lot of work in the division but I’ve always wanted to be a multi division champion and after the Super 6 and possibly a Bute match, I’d love to go to Light Heavyweight and conquer some new things and win some titles at Light Heavyweight and even Heavyweight. I know it sounds crazy, I’m at Super Middle but I think at the right time, right scenario later in my career 31, 32 like a Roy Jones build yourself up, put 25 pounds of muscle on. I think it could be done but it would be a one time deal. There’s no way I could consider fighting at Heavyweight (Long term) that’s just not reality. But in the right situation later in my career my body can fill out and I’m able to put some extra muscle and end my career on that note.

Anson Wainwright – What weight do you walk around at between fights?

Andre Ward – I can’t tell you that! Ha-ha I can’t reveal. I don’t talk about my weight or what I walk around. I’m comfortable at this weight. I have no problem coming down to 168 at this point.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about the rest of your amateur career, what other titles and honours did you win? What was your amateur record?

Andre Ward – My amateur record was 115-5, before I was an open Senior I won multiple National titles, Silver Gloves, Junior Olympics titles. Once I became an open senior, you turn 17 and you can basically fight anyone 17-35. That’s the real deal when you turn 17, when I became an open class fighter I won the US Championships in Colorado Springs and that was a big boost for me because I wasn’t seeded, I wasn’t a big name at the time as an amateur. I drew one top seed after another, night in and night out and I was able to overcome each night and looked up and I was in the finals on ESPN and I was able to win. That was like my first National Title. That gave me a lot of confidence to go on and progress and win another US men’s National Title. At the same time Virg and I were very strategic. We didn’t want to burn ourselves out over a three year span. There’s a lot of guys who had three, four hundred fights and it may work for them but we always felt like we want to be fresh for when the Olympic trials came around. That’s why I only had 120 fights in a ten year career. We were very strategic what tournaments we went to leading up to the Olympic trials and even after we won it was just imperative we didn’t burn ourselves out. We didn’t want to fight guys 3 or 4 times over that 3 year span, we were going to have to face in the trials. We wanted to beat them guys one time for all the marbles. That was our strategy and it worked out, if it didn’t people would of said we were crazy, but fortunately it worked out. We got it done at the Olympics.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like do with your time away from Boxing? What are you hobbies & Interests?

Andre Ward – I spend a lot of time with my family, right now I’m on a field trip with my son. These are things I love to do, spend time with my wife, 2 boys and my daughter. Just taking trips, traveling. My Church, the Christian community is important to me and my wife. We worship, we pray our god we serve, I have great family and friends there. I try to watch as many fights up close and personal as I can. I’m a football fan, I’m a Basketball fan. I always support the hometown teams. We have the 49er’s and the Raiders and I like both, that’s kind of an oxymoron. Technically I’m not supposed to do that! I like the Golden State Warriors they play in the arena I fight in when I’m home the Oracle Arena. I know several of the guys on the team. I support the San Francisco Giants & Oakland A. I’m a sports fanatic.

Anson Wainwright – The Bay area in Northern California is doing very well at the moment along side you there are Nonito Donaire & Robert Guerrero. What are your thoughts on the scene at the moment?

Andre Ward – Those guys are doing great. I take my hat off to them. Robert is a three time world champion and Nonito, the best is yet to come. He gets better and better. I’m just happy I’m able to pull my weight cos those guys are really good fighters. When all is said and done there going to be great fighters. I’m happy to be in there company. It’s kind of cool that the world can see the talent we have in Northern California. We will continue to do this because we all work hard and are humble men and family men that’s a big part of it.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero growing up?

Andre Ward – Roy Jones Jnr. He’s the guy I respected, I love to watch him even as a young man 9,10 years old I loved the way he was outside the ring and how he took care of business inside it. He was unorthodox, I appreciate there was something different about Roy. His career may be on the downside but he still has my support I love the guy. He’s one of my hero’s.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans out there?

Andre Ward – Continue to stay tuned. I don’t take my fans lightly, I want to continue to give you my all fight in and fight out.

Thanks for your time Andre, much appreciated.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Weekend Musings – Well so much for Amir Khan not having a chin, he proved that not only does he have a chin but he has a huge heart, he was running on empty from the tenth. It remains to be seen if that fight with bring him on further as a fighter or if that showed some of the frailties in his game. I mean Maidana though he’s a heavy handed guy and very tough, he’s not a top draw fighter. That’s what it’ll take to beat Khan though at this stage. Khan verses the winner of Bradley-Alexander would be great in the second half of 2011. As for Maidana I’m sure he’ll be given the chance to perform again after that Herculean effort…Not sure what to make of Victor Ortiz he had his fight with Lamont Peterson won in the third, he took his foot of the gas and didn’t seem to know what to do…Mmm there’s a surprise Joan Guzman missed weight again, what’s so frustrating is that he’s undoubtedly a very talented guy he just doesn’t have the discipline that he needs…Showtime’s Bantamweight tournament got of to a good start with Abner Mares winning a split decision over Vic Darchinyan who’s not the same bad ass at 118 as he was at 112 or 115 & Joseph Agbeko readjusted and won the rematch against Yonnhy Perez…Congrats to Cristian Mijares who won the IBF 115 title, he was one of Boxing’s best little men around 2007/2008 until he ran into Darchinyan and then lost twice to Nehomar Cermeno. After going 0-3 he won 4 and got a title shot and beat Juan Alberto Rosas in Torreon…In Britain, James Degale backed up his boasts looking sensational picking apart tough as the come Paul Smith. Full credit to Degale he’s come a long way since he debuted when he looked very amateurish still, now he looks the top prospect in Boxing for my money…There were also wins for Kell Brook, Nathan Cleverly, Tony Bellew & Matthew Macklin. Brook did as he pleased with over matched Philip Kotey stopping him in the second. Hopefully he steps up, he’s ready for it in 2011, it may be a way a way but a Khan-Brook clash would be brilliant scrap. Cleverly struggled with the late change of opponent and failed to impress but still got the job done over Nadjib Mohammedi. He’s looked like he was one of Britain’s top fighters over the past year and this will likely be a good learning curve. Bellew went life and death going down twice in the first two rounds against power punching Ovill McKenzie, after stopping McKenzie in 8, Bellew hinted he may look to move up in weight. In European Middleweight action, Macklin looked ordinary and had to dig deep to get it done against useful Ruben Varon. It seems Macklin needs a really big fight that will inspire him next.

If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk

As Nottinghamshire’s Carl “The Cobra” Froch made his ringwalk, Saturday, Showtime commentator Steve Farhood recounted Froch’s run of super middleweight opponents since 2008 – Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham – and approvingly added, “There’s not another active fighter you can name who’s faced that caliber of competition in such a period of time.”

Farhood’s assertion went untested for about 90 minutes. Then Mexico City’s “Dinamita” Juan Manuel Marquez made his way to a prizefighting ring on the other side of the world and took up Farhood’s challenge – naming Manny Pacquiao, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Juan Diaz again, and Michael Katsidis.

At worst, Dynamite finishes tied with The Cobra.

But Saturday was such a celebration of what boxing should be that, for once, the only disagreements worth tracking are those conducted between the ropes. No, Saturday, Nov. 27, was not enough to keep 2010 from being a steadfastly bad year, but it was still quite something. From the Hartwall Arena of Helsinki, Finland, to Oracle Arena in Oakland, USA, then back to MGM Grand in Las Vegas, boxing did itself proud.

In the final fight of Group Stage 3, part of Showtime’s durable “Super Six World Boxing Classic” – a tournament that, one way or many others, has managed to isolate four of the world’s five best 168 pounders in its upcoming semifinals – Carl Froch dominated Germany’s Arthur Abraham in Helsinki, winning by unanimous scores of 119-109, 120-108 and 120-108.

A while later, Super Six favorite Andre “Son of God (S.O.G.)” Ward, who defeated Andre Dirrell by walkover a month ago, participated in the hardest fight of his career, against Cameroonian Sakio Bika, and prevailed by misleadingly lopsided scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 118-110.

And while Ward brawled heavy with Bika in Oakland, master craftsman Juan Manuel Marquez rose from a knockdown to stop Australian Michael Katsidis at 2:14 of round 9 and remain the undisputed lightweight champion of the world, in Nevada.

Three completely different fights with six markedly different fighters leading to three matches that compared favorably with any Thanksgiving fare any other sport served up. Made you proud to love boxing, finally.

We start with Froch because his win was unexpected. The fight was a toss-up, really, as every fight in Showtime’s groundbreaking tournament has been. Froch was not favored. Arthur Abraham, looking to redeem himself after the year’s most notorious cheap shot, was expected to find Froch’s chin often enough to prevail. Instead, Froch borrowed Andre Dirrell’s approach and executed it better than Dirrell ever could.

Why did a man without Dirrell’s speed or class prevail over a man whom Dirrell was fading against in their March fight? Because Froch is a fighter, not merely an athlete who chose boxing because he heard you could make a lot of money doing it.

Remember for a moment the end of Dirrell-Abraham – with Dirrell on his trunks after a slip, legs splayed, chin in the air, hands on the mat, perfectly defenseless – when Abraham blasted him with a punch that merited immediate disqualification, rendering Dirrell unable to continue. Now see if you can imagine Froch in that same position.

You can’t. The idea of Froch helpless after an inanely showy move that dropped him on the canvas can’t be conjured. Froch has quirks, but expecting sportsmanship to stand between him and violence in a prizefighting ring is not one of them.

Froch did to Abraham what Manny Pacquiao did to Joshua Clottey. He determined his opponent would not punch so long as he was being punched, and he kept punching. The few times Froch was tagged by Abraham, like in the fifth round, Froch dropped his chin to his chest with a thud, then glared at Abraham from the tops of his eyes.

And in the 11th, when a borderline blow to Abraham’s beltline made the former middleweight champion a thespian, Froch had none of it. He went directly at Abraham, smacking him with three more body shots in a way that said: “This is a fight actually, you wanker, so have some more.”

Writing of fighting, how about that Andre Ward? A mollycoddled Olympian no more. The last American to win a gold medal looked like nothing so much as a prizefighter, Saturday. He went foul-for-foul with a crafty, rugged professional and beat him right. That’s no indictment of Bika, though. Bika made every Super Six fan wonder how Allan Green ever got an invitation to substitute for Jermain Taylor.

Froch and Ward both impressed, yes, but neither was in a fight impressive as Juan Manuel Marquez’s, Saturday. Froch and Ward are excellent champions working towards greatness. But Marquez is a legend.

In round 3 of his championship match with Katsidis, Marquez slipped under a spell of his own offensive arsenal, as he’s wont to do, and got blasted with a left hook while cocking one. Marquez went down almost too hard. The back of his head kissed the canvas. Had the canvas been but two inches higher, not even Marquez would have risen to do what he did.

And that was plant his feet and engage a younger man in a desperate exchange of fire. Just as he had done against a younger man named Juan Diaz in Houston, Marquez made the purist’s calculation: My short straight punches tell more than your looped leveraged ones do. Six rounds later, Katsidis was in need of rescue, and referee Kenny Bayless provided it.

Now we look forward. Sometime in the next six months, Froch will make an entertaining scrap with Glen Johnson. Round that time, Ward will battle the remnants of Arthur Abraham’s pride. Anything could happen. But Froch and Ward have to be the favorites to meet in the finale of the Super Six. And what a spectacle that’ll be.

Now if only we could find an opponent for Juan Manual Marquez . . .

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com. Additionally, his book, “The Legend of Muhammad Ali,” co-written with Thomas Hauser, can be purchased here.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Andre Ward successfully defended his WBA Super Middleweight title with a hard-fought twelve-round decision over WBA #13 ranked Sakio Bika before a crowd of 4,120 Saturday night at the Oracle Arena to set up a Super Six showdown with Arthur Abraham sometime in the first quarter of 2011.

Ward (23-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland may have left the ring with the most bruises of his professional career, but showed his class in a lopsided decision win over the rough and rugged Bika (28-5-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia by way of Douala, Cameroon.

The fight was a wrestling match at the outset in an ugly first round, as the two tangled up for the most part. Bika, 168, may have landed the one telling blow in the round before the two collided for the first of many accidental headbutts. The roughhouse tactics continued in round two, with headbutting, clinching and wrestling. Ward, 168, looked to referee Dan Stell for some help, but nothing slowed Bika’s approach.

Bika blatantly utilized his elbow in the third and Ward took to holding Bika’s left. Bika allowed the holding and began clubbing Ward with his free right. With the inside fight going Bika’s way for the most part, Ward began to find his range on the outside and implementing his superior boxing skills. The two traded to close the third, with Ward landing the best shot and Bika getting one in after the bell.

Ward landed with a left to open the fourth and continued to box well when at a distance. Ward leaped in with a flurry that rocked Bika against the ropes. Even though Bika appeared hurt by the combination and was holding on before he fell, Stell waved off the knockdown. Bika continued to hold on when the action resumed, and Ward continued to press forward. It would appear that all of Bika’s rule-bending had gotten under Ward’s skin, as the usually composed champion was opening up more freely than in fights past.

Another bad accidental headbutt started the fifth. Bika landed with a solid right over the top that had Ward covering up. Both fighters got in their licks in the round before Bika landed a good shot late and Ward jumped back with a couple of his own. Bika smiled and patted Ward on the head after the bell.

The pace of the fight slowed a bit in rounds six through eight. Bika had his moments in those rounds, as most of the action took place on the inside. At one instance, Ward complained to Stell, and Bika forearmed him right in front of the referee.

Ward came on in the ninth and hurt Bika against the ropes. With Bika holding on for dear life, the referee struggled to break up the clinching and lectured the two once they let go of each other. With the fight going Ward’s way, Bika turned to boxing and found little to no success. Bika left the round with a cut over his left eye and little hope for turning around the fight.

After Ward continued to outbox Bika in the tenth and eleventh, Bika got wild in the twelfth, but could not get much done. In the end, all three judges had it a landslide for the defending the champion. Judge Marty Sammon had it a shutout, 120-108, judges Jon Schorle and Hunter Walton both had it 118-110 all for Ward.

After the fight, Bika was asked to compare Ward and current IBF Super Middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute, who had defeated the Cameroonian back in 2007 and is regarded by most as either the number one or number two in the division. “The more difficult fighter was maybe Andre Ward,” said Bika. “Andre Ward today was stronger and threw harder, so I think Andre Ward was the tougher one.”

Now Ward can shift his focus to his Super Six World Boxing Classic semi-final opponent Arthur Abraham, who was completely outboxed in a one-sided loss to Carl Froch earlier in the evening in Helsinki, Finland. However, when pressed for his thoughts on the match-up, Ward seemed reluctant to begin that process, and was brief in speaking on the subject. “This is the perfect guy to get ready for a fight like that,” said Ward. “I’m just pleased with the win. I am going to go back do better.”

Determining fight sites has been a factor in many of the disputes and spats that have occurred between the various camps throughout much of the tournament. Ward promoter Dan Goossen mentioned a desire to hold the fight on the Caribbean resort island country Saint Lucia and made it clear he would not make the fight in Germany. Though Ward fought in Saint Lucia back in 2007, it would be considered even ground. “Sauerland [Event] will not come out here to Oakland,” said Goossen. “We have a contract that allows for both parties to have a mutual agreement on a site, and in this case, a neutral site.”

Javier Molina (5-0, 4 KOs) of Norwalk, California was taken the distance for the first time in his professional career by journeyman Francisco Rios Gil (17-14, 12 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona by way of Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico in the final preliminary bout before tonight’s main event.

Molina, 149, utilized his boxing skills instead of overpowering the veteran Rios Gil, 149, as he had done his previous four opponents. After four rounds, all three judges had the fight for Molina by the scores of 39-37 and 40-36 twice.

In what was more of a boxing match than the action fight most had expected, Michael Ruiz Jr. (6-0-1, 3 KOs) of Fresno, California fought to a six-round split decision draw with the always tough Jonathan Alcantara (4-3-2) of Novato, California.

The fight got off to a bit of a slow start, as Ruiz, 120 ½, and Alcantara, 119, went through the feeling out process. The action began to heat up a bit to start the second, as Ruiz and Alcantara decided to exchange. As the fight progressed, Alcantara took on the role of boxer-mover and Ruiz continued to come forward. The fight would become an inside battle in spots, but for the most part was an exhibition of boxing skill. In the end, two judges had it 58-56, one for each man, while the third official scorer forced the draw with a 57-57 score.

Promising super middleweight Cornelius White (16-0, 15 KOs) of Houston, Texas continued to destroy everything put in front of him as he decimated experienced and usually durable Demetrius Davis (20-25-5, 8 KOs) of Washington, District of Columbia in one round.

White, 171 ½, seemingly hurt Davis, 166, with everything that he threw in the fight. White scored a knockdown right off the bat with a straight left jab and Davis never seemed to recover. A quick flurry with Davis leaning on the ropes scored knockdown number two. Davis got up wobbly and nearly fell through the ropes once White connected again. What could have been scored a knockdown was not, and the fight continued. Davis, getting knocked around the ring, managed to wave to the crowd and fire a quick flurry to end the round, but the ringside physician decided to call the fight before the start of the second.

Previously unheralded Khadaphi Proctor (6-6-1) of Hesperia, California scored three knockdowns en route to unceremoniously ending the undefeated run of lightweight prospect Stan Martyniouk (10-1, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California. Proctor, 135, surprisingly dropped Martyniouk, 134 ½, twice in the first and once in the third.

A right hand downed Martyniouk for the first time early in round one and a left hook scored the second minutes later. The second knockdown clearly hurt Martyniouk, who rose seconds before the end of the round. After getting beat for most of the second, Martyniouk sprung to life with two hard lefts just before the bell.

Just as it seemed Martyniouk was getting back in to the fight, he traded lefts with Proctor in the third. Unfortunately for Martyniouk, Proctor’s landed first and hardest, and prompted the third knockdown. To Martyniouk’s credit, he kept trying and clearly began to sit down on his punches with all that he could, but Proctor took them well and fired back. They traded punches after the bell to end the fifth, with Martyniouk’s landing last.

After a good round for Martyniouk to end the fight, the unanimous decision verdict was rendered in favor of Proctor. Judge Kermit Bayless scored it 56-55, while judges Marshall Walker and Michael Tate had it 58-53, all for Proctor.

Roman Andreev (10-0, 7 KOs) of the Komi Republic, Russia remained unbeaten in the opener, with a six-round decision over Manuel Del Cid (4-4, 1 KO) of Los Angeles, California. Andreev, 135, got off to a rough start early in round one, but bounced back late and stalked Del Cid, 135, for most of the second stanza.

Andreev took over mid-fight with his relentless pressure en route a six-round unanimous decision. Judge Kermit Bayless had it 59-55, while judges Marshall Walker and Michael Tate both had it a 60-54 shutout for Andreev.

In the walkout bout, Matt Villanueva (4-0, 4 KOs) of Van Nuys, California scored a third-round stoppage over Adrian Aleman (6-8-3, 4 KOs) of Cathedral City, California. Villanueva, 117 ½, flashed his speed and power throughout the bout, a fight that Aleman, 117, was never really in. In the third round, Villanueva landed a combination that prompted referee Ray Balewicz to stop the fight. Official time was 43 seconds of the third.

Photo by Craig Bennett/Goossen Tutor Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached ortega15rds@lycos.com.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Their fight may not be part of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, but the outcome of tonight’s Andre Ward-Sakio Bika title bout may have greater implications on the tournament than even the Carl Froch-Arthur Abraham clash which will end hours earlier. Ward is not only defending his WBA belt, but the remaining sanctity of the Super Six concept against a determined and willing challenger that was not deemed “Super” enough for whatever reasons. Their fight, to be televised live by Showtime, takes place on Ward’s home turf, the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Fighters weighed in Friday, down the road at the Hilton Oakland Airport.

Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia by way of Douala, Cameroon has been a perennial 168-pound contender since battling then-WBC ruler Markus Beyer to a technical draw in 2006. Bika’s wild career has seen him lose to Joe Calzaghe before a packed M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England on international television to fighting in relative obscurity on undercards in Australia. Bika’s biggest claim to fame was winning The Contender reality series tournament in 2007, but he did so at a time when the show had been placated to ESPN and thus the victory did not have the career-lifting effect such as it had for its initial run. However, with an upset victory tonight, Bika will have turned the division on its ear.

Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland has distanced himself from the pack in the Super Six as the clear favorite and the fighter to most likely emerge from tournament as a new boxing star. Ward knocked off the pre-tourney favorite Mikkel Kessler to claim the WBA Super Middleweight title and carried that momentum into a twelve-round drubbing of Allan Green this past June. Now Ward attempts to solidify his claim to the throne of division leader against the WBA #13 ranked Bika. Those who believe that title belongs to Lucian Bute will have some basis for a comparison once tonight’s bout is over, as Bika dropped a clear-cut decision to the reigning IBF belt-holder over three years ago. Both Ward and Bika scaled an even 168-pounds Friday.

In undercard action, 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina (4-0, 4 KOs) of Norwalk, California will take on weathered journeyman Francisco Rios Gil (17-13, 12 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona by way of Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico in a six-round light middleweight bout. Molina, who came in at 149-pounds, takes the ring for the second time in two months after an injury-induced fourteen-month layoff. Rios Gil, who scaled 149 as well, has built up his win total in Mexico and most of his loss total against American prospects, as is the case tonight.

Lightweight prospect Stan Martyniouk (10-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California will take on Khadaphi Proctor (6-5-1) of Hesperia, California in a six-round fight. Martyniouk, who came in at 134 ½-pounds, took on renowned world class trainer Joe Goossen just before his last fight in July and gets a chance to show off what he has learned tonight in front of some of his supporters making the short trip down to Oakland from Northern California. Proctor, coming off of a pay-per-view victory over Rynell Griffin two months ago, scaled 135-pounds.

Promising super middleweight Cornelius White (15-0, 14 KOs) of Houston, Texas will take on the experienced Demetrius Davis (20-24-5, 8 KOs) of Washington, District of Columbia in a swing bout set for either six or eight-rounds and contracted for just over the 168-pound division limit. After a brief amateur run, White has reeled of an impressive knockout tally, but will take on by far the most durable opponent of his career to date. Davis began his career when White was just five-years-old and worked his way to a regional title try against Thomas Tate in 1998, before taking a nearly nine-year sabbatical from the sport. White came in at 171 ½-pounds, while Davis scaled 166.

There may not be a bona fide co-feature on the card, but the supporting bout of the night is expected to be the six-rounder between former national amateur standout Michael Ruiz Jr. (6-0, 3 KOs) of Fresno, California and all-action fighter Jonathan Alcantara (4-3-1) of Novato, California. Ruiz, who scaled 120 ½-pounds, has torn through his competition since turning pro just over seven months ago. Alcantara, who came in at 119, has made a career out of going against former national amateur stars, posting a 2-2 record in such fights.

Bantamweight prospect Matt Villanueva (3-0, 3 KOs) of Van Nuys, California takes on six-year veteran Adrian Aleman (6-7-3, 4 KOs) of Cathedral City, California in a four-round bout. Villanueva, who came in at 117 ½-pounds, has blasted out three opponents in just under eleven combined minutes. Aleman, who scaled 117, has dropped five straight, but four came against unbeaten foes and all went the distance.

In a swing bout scheduled for either four or six-rounds, unbeaten lightweight Roman Andreev (9-0, 7 KOs) of the Komi Republic, Russia will take on Manuel Del Cid (4-3, 1 KO) of Los Angeles, California. Andreev, who trained for the bout in Southern California, scaled 135-pounds. Del Cid, who also scaled 135 on Friday, has the unenviable task of taking on Andreev in his first fight since suffering a second-round knockout at the hands of Jose Benavidez Jr. just over two months ago.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBA Super Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Ward 168
Bika 168

Light Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Molina 149
Rios Gil 149

Lightweights, 6 Rounds
Martyniouk 134 ½
Proctor 135

Light Heavyweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
White 171 ½
Davis 166

Super Bantamweights, 6 Rounds
Ruiz Jr. 120 ½
Alcantara 119

Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Villanueva 117 ½
Aleman 117

Lightweights, 4 or 6 Rounds
Andreev 135
Delcid 135

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

The Super Six World Boxing Classic has given Andre Ward the platform to showcase his skills like never before in his professional career, but the ride has been full of surprises. When the three Group Stages were first charted out, Ward was to fight then reigning WBA kingpin Mikkel Kessler, followed by Jermain Taylor and then ultimately Andre Dirrell in the third stage. Well he fought (and dominated) Kessler to claim the title, but it has been one curveball after another since. The latest will be that he will not have a Group Stage 3 fight at all, having already qualified for the semi-finals, and will instead defend his title against rugged two-time title challenger Sakio Bika this coming Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia by way of Douala, Cameroon provides a very different challenge than Dirrell would have. A muscularly built specimen, Bika is a straight forward clubber who rarely takes a backward, or lateral, step. “I think that everybody in the boxing world knows what Bika is going to do,” stated Ward at a press conference two weeks ago. “He’s going to come full steam ahead. He’s going to swing with both arms. He’s not a really skillful guy, but he throws a lot of wild punches. I just got to have my eyes open and just continue to do what I do and that is a little bit of everything.”

As Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland proved in both his title-winning effort against Kessler and his Group Stage 2 drubbing of Allan Green, he is a fighter that can adapt mid-fight in order fight the best fight possible. “I try not to put myself in a box because adjustments in these big fights are key,” says Ward. “We didn’t plan to fight Allan Green necessarily the way we fought him the last time. We were going to get inside in spots, but it turned out to be close combat for most of the night. It just happened and I had to make that adjustment on the fly. We always have a general game plan, but we always keep the door open for adjustments that need to be made. As the fight unfolds I will know what I need to do based on what Bika is doing or based on what he is not doing.”

Bika has fought many of the top super middleweights of recent years, and though he has come up short against the very upper tier, he has never been stopped. Ward is very much aware of Bika’s solid chin. “I am not going to come outside of myself to try and prove anything,” said Ward. “I am going to do what I do, but just try to do it a little better. Sakio Bika has never been stopped and that is obviously the goal. Win the fight, but that would definitely be great to get a stoppage in this fight.”

Along with his reputation for an aggressive style and solid whiskers, Bika has been known to go outside the rules at times. The most recent example would be Bika’s disqualification loss to Jean Paul Mendy in September. Despite dominating the action and downing Mendy, Bika ended up the loser for clubbing Mendy while he was down, much in the same fashion Arthur Abraham did against Andre Dirrell earlier in the year.

In preparing for Bika, Ward has noticed the trend of fouls in his past and will likely take measures against falling victim to any similar tactics. “At the end of the day, the referee has a job to do, but I am also going to protect myself,” proclaimed Ward. “He does get very frustrated at times. I saw in the Peter Manfredo fight he got upset with the referee because he didn’t agree with a call, and push the referee. He headbutted Lucian Bute on purpose. He hits behind the head. I am not going to call him a dirty fighter, but let’s just say that he tends to do those things and we are prepared for that.”

While a bout with Dirrell would have likely provided for a scientific boxing match, the clash against Bika should instead provide for an action-packed contest. In fact, Bika could be Ward’s sternest test to date. “Bika is, in my estimation, probably the toughest guy we have fought when it comes to just pure, unadulterated toughness,” said Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter. “We have a good plan, and we plan to see that through. I think it is going to be a very entertaining and eventful night.”

With the Super Six ongoing, it would not be surprising if the tournament front runner Ward were to look past Bika this coming Saturday, and look forward to his next opponent. But with expectations higher than ever, Ward continues to say all the right things. “I have a lot of stiff competition, first with my fight on November 27, but also as the tournament moves forward into the semi-finals and finals,” said Ward. “I just want you guys to know that I am preparing, I’m dedicating myself, and putting in all the hard work. I want to do everything I can to put on a tremendous performance and outdo the last performance. I have a tough opponent in Sakio Bika. Sakio is going to bring it, but I am going to bring it too, so we should have a good fight.”

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Goossen Tutor Promotions hosted a press conference this past Tuesday at Ricky’s Sports Theatre & Grill in San Leandro, California to officially announce the upcoming clash between Andre Ward and Sakio Bika. Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland, California will be making the second defense of his WBA Super Middleweight title November 27th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia by way of Douala, Cameroon is best known for winning The Contender tournament in 2007 and will be vying for a world title for the third time in his career.


Watch Andre Ward Press Conference

Before Showtime had even formally announced the formation of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, shortly after the tournament’s match-ups were leaked to the press, one scheduled bout that many fight fans, especially those based in the U.S., looked forward to was the Group Stage 3 pairing of former Olympic teammates Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward. Though the fight will not happen, at least not now or anytime soon, one of these Andres did suffer a damaging loss.

Rarely does a fight have a deeper, richer storyline than a match between the two Andres would have had. Casual friends, or at least acquaintances, since crossing paths at childhood boxing tournaments, Ward and Dirrell entered the Super Six as heavy underdogs and both had outperformed expectations while rooting for each other each step of the way. Ward surprisingly dominated tourney favorite Mikkel Kessler and then Allan Green in his two bouts. Dirrell lost a closely-contested, somewhat controversial decision to Carl Froch and then outboxed Arthur Abraham before getting hit late and taking a disqualification victory.

The match would not have only pitted friends, but the only two medalists from the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing team. Dirrell took the bronze at the weight class Ward likely would have competed at, had it not been for his cousin DonYil Livingston’s attempt to make the squad in the same division or for his trainer Virgil Hunter’s foresight that his charge would do well to not have to worry about weight during the long preparatory period leading to the Athens Games. Ward of course left Greece with the gold.

The stakes were raised slightly when Kessler went down due to an eye injury, and the WBC title which he had held was added to the pot for the Ward-Dirrell clash. Dirrell had been previously been named the mandatory for the WBC belt due to the nature of his decision loss to Froch. The take by many in the media already was that Dirrell’s style may pose tournament frontrunner Ward his toughest hurdles to date.

Even though he had been brutally bashed while on one knee in the DQ win over Abraham, Dirrell was still expected to meet Ward this past September. Immediately after Ward’s one-sided schooling of Allan Green, Dirrell and his former teammate posed for pictures to seemingly begin the build-up to their eminent clash.

Slowly things got unexpectedly complicated.

The originally announced September 25th date was quickly approaching and no announcement regarding the fight had been made. Grumbles reverberated that the two sides were arguing over the location, something Ward promoter Dan Goossen acknowledged at a press conference in San Leandro, California Tuesday. “The only obstacle that we had, that I thought was going have any effect on whether or not the fight was going happen, since it was destined to happen, was where were we going to do it,” said Goossen.

“I was pushing for Oakland. It would have sold out Oracle Arena. It would have been a great storyline, a great fight, a great event for Oakland. They wanted to go to Detroit. The problem we had with Detroit wasn’t because it was his hometown, but I just didn’t think they could generate what Andre could do out here.”

Other rumors had Dirrell or Ward or both holding out for more money. Eventually the new date for the fight was announced as November 27th, but still no location was in place. Not too much later, Dirrell’s pullout was made official over the telephone during a conference call that Andre himself was not on the line for. The reason given was that he was suffering from neurologically-related symptoms since after the Abraham fight.

Ward of course is continuing on in the tournament, and will first meet the formidable Sakio Bika on the November 27th date – the fight for which Tuesday’s press conference had been held. Expect more on that fight in this space in the coming days. But at the moment, as was evidenced by the line of questioning offered up by the local fight media for a good percentage of Tuesday’s presser, the circumstances of the delays and eventually Dirrell’s pullout are very much still on some of our minds. Many jumped right out and called Dirrell’s injury a fake in recent weeks. Recently the validity of those questions gained steam.

Just over a week ago, Showtime’s Fight Camp 360º program seemed to suggest that maybe the network’s opinion, or at least that of the show’s producers, is very much in line with the those members of the skeptical media. The recent episode cuts to a quote from Dirrell team member, Leon Lawson Jr. “It’s not a guarantee that we fight Ward next. It’s not a guarantee…If they want to dance, get that money right.” Audio from the aforementioned Showtime-hosted conference call announcing the fighter’s pullout plays minutes later in the episode. Moments later, footage rolls of a Showtime-conducted interview with the Dirrell family, who did themselves no favor with their responses to valid questioning. Highlights included Dirrell not having the name of the doctor who treated him and his grandfather Leon saying he wanted to end the interview until their lawyer could be present.

Tuesday, Ward wished Dirrell a speedy recovery, which suggests he believes his friend’s injury was in fact the cause for the cancellation. Ward’s promoter Dan Goossen had joked about Mikkel Kessler’s pullout for double vision, but continuing to drive his 80,000 dollar vehicle, both on air and again Tuesday. However, Goossen refuses to question the injuries of Dirrell or Kessler. “I will tell you what I feel about any fighter’s injuries: I will never ever question it,” said Goossen. “That doesn’t mean I can’t tell a little joke or something.” .”

Though he wished Dirrell well, Ward made clear he was never at fault for either the delay or cancellation. “A lot of things were said in the media about me and Andre Dirrell, and how people felt like we were behind the scenes trying to undo the fight,” said Ward Tuesday. “I just want to let my fans know that was never the case with me. I understood what I was getting myself into when I signed the multi-bout agreement. I was always prepared to fight.” When a reporter asked if Dirrell had contacted him, Ward smirked and replied, “No he did not call me. I haven’t talked to Dirrell since the press conference after my last fight. That is the last time I talked to him.”

Dirrell’s problems may very well be legitimate, and if so I too wish him a full and swift recovery. While I personally refuse to question him in this instance, in part because I cannot figure what Dirrell’s motivation or benefit would be, many others have. Dirrell has lost a fight he never fought, at least in the court of public opinion. If and when the day comes when Dirrell returns to the ring, those questions will likely remain. Whether they are boxing scribes, fans or colleagues, Dirrell will have his doubters until the day he meets Ward in a ring. Hopefully for his sake, and for those of us who admire the sweet science and are suckers for a good storyline, that day comes sooner or later.

Oh and by the way, Ward’s fight against Bika in a few weeks may not be accompanied by the most intriguing back story, but based on styles it could provide viewers with more entertainment than the Dirrell fight would have. But again, more on that later.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

NEW YORK (Oct. 15, 2010) – Super Six World Boxing Classic fans will get a chance to see WBA world champion and tournament-point leader Andre Ward headline the SHOWTIME telecast on Saturday, Nov. 27 (live at 9p.m. ET/PT), it was officially announced one week after Ward’s tournament opponent Andre Dirrell pulled out of their Group Stage 3 fight due to injury.

Ward, who has already locked up a Semifinal berth in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, will defend his WBA super middleweight world title against world ranked top-10 contender Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, by way of Douala, Cameroon, in the second-half of a SHOWTIME doubleheader.

The fight, which will take place in front of Ward’s hometown fans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., will not be part of the Super Six tournament, Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, announced. The event is being promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter for Bika.

There will, however, be Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament action on Saturday, Nov. 27, from Finland. In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME doubleheader, “King” Arthur Abraham will meet Carl “The Cobra” Froch for their pivotal Group Stage 3 bout for the vacant WBC world title. This bout will air on same day delay from the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki.

The 31-year-old Bika will be making his third world title appearance, challenging for the belt that Ward wrested from Mikkel Kessler with a brilliant performance in the opening Group Stage of the Super Six tournament. Bika is 0-1-1 in world title fights, having lost a decision to Joe Calzaghe in Oct. 2006 and being forced to settle for a controversial draw against Marcus Beyer in Germany in May 2006.

Two of Bika’s most noteworthy victories came when he crushed Peter Manfredo, Jr. (TKO 3) in Nov. 2008 and when he outpointed Sam Soliman across eight rounds in Oct. 2007.

As evidenced by the fact that he has never been knocked out, Bika is known for his granite chin and is regarded as one of the toughest fighters in the world at 168 pounds. A 2000 Olympian for Cameroon, Bika has fought some of the division’s elite champions, but has long accused the big-name super middleweights of avoiding him.

In an opportunity to get back into the world title picture, Bika lost his most recent start controversially when he was disqualified for hitting Jean Paul Mendy while he was down in the first round of an IBF world title eliminator this past July 31. On his way to what looked like a certain knockout win, Bika dropped Mendy to his knees with a left hand, then landed a right uppercut that caused Mendy to pitch forward face-first on the canvas. Referee Joe Cortez ruled that Bika had fouled Mendy and he called the fight at 1:19 of the first round.

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Promoters acted quickly after last week’s pullout of Andre Dirrell for his world title shot against WBA Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward as espn.com Dan Rafael is reporting that former world title challenger Sakio Bika will now step in for that November 27th opportunity.

“We’re working on that. Bika is definitely interested in doing the fight,” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Bika’s co-promoter, told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “It’s not done, but it’s being worked on.”

What has not been decided is whether Ward’s bout will be part of the tournament. He is the only fighter in the field to have already secured a semifinal berth heading into the Group Stage 3 bouts, the last of the round robin portion of the tournament. The tournament contract allows for fighters to fight outside of the tournament with Showtime’s approval.

“We’re working on that too,” Schaefer said.

Super Middleweight Andre Dirrell is the latest casualty of the snake bitten Super Six tournement.

It was announced on a conference call that Dirrell has withdrawn due to an undisclosed injury and will not fight Andre Ward on November 27th.

Showtime’s Ken Hershman announced that the tourney would go on with a replacement for Dirrell to be announced shortly.

Dirrell is the third of the six original contestants after Jermain Taylor and Mikkel Kessler bowed out due to injuries in the past year.

They were replaced by Allan Green and Glen Johnson.

May were skeptical that Dirrell and Ward would ever fight due to a close friendship and even had the original September 25th fight date pushed back for no appear ant reason

WBA Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward spoke to 15rounds.com at a gala event at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada on July 2nd, honoring the centennial anniversary of the Jack Johnson-James J. Jeffries World Heavyweight title fight. Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) recently defeated Allan Green in Group Stage 2 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic and is headed towards a September 25th title defense against his 2004 U.S. Olympic teammate Andre Dirrell.

Watch Andre Ward Interview with 15rounds.com

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Andre Ward continued to prove why he is the class of the super middleweight division as he completely schooled Allan Green over twelve rounds before 8,797 at the Oracle Arena in the most one-sided fight of the Super Six World Boxing Classic thus far.

Green (29-2, 20 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma claimed in the build-up to their fight that he understood jive, and that was the reason why he would do what Mikkel Kessler could not – defeat Andre Ward. That statement proved to be completely false as Green had no answers for anything Ward did inside the ring on Saturday night.

Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland began to exact his dominance in the third, as he pressed Green to the ropes and kept him there. Ward remained in Green’s face, as he found success with his uppercut with the Tulsa native’s back against the ropes. Ward, 167 ¾, continued to do excellent work as the third round continued. Green, refusing to move away from the ropes, was hit by everything in Ward’s varied attack, including a clean right hook, body shots and the uppercut.

The fourth round looked like much the third, as Ward continued to prove to be an adept inside fighter. Ward began the fifth fighting at long range seemingly to just show that he could dominate at that distance just as much as he had done at close quarters the previous stanza. A brief exchange late in the round would give great insight to Ward’s superiority over Green. A right landed for Ward, he then blocked Green’s retort and landed a clean counter to close the round. If Green, 166, could not compete effectively on the outside, he had no shot in the fight.

Green resorted to holding for much of the sixth, especially after Ward got him in trouble early in the frame. Ward opened up a bit with Green against the ropes again, landing a clean left hook to close the round. Green was clearly a beaten and dejected fighter as he sat down on his stool before the seventh.

By the seventh round, the lead right hand thrown at long range had become a lethal weapon for Ward. The Oakland native began to utilize feints to find openings for clean blows throughout the middle rounds. Green looked completely lost, with his will to make the fight apparently depleted. With Green in survival mode, Ward picked his shots as the fight progressed.

As the fight wound down, Green would get caught clean at times, often while he looked to tie up Ward. The only question that remained was whether or not Ward would rally to score the knockout, or if Green would hang on until the final bell. To Green’s credit, he did not take the easy way out, and made it to the final bell. As the fight concluded, Oakland celebrated as their fighting son soaked in the adulation. Scores revealed the fight to be a shutout, as judges Glenn Feldman, Marty Sammon and Alfredo Polanco unanimously scored the bout 120-108 for Ward.

Somewhat expectedly Green gave Ward credit for the win, but found an excuse to justify the one-sided defeat. “Ward fought a hell of a fight,” said Green in the immediate aftermath. “I came in at 166, which was a little lower than I expected, and I feel it sapped me. I felt extremely weak. I trained hard, but I don’t feel I did it effectively.”

Despite failing to win a single round against Ward tonight, Green will fight Mikkel Kessler for his WBC Super Middleweight title later this year in Group Stage 3 of the Super Six tournament. At a press conference last month, Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter had stated his belief that Green would go on to defeat Kessler in the next stage, but tonight’s fight seemed to curb those feelings.

“If he can make the adjustments, he’s got a style that can be successful for him against Kessler,” Hunter said. “But if he comes in like he did tonight, I think Kessler is going to cut right through him. Because of the type of fighter Kessler is. But Kessler will put himself at risk, so Allan Green does have a puncher’s chance.”

Ward had a conversation with Green after the fight that offers some insight on that Group Stage 3 match-up. “Before this fight, I liked Allan Green [to beat Kessler,]” said Ward. “But he revealed some things to me after the fight, about his weight, how he needs to go up to 175- and how he felt flat. I told him, ‘if you train smart and get the weight off smart I think you can beat Kessler and go get the belt.’ But he kind of seemed out of it, and he was like ‘yeah, well, I don’t know.’ So if that weight is that big of a deal, I would have to lean towards Kessler.”

“But if he can regroup and get the weight off the right way and still be strong, I think he has a bit more than Kessler,” said Ward, who could have a bright career has an analyst later on in life. “But he has got to prove it. You have got to stop the talk and you have got to be able to prove you can compete at this level. Kessler has proved it, he has not yet.”

Perhaps the most anticipated Group Stage 3 pairing will be Ward’s title defense against his former 2004 U.S. Olympic teammate and close friend Andre Dirrell. No fight to take place in the tournament thus far has a deeper back-story. If you have been following the Fight Camp 360° documentary series on Showtime, then you have seen them root for one another every step of the way. It was apparent at the post-fight press conference that Ward does have mixed feelings about the bout.

“It will be difficult to fight Andre Dirrell in the upcoming fight, but I am going to put that aside for now,” said Ward. “We have got to find a way to get it done. But I have never experienced it before, so I can’t really say how I am going to feel. We have just got to find a way to get it done.”

Many fight pundits have expressed concerns regarding the unnerving end to Dirrell’s disqualification victory over Arthur Abraham in Group Stage 2 in March. Dirrell, who was defenseless after having slipped to a knee, was hit by a devastating blow from Abraham. In the moments that immediately followed, Dirrell was incoherent and inconsolable. Ward believes that his good friend is in fine health, and that scary scene will have no bearing on their fight.

“I think he is ok,” stated Ward. “I think it looked bad, but I think a lot of people are a little too worried about it. It was a concussive kind of shot, but I don’t think it was a career-ending shot or anything like that. I think he is fine, he is still silly as ever. He is still Andre to me, so I don’t think it is a problem.”

Win or lose against Dirrell later this year, Andre Ward has clinched his place in the semi-finals of the Super Six with the four points he has earned after two fights. Having scored the tournament’s only knockout, Abraham is sitting pretty with three points, while the rest of the field will be fighting for their tournament existence in the third stage. What is most clear after tonight, Andre Ward is the man to beat.

Junior welterweight Steve Upsher Chambers (22-1-1, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania remained undefeated as he boxed his way to a unanimous eight-round decision over Hector Alatorre (16-10, 5 KOs) of Tulare, California in the last fight before the main event.

Chambers, 144, was cut in the third round by what was ruled an accidental head clash, but failed to allow that to bother him at anytime in the bout. Alatorre, 142 ½, hit the canvas in the fourth, possibly from a left hand, however referee Dan Stell ruled that it was slip. It was not clear from ringside what caused Alatorre to go down, but soon after the Tulare resident was clearly stunned. Chambers pressed Alatorre the rest of the round, but was unable to fully capitalize on the moment.

As the fourth round came to a close, it looked as though Chambers may score his seventh stoppage, but the Philly fighter let off the gas pedal and cruised to the decision the rest of the way. Alatorre failed to threaten at any point and was unable to solve the puzzle of the smooth-boxing Chambers. Judge Kermit Bayless scored the fight a shutout, 80-72, while Marshall Walker and Jon Schorle both had it 79-73.

Tough luck light heavyweight Billy Bailey (10-8, 4 KOs) of Bakersfield, California rocked unbeaten prospect Mark Tucker (14-0, 7 KOs) of Eldersburg, Maryland several times over eight rounds, but failed to win over the judges who scored the fight unanimously for his DiBella Entertainment-promoted opponent.

Bailey, 175, got off to a great start, as he rocked Tucker, 175, with a couple clubbing overhand rights to close round one. As the fight progressed, Bailey would get outworked by the jab-and-move style of Tucker for stretches, but then clearly land the harder shots. Tucker found his rhythm in round four, the one round that was clearly his. The pace slowed in the next two rounds which favored the boxer Tucker.

Bailey regained control of the fight in the seventh as he landed a solid combination that buckled Tucker’s knees late in the round. Tucker resulted to clutching the onrushing Bailey and even ducked his head out of the top rope to avoid shots in several instances. The eighth looked much like the final minute of the seventh, as Bailey chased down a wobbly Tucker looking to land the one punch he needed to score a knockdown. Unfortunately for Bailey, Tucker managed to grapple and move enough to avoid a potentially fight-ending blow.

Judges Marshall Walker and Jon Schorle both scored the bout 77-75, while Judge Kermit Bayless had the fight a puzzling 78-74 for Tucker. The official scores read by the ring announcer were vehemently booed by the crowd on hand. With the victory, Tucker claimed the inaugural WBO NABO Youth Light Heavyweight title.

Fight fans that made their way to the arena promptly at the five o’clock start time were treated to an entertaining four-round slugfest as Alexander Podrezov (2-0) of Los Angeles, California by way of Sukhumi, Abkhazi scored a four-round majority decision over game journeyman John Dunham (1-6-1) of Stockton, California. Outside of a dominant third round, Podrezov, 144, was pushed in every frame by the free-swinging Dunham, 142. In the end Judge Marshall Walker had the fight even, 38-38, but was overruled by the scores of Jon Schorle and Kermit Bayless, who had the fight 39-37 for Podrezov.

In the first of two walkout bouts, former amateur star Michael Ruiz Jr. (3-0, 1 KO) of Fresno, California survived the first scare of his professional career, coming off of the canvas to score a four-round unanimous decision over Juan Tepoz (4-3-1) of Santa Rosa, California. Pacheco, 118, came right at Ruiz, 117 ½, eventually landing a right hand to down him in the first round. Ruiz, likely a bit shaken by the blow, got up quick and made it to the bell. As the fight went on, Ruiz began to flash his superior boxing skills, landing his cleanest shots after countering the aggressive Tepoz. After a fourth round that clearly favored the Fresno native, all three judges, Kermit Bayless, Jon Schorle and Marshall Walker, had the fight for Ruiz by the score of 38-37.

In the final fight of the evening, welterweight prospect Willie Nelson (14-0-1, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio scored a first-round stoppage over faded former title challenger Jesse Feliciano (15-10-3, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada. Nelson, 148, came right at Feliciano, 149, who was all too willing to engage. Nelson, who is Paul Williams-like in size, quickly landed a left jab, straight right combination to down Feliciano. The always game Feliciano got up to his feet, but was not on sturdy legs. Nelson moved in and landed a flashy combination that prompted referee Dan Stell to stop the fight at the mark of 1:23 of the first. Nelson was a replacement for former 140-pound titlist Kendall Holt, who decided he needed more time before launching his comeback at welterweight. For Feliciano, a loser of five straight bouts against high caliber competition, it appears time to call it career.

Photo by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — The build-up for the final Group Stage 2 bout of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, extended by two months due to injury, has finally reached its crescendo and all that is left is the fight itself. Andre Ward, the top super middleweight regardless of where some boxing publications rank him, defends his WBA Super Middleweight title for the first time against longtime contender Allan Green tonight at the Oracle Arena. The two counterparts got one last look at each other after weighing in Friday afternoon at the Hilton Oakland Airport.

Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland will enter the ring tonight in his new role as the betting favorite to win the entire Super Six tournament. Ward found himself in that role by knocking off the number one 168-pounder in the world, and the original favorite, Mikkel Kessler in his last fight. Tonight’s fight also marks the first time in many years that a native San Francisco Bay Area fighter will be defending his world title in the Bay Area, once a thriving boxing hotbed.

Opposing Ward is the formidable tournament newcomer, Green (29-1, 20 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who replaced Jermain Taylor after his scary knockout loss to Arthur Abraham last year. Green has been on the cusp of title contention for several years, but never before fought for a world title. Despite the lack of a big fight victory on his ledger, Green was disgusted that he was left off the original Super Six roster and hopes to show the odds-makers why he deserved the sixth spot from the beginning.

Somewhat ironically this is a fight that could have happened two or three years ago. Ward’s promoter Dan Goossen had attempted to put his promising young star in with Green then, but for whatever reason the talks ultimately broke down. Following a Ward victory in San Jose, California, Goossen even told the media on hand that he would not revisit the Green fight because of how poorly the negotiations went. In the two years that followed, advertently or inadvertently, Ward found another way of proving his superiority over Green: by beating old Green opponents more convincingly than Green had, and by beating Green’s lone conqueror, Edison Miranda.

Earlier in the week, those two other opponents, Rubin Williams and Jerson Ravelo, went on record by picking Ward to win tonight. In any event, a fight that would have been a pick ‘em contest two years ago, is not such today, but a compelling fight nonetheless. It is also a fight that could determine much of how the rest of the Super Six tournament plays out. There are too many possible what if scenarios to play out here, but the who wins and how is crucial to every participant in the tournament. On top of everything, it matches two contrasting styles in and out of the ring which should translate to compelling entertainment for those looking on at the Oracle Arena and for those watching on Showtime. Before their final nose-to-nose meeting, Ward scaled 167 ¾-pounds, while Green came in at 166.

Heading up the off-television undercard, unbeaten Steve Upsher Chambers (21-1-1, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will take on venerable journeyman Hector Alatorre (16-9, 5 KOs) of Tulare, California in an eight-round welterweight fight. Chambers, who will fighting outside of his home state for the first time in his career, has fought all but one of his pro bouts at the Legendary Blue Horizon. Alatorre, who had an accomplished amateur career, is coming off of a tenth-round stoppage defeat to Victor Ortiz in February. Chambers scaled 144, while Alatorre weighed in at 142 ½-pounds.

Former amateur standout Michael Ruiz Jr. (2-0, 1 KO) of Fresno, California will see action against the pugnacious Juan Tepoz (4-2-1) of Santa Rosa, California in a four-round bantamweight fight. Ruiz, who scaled 117 ½, fought just last month and scored a devastating second-round knockout of Jose Pacheco on the Paul Williams-Kermit Cintron undercard in Carson, California. Tepoz, who weighed in at 118-pounds Friday, last fought in April, scoring a four-round decision over the same Jose Pacheco.

Making his debut under the DiBella Entertainment banner, Mark Tucker (13-0, 7 KOs) of Eldersburg, Maryland will take on the always tough Billy Bailey (10-7, 4 KOs) of Bakersfield, California for the vacant WBO NABO Youth Light Heavyweight title in an eight-rounder. Tucker has fought almost exclusively in his home state of Maryland, but has chalked up wins over a few faded, but notable names, including the aforementioned Rubin Williams. The streaky Bailey, coming in off of a controversial majority decision loss to former title challenger Danny Santiago in Florida, has fought a slew of prospects and been known to spring the occasional upset. Tucker originally scaled 175 ½-pounds, but was attempting to work off the extra one-half pound at press time. Bailey, a youthful 32-years-old, scaled 175-pounds even.

Welterweight prospect Willie Nelson (13-0-1, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio will take on former title challenger Jesse Feliciano (15-9-3, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada in an eight-round swing bout. Nelson, in the Paul Williams mold of a welterweight by standing 6’3” with a unique reach advantage over every opponent he meets, took the fight after Kendall Holt passed in order to give himself more time to prepare as he readies to launch a comeback. The well-traveled Feliciano is hoping to end a four-fight skid which has come against top notch competition. Nelson weighed in at 148-pounds, while Feliciano scaled 149.

Opening up the fight card, Alexander Podrezov (1-0) of Los Angeles, California by way of Sukhumi, Abkhazia will take on John Dunham (1-5-1) of Stockton, California in a four-round welterweight fight. Podrezov, who scaled 144-pounds, turned professional in March, posting a four-round decision over J.C. Saade. Dunham, who came in at 142-pounds, broke through to the win column for the first time in his career two weeks ago, as he bested debuting Herman Bacho after four-rounds in San Rafael, California.

Former WBC Lightweight Champion Jessica Rakoczy (31-3, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas had hoped to end a layoff of nearly a year tonight as she begins a campaign at featherweight, however her scheduled opponent inexplicably came in grossly overweight, prompting the California State Athletic Commission to cancel the bout. Ella Nunez (9-6-1, 2 KOs) of Jamestown, New York took the scales only to come in at 137 ½-pounds, some 11 ½ pounds over the contracted weight. Nunez, who has some solid wins on her resume, including a knockout of current titlist Kina Malpartida, may have thought close would be good enough. Nunez outweighed her last opponent, Melissa Hernandez, by eight pounds in February. A dejected Rakoczy weighed in at 124 ½-pounds, but will have to wait longer than she expected to return to the ring.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Antonio Leonard T&T Productions and DiBella Entertainment, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBA Super Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Ward 167 ¾
Green 166

Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Upsher Chambers 144
Alatorre 142 ½

Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Ruiz Jr. 117 ½
Tepoz 118

WBO NABO Youth Light Heavyweight Championship, 8 Rounds
Tucker 175 ½*
Bailey 175

Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Podrezov 144
Dunham 142

Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Nelson 148
Feliciano 149

Featherweights, 6 Rounds
Rakoczy 124 ½
Nunez 137 ½
-Fight called off due to weight disparity

*Tucker attempting to lose ½ pound at press time.

Ward-Green Photo by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Thus far, the Super Six World Boxing Classic has lived up to both its hype and intentions. Every match-up has produced a solid, if not exciting, fight. Outside of a draw, just about every possible outcome of a professional bout has occurred once. Some controversy, some thrills and some upsets. Other than Arthur Abraham, who scored the only knockout in the tournament to this point, every fighter involved is still at risk of being eliminated after Group Stage 3. The idealistic concept has turned into a reality. However, surely the main purpose when this whole thing began was to create one, if not more than one, boxing megastar. If that goal does come to fruition, the Super Six could truly be deemed a success. After only five fights, if you were to pick one fighter that could turn that objective into reality, that one fighter would be Andre Ward, the pride of Oakland, California, who takes on Allan Green tonight on Showtime.

This writer came to choose Ward as the potential “breakout star” of the tournament for many reasons, some obvious and some not. Let us start with the obvious. Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) is the sole remaining undefeated fighter left in the Super Six. While often times too much weight is placed on that “O,” it does seem to mean a lot to the casual fan and the casual fan is the one a breakthrough star needs to attract. The diehard fans can decipher an undefeated record that is built up and one that has been earned. Ward has earned his undefeated record, most especially by supplanting Mikkel Kessler as the WBA Super Middleweight Champion and the top gun at 168-pounds last November.

Ward’s rise to the super middleweight throne was the realization of promise, and the disproving of doubt and it is that road which enriches his back-story. As one would expect for any Olympic Gold Medalist, the highest of hopes were held for Ward when he turned professional in 2004. However, shortly after he entered the paid ranks with an HBO-televised win, whispers started circling Ward. After getting buzzed by Kenny Kost in his second pro bout, and hitting the canvas in his seventh against Darnell Boone, the pundits began questioning his chin. When injuries to his hands or his knees stalled his career, some wondered if he would ever be physically able to reach the upper levels of the sport.

Much like the skinny-legged, junior lightweight version of Oscar De La Hoya who hit the canvas in the early stages of his career only to prove to have a sturdy chin, Ward seemingly did the same when he moved up from middleweight to 168-pounds in 2007. And while injuries can creep up at anytime, the fact that Ward healed quickly enough from a recent setback with one of his knees to make this weekend’s fight against Allan Green is a good sign for his future. Nothing can endear a fighter more to his fans than the ability to overcome, and Ward has proven he can do that.

Ward has an opportunity to take another leap towards superstardom when he defends his WBA title against Allan Green before his rapidly growing fan base at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Just as styles make fights, differing personalities can add an intriguing side story to a prizefight. Ward has been a breath of fresh air for a sport that too often showcases fighters as they turn up their braggadocio to the nth degree. A modest, deeply spiritual family man that likes to let his fists do his talking, Ward shies away from boasting about his accomplishments at nearly any cost. Allan Green in many ways is the anti-Ward, a cocky trash-talker if there ever was one. This contrast, which has been played up to some degree by the Fight Camp 360° documentary series on Showtime, adds a second layer to an already intriguing fight. Should Ward win, it could be perceived by some, unfairly perhaps, as a victory of good over evil.

The general sporting public is always a sucker for a good human interest story and over the years boxing has provided many. When a fighter allows light to be shed on an emotional personal story it can go a long way in connecting them with fight fans. In recent weeks, some in the media have pointed out that Ward will defending his title, for the first time, on Father’s Day weekend. Frank Ward, Andre’s father, a former amateur fighter himself, introduced his son to boxing before passing away suddenly in 2002.

Andre never saw his father fight, since home video cameras had not yet made their way into widespread use, but that did not stop Frank from inspiring his son to pick up the sport he loved. “Listening to my dad, he was the ultimate competitor, like I feel I am,” Ward told Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Greg Papa earlier this week. “And he did not like to lose. That being said, all I had to hear was some of my dad’s old war stories, and that was enough to introduce me and get me to want to start boxing. Just hearing his stories alone, and how passionate he was about preparing for fights and fighting in general, that was enough to make me want to become a boxer.”

Fighting on Father’s Day weekend does add additional motivation for Ward. “Father’s Day was [my dad’s] favorite holiday,” revealed Ward. “He never wanted me and my brother to buy him a card. He always wanted us to make him a card. Father’s Day was his day, so I am going to dedicate this fight to Nick Charles, the Showtime analyst battling cancer, but also to my father because Father’s Day was his day. Those are the type of things you use as a champion, and as a challenger, to drive you and push you to victory and I am going to use that Saturday night.”

Sports athletes are often propped up as heroes or role models, and more often than not they should not be. While no one should be held to the standard of being a role model for simply making their living in sport, Ward’s character allows you to feel comfortable tagging him in that way. It is for that reason more so than any other, that Ward has a chance to be the brightest star that emerges from the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he can fight too.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

It was 2004 in Athens. The city’s ancient temples and columns seemed to be a symbol of what had happened to American boxing at the Olympics. It was in ruins. But there was Andre Ward, who a few hours before closing ceremonies won a gold medal. He’d didn’t figure to win then. But he did in a dramatic surprise that also was a parting shot at anti-American sentiment that filled the Greek arena for a couple of weeks.

Not much has changed.

Six years later, U.S. Olympic boxing is still in ruins and Ward is still finding motivation in critics, doubters and trash-talkers who unwittingly become his greatest allies. There’s something else: Ward is still winning with a quiet poise that is as effective as a feint. Everybody who sees the poise and looks for weakness have instead run headlong into a stubborn streak of quicksilver skill that has kept Ward unbeaten. The last man standing in Athens is favored to be the last one standing in the Super Six Classic.

First, Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) has to win a second-round bout in the first defense of his World Boxing Association’s title Saturday night in hometown Oakland, Calif., against tough Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs), who collects knockouts when he isn’t collecting comic books. Green, a sub for the whatever-happened-to Jermain Taylor, is dangerous. His record says that. He does too.

Green’s talk is a mystery, if not a mistake. He has called Ward “a hummingbird,’’ which apparently means he intends to knock him out with simple swat. Why arm Ward with further motivation? Hasn’t he already used it effectively throughout a career that — after all — hasn’t been a secret since he planted the American flag onto the medal stand’s top pedestal? The guess here is that Green is just talking himself into defeat.

“Bother me?’’ Ward said of comments from the Green corner during Showtime’s in-depth look at each super-middleweight in Fight Camp 360. “No. Use them? Absolutely. I don’t read a lot of press before the fight, but I get people coming up to me all the time saying, ‘Did you hear this or did you hear that?’ It’s been like that since the amateurs. For some reason I look like a lamb before the fight. I’ve heard his comments on Fight Camp 360 and you better believe I use that. It bothers me in a good way because I constantly have something to prove and that’s what not a lot of people realize.

“I think a lot of people think I’m coming in here really well rested and really enjoying the fact that I’ve got a championship. But it’s been all work. For me, I try to say as little as possible before a fight. I’m not going to stand there and get pushed down or get bullied. But at the end of the day, I just shut my mouth, work hard and take care of business.’’

Green, himself an accomplished amateur minus the Olympic gold, is considered as big a threat as any faced by Ward, America’s only gold medalist since David Reid in 1996. He is, may be because of a lethal left hook that could put an abrupt end to Ward’s unbeaten status, especially if Ward continues to let his lead hand drift down, out and away from a vigilant defense. Also, Green’s toughness was displayed in surgery to have most of his colon removed a couple of days after a victory over Darrell Woods three years ago. His colon was leaking toxins into his body. It is believed he was suffering from the condition four months earlier in his lone loss to Edison Miranda, whom Ward beat.

But Mikkel Kessler of Denmark also was thought be dangerous enough to shatter promoter Dan Goossen’s plans to turn Ward into a pay-per-view star. Ward beat Kessler thoroughly in Oakland, despite complaints from Kessler’s corner about intentional head butts and home-cooking.

Form the Kessler victory, there was a significant sign that Ward is improving all the time. There have always been questions about his durability. The powerful Kessler landed a few big shots, but Ward never buckled. A bigger question perhaps is the condition of Ward’s right knee. He underwent surgery for an injury that forced a postponement of the Green fight, originally scheduled for April. The injury’s severity has been questioned by the Green camp.

Green also has had his date of knee problems, which in the wake of gimpy Yuri Foreman’s loss to Miguel Cotto is more in focus now than perhaps it has ever been. But Green doesn’t rely on lateral movement the way Ward does.

“My right knee is fine.’’ Ward said. “We’ve had no issues with the knee throughout our entire training camp. Coming off of surgery there are certain things you need to do in rehabilitation just to keep the muscles and the hamstring and all the different muscles that wrap around the knee; just keeping them strong. The knee has really been a non-issue.’’

It will have to be, because Green promises to move forward, always forward, in pursuit of delivering an upset with his left hand. If the knee is strong and stays strong, Ward should be able to move his quick feet and quicker hands at rates that figure to leave Green confused in the later rounds and speechless in the end. In the ring, there are a lot of ways to look at Ward, who forces opponents to make adjustments that can make them change plans and commit errors.

In his second straight fight before hometown fans, Green’s representatives are upset at the appointment of referee Raul Caiz, who is from California. Through an associate, Green promoter Lou DiBella said a couple of days ago that he and Goossen had agreed on a referee from Nevada. Goossen denied there was any agreement. Goossen said he tried to contact DiBella in an attempt to get an agreement. DiBella was unable to participate in a recent conference call and did not attend a news conference Wednesday because of a family illness.

The judges will be from California, Mexican and Connecticut, Goossen said.

Ward? Yeah, he’s from Oakland. But he’s at home any where there are critics. In boxing, that’s everywhere.

“Now is my time. I have to show and prove.” – Allan Green, June 8, 2010

“The non-resistible, non-competible – no, no, I’m not sayin’ I’m the best! . . . I’m just sayin’ I’m f–kin’ incredible.” – Big Daddy Kane, “Show & Prove,” 1994

There’s something witty and even charming about Allan “Sweetness” Green. Whether it’s his Sooner upbringing, his zigzagging career path or his willingness to say unpopular things, Green is the sort of self-scripted character American athletics needs more of. He’s also an American athlete who has come, somewhat suddenly, to a dream opportunity.

We’ll see what he does with it.

Saturday, in the third and final fight of Group Stage Two of Showtime’s “Super Six” tournament, Oklahoma’s Allan Green will battle California’s Andre “S.O.G.” Ward in Oakland. Oracle Arena, a 20-minute drive from Ward’s home, will play host to a match for both the WBA super middleweight belt and an almost certain advancement to the semifinal round for Ward.

For Green, things will be more complicated. Green is, after all, a replacement. After a violent knockout loss to Arthur Abraham, Jermain Taylor withdrew. Green inherited Taylor’s spot in the tourney and Taylor’s accumulated points – zero.

“No offense against Jermain,” Green said last Tuesday about an April 2009 Showtime telecast. “But we fought on the same show, and I won my fight, and he lost his fight. I got pushed back to ‘ShoBox,’ and he got put into the tournament.”

But Green’s here now, and he bears something of a grudge. So does Andre Ward – whose nickname is an abbreviated “Son of God.” Neither man feels properly respected in his profession.

Ward is America’s last Olympic Gold Medalist boxer, a title he’s held for six years and might well hold for six more. He has been handled judiciously, building a strong hometown following in Oakland without challenging for a world title until his last match. He is a humble and likable man. Accusations of coddled treatment, though, have followed him, with many observers mistakenly using “coddled” as a synonym for “soft.” It isn’t. And it sure wasn’t on Nov. 21.

That day, Ward manhandled Mikkel Kessler, whom most considered the tournament favorite. Ward took the “Viking Warrior,” roughed him up, and reduced him to blaming dirty tactics and bad refereeing for his second career loss. It was a more conclusive performance than anyone expected.

But then a recurrent knee injury led Ward to postpone his match with Green, and Green was unhesitant in speculating about the seriousness of Ward’s next opponent, if not his injury. Green said, had that opponent still been Jermain Taylor, there would be no delay. Ward took the comments personally – as they were intended. Asked Tuesday if the comments bothered him, Ward responded with typical seriousness and grace.

“Bother me? No,” Ward said. “Use them? Yes.”

There’s no telling how much Green intended to rile Ward. Frankly, there’s no telling lots of things about Green. If you’re just now tuning in to the Allan Green show, you’ll quickly learn: Green is a little off his rocker.

But he has a sense of timing and self-deprecation, and a powerful punch, so you want to watch. Things like that fantastic stare-down picture with Carlos De Leon Jr. last April, one in which Green looked like a lunatic frightened by De Leon’s fist, the day before he went through De Leon in about five minutes. And then there was that memorable speech Green gave on Nov. 4, 2005.

That day Green fought on “ShoBox” against New York City’s Jaidon Codrington, one half of a posse calling itself the “Chin Checkers.” Codrington, in keeping with his blossoming professional identity, gave Green little respect in pre-fight comments. Green caught him with a left hook in the opening 10 seconds and then beat him to stiffened unconsciousness in the eight that followed. Mayhem ensued, as doctors and officials tried to get through Codrington’s people to the unconscious fighter.

And while this happened a few feet away, Green did his post-fight interview. Having just scored Ring magazine’s 2005 Knockout of the Year, Green – in lieu of showing concern for Codrington – began a radio-style advertisement for a local car dealership.

It was a bizarre gesture that made Green look oblivious. But he wasn’t oblivious. More like ironical. Green’s post-fight interview, in retrospect, was the work of a person who stood beside himself and noted life’s absurdity.

Still, it wasn’t until Green used “show and prove” last week that any sort of a line could be drawn to another unlikely American ironist: Big Daddy Kane, a Brooklyn rapper, who despite recording hits in the late 1980s and launching a number of other stars’ careers, never quite achieved the acclaim he deserved. He was another man with a touch of self-deprecation, and a mock-epic style.

“I won’t say I’m the baddest or portray that role,” Kane wrote in 1990. “But I’m up to Top 2, and my father’s gettin’ old!”

You can almost hear Green saying something like that.

Something Green actually did say in the last episode of Showtime’s “Fight Camp 360,” last week caused the conference-call equivalent of what Kane derisively labeled “half-steppin’.” It was Green’s use of the word “jive” to describe Ward’s style. A few people wanted to know what Green meant, but no one wanted to talk about race.

Let’s deal in good faith, folks. Allan Green was saying that, as a black-American prizefighter, he will not be confounded by Andre Ward’s black-American-prizefighting style, the way that Green believes Kessler was. Green was saying that, where Ward’s reflexes, athleticism and slipperiness disarmed Kessler, they will have no effect on him because he comes from the same tradition as Ward. Green considers himself a native “jive” speaker. Big Daddy Kane would approve.

So now, Mr. Green, it’s time to show and prove.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

Ward, Green Talk up Title Fight

On June 19th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, Andre Ward will defend his WBA Super Middleweight title for the first time against longtime contender Allan Green as part of Group Stage 2 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Ward and Green, a replacement in the Showtime-televised tournament for the departed Jermain Taylor, discussed their upcoming fight at a press conference held in Oakland on May 10th.

Green (29-1, 20 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma decided against making the cross country trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he is training to Oakland for the presser, but appeared on screen via a live stream. The normally self-aggrandizing Green was a bit more subdued than was expected, but he still exuded confidence in regards to the June bout. “Andre Ward is a good young fighter. Very skilled, very talented and I do respect his skills. But against a fighter like myself, he is going to have to bring a lot more to the table than he did against Mikkel Kessler,” said Green referring to Ward’s title-winning effort. “I did admire what he did to Kessler; no disrespect there, but at the same time, come June 19th I will be WBA Super Middleweight Champion.”

Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland refused to talk down Green in anyway, and if anything built up the Tulsa native. “In my opinion, Allan Green is a beast,” said Ward. “That’s what I am preparing for. That’s what I am eating, sleeping and drinking. I’m getting ready to fight a monster, that’s how I am looking at it.”

Fighting in Oakland for the third time in a row, which accounts for all of the fights he has had in his hometown, Ward sounded eager to get back in front of his supportive fan base. “We have a date, June 19th. When you have a date and you got a dancing partner, there not much else that needs to be said. We have that, and I look forward to putting on another tremendous performance for the fans and, believe it or not, I am going for three points in this fight,” said Ward in reference to the points a knockout victory would earn him in the tournament.

Ward’s reserved, but well stated trainer Virgil Hunter was a bit more tongue-in-cheek in his assessment of the June 19th fight. “We understand what we have to do,” claimed Hunter. “It didn’t take much to go back to the drawing board because, basically, you are getting ready to fight a guy that specializes in knocking out people that have been knocked out before several times. So you have to ask yourself that when you are making your preparation. How do you prepare for a guy that specializes in knocking out people who have been knocked out? So it gets pretty simple after that.”

Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Antonio Leonard Productions and DiBella Entertainment, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Schlienz Out; Nave Lines up New Opponent for Friday

Paul Nave, three fights into his return to boxing, was tabbed to rematch journeyman Daniel Schlienz this Friday, June 4th at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael, California. Nave defeated Schlienz by decision back in November, and had hoped to improve upon that outing by taking the rematch in more decisive fashion. However, Schlienz was ruled out after suffering a stoppage defeat last month, which left Nave and his matchmakers looking for a new opponent to fill the slot.

Two weeks and three days before the fight, Nave received a phone call from Assistant Chief Athletic Inspector Che Guevara informing him that his opponent would not be approved by the California State Athletic Commission. Nave was especially frustrated with the ruling coming so close to fight date, and because he disagreed with the commission’s decision.

“Their job is whether, in their eyes, the fight is safe or not,” said Nave (18-8-2, 7 KOs) of San Anselmo, California. “Is it a mismatch or a blow out, or is it safe. I already fought the guy. There was no knockdowns and it went all six rounds. He is not suspended and I had a competitive fight with him, it was no blow out.”

At the time of our interview, local journeyman Dario Castillo (5-10-1) of Pittsburg, California was tabbed to replace Schlienz in the main event. Should Castillo be the guy, Nave will have some adjustments to make. “He is left handed I hear now, and I have probably not fought a left hander in twenty years and now I will be fighting a left handed kid,” said Nave about the southpaw Castillo. “My preparation is going pretty good, but it is just frustrating that I am not sure who I am fighting now.”

Nave is not only preparing for a fight, in which his company Liberty Boxing Enterprises is the promoter, but he is the co-producer and subject of the reality television series Paul Nave: Goin’ The Distance which airs on Sunday nights on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. The series has followed his family life and documented all the preparation it takes to promote and get ready for a fight. For many, this would be an impossible workload and balancing act. “It is a lot of work, and it is not easy,” admits Nave.

In the co-feature Friday night, Jaime Rodriguez (5-6-3, 2 KOs) of Reno, Nevada will fight Jose Alfredo Lugo (9-13-1, 5 KOs) of Richmond, California by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in a six-round lightweight rematch. They originally met in a highly entertaining bout on the November undercard, with Rodriguez taking a contested six-round unanimous decision.

All-action super bantamweight Jonathan Alcantara (4-1-1) of Novato, California will take on Danny Pantoja (0-3-2) of Fairfield, California in a four-round bout. Alcantara is coming in off of an upset unanimous decision over former amateur standout David Clark on April 1st. Pantoja, who has been matched quite tough in his career, comes in off a decision loss to former National Golden Gloves Champion Efrain Esquivas on April 23rd.

Ending an eight-year layoff, Ulyses Caballero (4-0-1, 3 KOs) of San Pablo, California will take on former amateur standout Jason Montgomery (1-0-1) of San Leandro, California in a four-round light middleweight fight.

Also slated for the card is debuting Herman Bacho of Santa Rosa, California who will take on John Dunham (0-5-1) of Stockton, California in a four-round welterweight fight.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Liberty Boxing Enterprises, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Julaton Takes on Villalobos June 30th

Looking to rebound from a decision loss to Lisa Brown in March, Ana Julaton will return to the site of that recent defeat, the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada to take on Maria Elena Villalobos on June 30th. Their fight, for the vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title, will be shown live nationwide in Canada on TSN.

Julaton (6-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California is not only returning to the Casino Rama, but the June bout will mark the return of Freddie Roach to her corner. Julaton had been trained by either Nonito Donaire Sr. or Rick Noble before her past three fights. At a recent press conference Julaton sounded excited to return to Rama and rejoin Roach. “I am hoping to provide amazing boxing,” said Julaton. “I feel that is what the fans want. On June 30th that is what I provide, especially with Freddie back in the corner. He is the first guy I started out with for my first six professional fights. Just to be reunited with him. The chemistry is not only there, it is a lot stronger.”

Villalobos (6-3, 3 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico is coming off of a failed attempt at the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Marcela Acuna in Argentina in April. In that fight Villalobos went the full ten round distance, but lost a unanimous decision to perhaps the top fighter in the division.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Orion Sports Management, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Two Strong Showings at 2010 National Golden Gloves

Northern California was represented by two boxers at the 2010 National Golden Gloves in Little Rock, Arkansas last month. Eros Correa, a 108-pounder out of San Jose, California, and Eric Altamirano, a 132-pounder out of Concord, California, both advanced to the quarterfinals at the national tournament.

Correa, who fights out of the San Jose PAL Sports Center, notched a decision victory over David Carlton of Cincinnati, Ohio in the preliminary round. In the quarterfinals, Correa was defeated by Santos Vasquez of Sun Valley, Nevada by decision.

Altamirano, who trains at the Community Youth Center in Concord, scored two victories en route to the quarterfinals. In his first bout, Altamirano scored a decision win over Ryan Martin of Knoxville, Tennessee. The following day Altamirano scored a first round stoppage of Christopher Singleton of Gonzales, Louisiana. In the quarterfinals, Altamirano lost a decision to Duran Caferro of Helena, Montana.

Photo by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Bonus footage of Allan Green as he prepares for his June 19th showdown with with WBA Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward as part of the World Boxing Classic

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Allan Green will replace Jermain Taylor in Showtime’s Super Six Middleweight boxing classing and will face Andre Ward on April 17th.

Green was rumored for a February 5th bout with Sakio Bika as a “Box Off” to enter the tournament but plans were scrapped.

“It’s a great opportunity for him to be in the Super Six,” Said Green’s promoter Lou DiBella. “He was ready and willing and able to do the fight with Bika. It didn’t happen, and I think there are actually a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief — Showtime and Ward’s people — because the turnaround from Feb. 5 to April 17 was very quick considering the nature of how Allan and Bika fight. The chances of them coming out of the fight without a scratch was unlikely, which would have messed up the April schedule.”

“It wasn’t like it was planned for Allan to take over for Jermain,” DiBella said. “Had we not had the tournament available for us, we were in consideration to fight [titleholder] Lucian Bute [in April]. Allan would have had other opportunities. That said, I think Allan is the right guy for the spot.

“An American had dropped out and Allan was the best American 168-pounder that wasn’t already in the tournament.”

“He has the Mighty Thor tattooed on his arm because he’s a big puncher and carries the hammer of Thor,” DiBella said. “He’s a big puncher and that’s his great equalizer. Ward is a tremendously talented boxer but if you get hit flush by Green, you’re going to have problems, and I think that will be a real issue for Andre. That will make it an interesting fight.”

“He has a disadvantage, but he has that great ability to get the three points in any fight as well as anyone in the tournament outside of Abraham,” DiBella said. “He was prepared to fight his way into the tournament by fighting Bika and the cancellation of that fight gave him the opportunity to walk in. Now it’s up to him to take advantage of that opportunity.”