Showtime’s beleaguered Super Six Boxing Classic will streamline its two semi-final bouts with a joint card on November 27.
Both bouts, Andre Ward-Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch-Arthur Abraham, had been in limbo before today’s announcement. The former was supposed to happen this Saturday (September 25), but failed to materialize over a purse split dispute. The latter was scheduled for October 2, but fell apart due to Carl Froch suffering a back injury.
The fights will now be combined as a TV doubleheader split between different locations. Froch-Abraham has been finalized to take place in Helsinki, Finland at the Hartwall Arena. Ward-Dirrell does not have a venue, but Oakland, California is completely ruled out. The city is Ward’s hometown and was the location of both of the champion’s previous Super Six fights against Mikkel Kessler and Allan Green. With the WBC title now vacant due to Mikkel Kessler withdrawing with an eye injury, the belt will also be on the line with Andre Ward’s WBA championship.
Because of signed contract specifications, Showtime cannot scrap the round robin format in favor of elimination-style. This means that Allan Green, who was a substitute for Jermain Taylor, is entitled to another fight. With his scheduled opponent Mikkel Kessler now out, Green’s camp is currently in talks to possibly land a fight on the undercard of November 7’s WBO featherweight championship card between Juan Manuel Lopez and Rafael Marquez.
“I don’t have an opponent yet but obviously Allan has remained in camp and is ready to fight,” Green promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN. “We have to find a suitable opponent.”
Even with the withdrawals of two fighters and various injuries, Showtime tournament founder Ken Hershman believes the Super Six has still been a success.
“We have asked these fighters to challenge themselves against the best fighters in the world. Not in one mega-fight, but in a consecutive series of career defining fights,” Hershman explained in a statement. “Injuries and delays are inevitable. However, each one of them has accepted the challenge and brought a level of intensity to the ring that, in my estimation, is unmatched in all of sports.”
The main concern for many is the duration of the tournament. Originally, the Super Six was planned to be wrapped up by early 2011 with a recognized super-middleweight champion. When asked if this is now in jeporady, Herhsman remains confident the event will remain on schedule.
“We are still on pace to complete the tournament in 2011, at which time we will have delivered to boxing fans around the world a number of the most compelling and meaningful matches in the sport,” he assured. “So, the drama continues with all the fighters still alive heading to Group Stage 3.”
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I would’ve preferred elimination style of simplicity’s sake, but I’ll take it! Showtime will be must see TV for every boxing fan on November 27.
What I like most about the card is the contrast. In Ward-Dirrell fans will get a tactical, likely closely contested chess match. With Froch-Abraham, it’ll be nothing less than an all-out war of attrition.
I have no predictions yet. Right now, my prayer is that no one gets injured in the next two months. It’s high time some good luck comes the Super Six’s way.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 