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This Saturday, March 27, live on Showtime at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast, “King” Arthur Abraham and Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell begin what will be an excellent series of Group Stage 2 bouts in the Super Six World Boxing Classic on Showtime.
The undefeated Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs), of Armenia, and the once-beaten Dirrell (18-1, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich., will clash at the Joe Louis Arena. Abraham will enter the scheduled 12-rounder atop the tournament standings with three points. Dirrell needs a victory to get on the board.
The fight will be available to a record 54.4 million households as part of the Showtime All Access Free Preview Weekend on Showtime, Showtime HD and Showtime On Demand. From Thursday, March 25 through Sunday, March 28, viewers across the country will have the opportunity to sample the premium network’s award-winning programming via linear service, On Demand and in HD, including two live events from Showtime Sports.
Saturday’s event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Sauerland Event.
What the fighters had to say Thursday at the final press conference at Detroit’s MGM Grand:
Andre Dirrell: “I’m definitely ready to shock the world. I feel really good about this fight. I’ve had a solid camp, worked really hard for this and couldn’t be in better shape. I’m cool, calm and relaxed and ready to fight my fight. There is no reason to tense up. I’m not fighting a machine. Abraham is a strong guy but I’ve fought lots of guys like him.
“I am going to box but I am also going to make him fight me. He is going to see the best of both worlds. He is going to get the full package and get me at my best. I don’t feel like he is going to be able to adapt to what I offer and throw at him. I’m bigger than him, and faster, and am definitely a better boxer.
“I feel like I have a false record. I didn’t come out of my first tournament fight with (Carl) Froch feeling like a loser. He got the split decision but I definitely felt I did enough to win the first tournament fight although I didn’t quite do enough in the eyes of the judges. I thought I definitely won the first five or six rounds and demolished Froch the last three.
“I thought, at the worst, I won eight rounds to four. But you can’t dwell on the past. That’s the great thing about this tournament. Win or lose and you know you always have a very important fight right ahead of you. My focus is totally on beating Abraham in front of my hometown fans on Showtime.”
Arthur Abraham: “I am here to fight, not talk, but I have respect for all human beings and all boxers. Every fighter fights for pride, family and his country.
“I’m accustomed to fighting in big arenas – there were over 15,000 fans at my last fight – and I don’t mind fighting in his back yard. The crowd may be against me in the beginning but they will all be on my side after four rounds. Everybody has a favorite in this tournament, but, really, nobody is the favorite. The winner at the end of the three rounds is all who counts.
“Dirrell is a good fighter and I respect him as a fighter, but it’s all about fighting smart. You fight smart, you win. You don’t fight smart; you make it tougher on yourself.
“I really don’t really care who the judges are. My task is to fight and win. I leave the other tasks to my manager. I am looking forward to a very good fight Saturday and a victory. I have enjoyed all my time in the United States but I am looking forward to winning this fight, then I can go home and rest.’’
