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Picking a Super Six Favorite...why & why not?
Picking a Favorite from the Super Six…why & why not?
ARTHUR ABRAHAM
Why?
First & foremost, Abraham has been one of my most favorite champions for quite some time. I’ve been betting on Arthur to rule the roost of the 160lb division for several years now…so it’s a given that he’s my top pick! As far as Abraham goes…it all depends on what you like & what you don’t. Criticized for being a boring boxer who hides behind his defense is all I’ve heard from the boxing community worldwide since the day I first saw a replay of ole’ Abraham…& honestly, I just don’t see the gripe. Personally, I think that boxing is what they (the fighters) make it & how you/we (the armchair warriors) take it. Abraham has often come off to me as a heavy handed version of Winky Wright in a bulked up, tightly wound German package. Everyone here knows Wacko’s down with Winky (heh heh heh) & his defensive abilities…but the argument with Wright has often been that his almost methodical defense first technique bores fight fans to tears. Everyone, fan & commentators alike, seemed to reel in disgust at the lack of offensive posturing in his game even though Wright was one of the more feared & avoided boxers of his division. There again…it’s all in what you want & I’m a huge fan of a boxer who actually has multiple game plans & fights smart like Wright. Abraham, like Wright, is a thinking man’s fighter…the difference in the two boxers is the freakish power that Arthur carries in both hands. If you sit down with a pad, pen, & use your noggin’ to group all of Abraham’s positive attributes such as his power, defense, age, stamina, athletic ability, & then you couple all those with the fact that Abraham is an undefeated warrior …you have a quick sure fire favorite for the tourney winner. He’s basically a shoe in…that is until you use the one factor that everyone else says is a deal breaker…
Why not?
The main detraction around the board appears to be Arthur’s size. While Arthur’s a bullish heavy handed little hurricane of man…he’s still just that…a little man, IWHO, & it showed a bit against Taylor. For the first 4 or 5 rounds of the opening Super Six bout Taylor’s 74 ½” reach along with his 6’ 1” height advantage (respectfully a 72” reach & a 5’ 10” jump to Arthur’s ) seemed to be headed towards a factor worthy of note for the opening bout of our Super Six. That being said…size didn’t mean shit after the 8th and you all saw the end results of the 12th. At the start of the night…my guy’s size, peek-a-boo defense, & sporadic offense may have put off many…but by the end of it…everyone’s jaws were on the floor & their hearts are pumping out of their chests. I’ll be shell shocked if we don’t see Abraham as one of the last men standing out of this wide array of talents in 2010 & 2011.
MIKKELL KESSLER
Why?
Same goes for Kessler as did for Abraham, he too has been a favorite of mine for the last four or five years & I honestly believe he’s one of the better kept secrets of the Super Middleweight division. In a nutshell, I’d have to pick Kessler as my second favorite based on his previous performances, size, skills, & chin to boot. Kessler’s been on the sidelines a bit lately…but I just don’t buy into him getting old overnight like most pundits have. That being said...in his last two or three bouts he has been a bit lackadaisical in both offensive & defensive outputs. To say that he’s spent over the Calzaghe loss…again...I just don’t buy it…but some of the things that Calzaghe exposed in that win…I just hope they don’t resurfaces against another fighter with the same type of output & abilities. Kessler’s jab & power would give any fighter fits & he’s proven it quite spectacularly easy against the forty some odd opponents to date that.
Why not?
Recent activity & Calzaghe. While Kessler has made a good show of himself to date…of late…it’s been just that : good. The problem is…Kessler is & could be great. Take a second & roll back the clock a few years back, Kessler was the number two man in the 168lb division & there was really no dispute there. If you were on the opposing side of the argument it usually equated to two things…you were either one of three things...A: a fan of Calzaghe (like Wacko) & refused to see the light (unlike Wacko) at the end of the tunnel or B: you had never seen the guy swing or C: you were a Yank (like Wacko) who still just refused to see that light at the end of the tunnel & support a Euro fighter!! Heh heh heh. All kidding aside…it usually took just one viewing of Kessler to have your opinion swayed. Even on an offish night the kid was just devastating & he always got the job done in one way or the other. Many cried foul of weak opposition or hometown advantages…but those were tears easily whipped away once the youngin’ went to work because no matter who went where or what came his way…Kessler, his power, & that piston like jab & forward momentum put those cries to rest. That was prior to Joe Calzaghe. Now, while Joe didn’t stop Kessler, he did seem to put a damper on his momentum. To date no one’s speed, much less abilities had remotely scratched the surface of the Viking Warrior’s armor. Calzaghe not only chinked his armor…he dented it, roughed it up, & seemingly tarnished the luster. Since then Kessler has seemed almost lethargic & tentative when pressed into exchanges…& while I don’t see anyone in this tournament that matches Calzaghe’s output & awkwardness…there are a few fighters that due pose a possible threat on other levels. This tentativeness…it’s just not a positive alteration to a “warrior’s game”. Again, as I stated earlier, Kessler fights best pressuring & on the hunt...he does not fight well off the backfoot & Calzaghe showed that. While mistakes were made against Calzaghe...they can either be corrected...or capitalized on...let's hope that they're corrected.
Andre Ward
Why?
Anyone that’s followed Ward from his 2004 Olympic debut (like I have) can see that he’s eventually going to be a factor based on his speed & power alone. One thing to be noted…Ward is improving & he’s doing so rather quickly. While his record doesn’t boast any top tier opponents, it has been looking up of late. The bout against Edison Miranda was not only surprising…it was surprisingly good & the kid did much, much; much better than expected. He proved that he could take as good as he gets, kept his composure, & almost had Miranda out several times. One of his best attributes is that he fights smart & doesn’t get baited into ridiculous exchanges…the kid’s a professional & it shows in & outside of the ring. Also, Ward is good people. He’s a good up & coming fighter & he’s good for boxing…to top all that off…he’s got some good people in his corner. Believe it or not…that makes a difference when all else fails.
Why not?
My main issue with Ward is his inexperience. Hell…I’ve got an issue with him even being in this tournament! It’s just too damned early, IWHO. I personally believe that he’s swimming in some deep waters here & I’d rather him had a few more laps around the pool before being dropped in the pond! I’m mortified for him…I just wish that he’d taken on some other comers before facing down all of these battle tested champions. That being said…I hate to pull against him. Like I said…he’s good people…& he’s young, flashy, skilled, strong, & he’s going to be my third pick as a favorite. Even though he’s a bit inexperienced & maybe even outmatched against some of his opponents…I’ve still gotta go with Ward on his drive & abilities alone...I just don't think he's ready for the Abraham's & Kessler's of the division...or just not yet. We shall see.
Continued....
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Originally Posted by JT Rock
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