Boxing News

Tag: Andre Dirrell

  • Boxing Result: Andre Ward Defeats Sakio Bika In WBC Title Defense


    © Rich Hundley III / Showtime Boxing

    In non Super Six action at the Oracle Arena in Oakland California, Andre Ward defended his WBA Super Middleweight belt against tough Sakio Bika, a fighter who has a reputation of being avoided due to his wild and rough fighting style.

    Bika, who has had two prior opportunities to become a super middleweight world champion, once in May of 2006 when he faced Marcus Beyer for the WBC version in a bout that ended with a TD due to a cut under then champion Beyer’s eye in the fourth round.

    Just five months later he was given the opportunity to claim the WBO/IBF versions of the belt when he met then divisional king Joe Calzaghe. In that bout, he gave Calzaghe all he could handle including some scares with his aggressive style but at the end of the night lost his bid against the Welsh Dragon by unanimous decision.

    With new trainer Ronnie Shields in his corner for this bout, Bika stated prior to the fight he had never worked so hard to prepare for an opponent and this would be the last time you watched him as a “Challenger” because after the night’s end he would be a defending champion.

    It seemed to be the theme of the night with fighters having to do exactly what they would not on a normal basis when Ward and Bika squared off as Ward, like Arthur Abraham against Carl Froch earlier in the evening was subjected to a style he was not comfortable with. (more…)

  • Boxing Result: Carl Froch Handles Arthur Abraham With Ease


    © Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing

    Last evening was another great night of fights among the 168lb elite. First up in Helsinki, Finland’s Hartwall Arena was Carl Froch facing Arthur Abraham in his quest to advance into the next round of the Showtime Super Six Tournament.

    As an added bonus, the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title was on offer, which Froch once possessed until his close loss to Mikkel Kessler in April of this year.

    The belt had been vacated by the Danish fighter due to needed eye surgery and a break afterward to recover, making this bout even that much more desirable to win for the “Cobra”. Froch, known for his pre-fight hype talk, lived up to every claim he made prior to the showdown with Abraham.

    It was clear from the outset that Froch wanted little to do with taking a chance at a close decision loss, causing him to go to work immediately. Using his reach and moving around the ring, Froch had taken a page from Andre Dirrell’s handbook by not engaging toe to toe with Abraham and using pure boxing.

    While Froch is primarily known for his brawling style, he is adapt at being a pure boxer if need be, something he has stated many times in the past but we the public have seen little of. Viewers were treated to the side of Carl that up until now had been just talk. (more…)

  • Boxing Preview: Carl Froch vs. Arthur Abraham

    Both Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham entering the ring tonight in Helsinki, Finland will be guaranteed the next step through the Super Six tournament to the semi’s.

    It just depends on how they fare on the night and the decision that comes after as to whereabouts they are in the proceedings i.e knockout win or points win or loss.

    This is because of two men that have left the tournament on medical grounds, Mikkel Kessler and Andre Dirrell. Dirrell has had to pull out citing neurological damage caused by the illegal punch that Abraham landed in their fight not long ago.

    Kessler, after beating Froch over twelve rounds, has had to pull out of the tournament due to an eye injury he has sustained, and is set to take approximately nine months off from boxing.

    In defeat, although both had lost their undefeated records, Froch and Abraham had still done enough damage to their previous opponents to the extent that they have had to retire from the tournament.

    It is quite clear then that these boys can bang, Abraham’s record stands at 31-1, 25 KO’s and Froch’s stands 26-1, 20 KO’s.

    They are both very unorthodox fighters. Abraham tends to be a slow starter, takes a look at the job in hand, feels the opponent’s shots and generally likes to sit behind a very high guard.

    Often losing the first few rounds, he uses very little, if any, lateral movement or footwork and will plod forward until he pins his man against the ropes and throws straight right hands and wild looping hooks. (more…)

  • Boxing Quotes: Andre Ward vs. Sakio Bika

    Andre Ward and Sakio Bika participated in a national media conference call on Monday to discuss their upcoming world title fight on Saturday, Nov. 27, live on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast, from Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.

    Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) will defend his WBA super middleweight championship in front of his hometown fans for a second time against the tough, dangerous Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, via Douala, Cameroon. (more…)

  • Andre Dirrell: Victim Of A Boxing Mis-hap Or Its Rumor Mill?

    Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell has been a highly touted prospect since his amateur days. With 231 wins, an Olympic Bronze medal in 2004, a competitor at the 2003 Pan-Am games, and two US National amateur titles, one in 2003 at middleweight the other in 2001 at featherweight it is no wonder he had promoters wanting to offer their services before even announcing his intentions on turning professional.

    When Dirrell did turn pro in January of 2005, everything went according to plan and then some. His first eleven bouts were nothing short of boxing clinics. As each bout progressed it was evident that Dirrell was able to transition his amateur style into one that would benefit him greatly in the pro rankings, something that many amateurs with lengthy careers have a problem with as they can not avoid the point system ingrained into them.

    Instead, he turned his hit and not be hit style into one that often had opponents looking foolish, stopping seven of his first eleven inside three rounds or less. In 2007, the transition period was over for Dirrell as he and his team began to seek out the other top super middleweight prospects, ready to make the jump from up and comer to legit contender.

    Curtis “Showtime” Stevens was first up. The hard hitter from Brooklyn had won 17 of his 18 bouts and was on a four fight win streak when they met, Dirrell easily outpointed him to a unanimous decision victory. After a few keep busy bouts, Dirrell faced highly thought of Anthony Hanshaw in 2008, Hanshaw had lost only once in his 22 bout career, a decision to Roy Jones Jr at light heavyweight. Hanshaw managed to go five rounds after being dropped once in the fourth before the affair ended.

    Three months later undefeated Mike Paschall’s record was adjusted to 17-1 after four close rounds. To end 2008, Dirrell picked up his first minor title when he beat up the hard punching Australian based Victor Oganov at just 28 seconds of round six.

    When 2009 began, Dirrell has established himself as a top 168lb fighter and his interim WBO NABO title earned in the defeat of Oganov had him on the trail to a world title shot via express lane, but an even bigger opportunity would come Dirrell’s way sooner then expected. (more…)

  • Showtime Boxing: Helsinki Hosts Froch vs. Abraham Super Six Clash

    Showtime Sports, Hennessy Sports and Team Sauerland are delighted to announce that Helsinki will host the decisive Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 3 clash between Carl “The Cobra” Froch and King Arthur Abraham.

    On November 27, the two superstars will lock horns at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, which seats 14,000 people and is known for its passionate Finnish sports fans. (more…)

  • Showtime Boxing: Super Six Matchups Rescheduled

    The Group Stage 3 matchups in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, the unprecedented boxing tournament from Showtime Sports, featuring the world’s best super middleweights, have been rescheduled for November 27, it was announced today by Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager for sports programming on the network.

    The matchup between breakout American stars and friends, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, will headline the Showtime telecast on Saturday, Nov. 27, live at 9p.m. ET/PT. (more…)

  • Havoc Boxing: “Showtime” Stevens Headlines Brooklyn Fight Card

    Fresh off one of the best boxing shows of 2010, Havoc Boxing Promotions will return to the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn that will feature world ranked Super Middleweight, Curtis “Showtime” Stevens in the ten round main event.

    Bouts featuring Undefeated Light Heavyweight Will Rosinsky, undefeated Welterweight and former U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali as well as undefeated Featherweight Joselito Collado will serve as the co-features on the loaded card. (more…)

  • Hennessy Boxing: Froch vs. Abraham Tickets On Sale

    Tickets for the hotly-anticipated Super Six World Boxing Classic showdown between King Arthur Abraham and Carl “The Cobra” Froch, who will battle it out at the famous Chapiteau de Fontvieille in Monaco on October 2, are on sale.

    They can be purchased at www.ticketcorner.ch. “It is all or nothing now,” King Arthur said. “The stakes have never been higher. Carl Froch is a great fighter and I have a lot of respect for him. But I will be fighting for my life and I will leave the ring as the winner.” (more…)

  • Showtime Boxing: Abraham vs. Froch October 2 In Monaco

    Following weeks of intense negotiations, Showtime Sports is proud to announce that Hennessy Sports and Sauerland Event—the promotional outlets for world-class super middleweight boxers Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham—have agreed to a location for their fighters’ crucial Super Six World Boxing Classic bout.

    On Saturday, Oct. 2, in the capital city/state of Monaco, Abraham and Froch will meet at the Chapiteau de l’Espace Fontvieille for their pivotal Group Stage 3 match up in the boxing tournament that has ignited the industry. The bout will be televised on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT (same day delay). The fight will also be televised live on UK TV from approximately 10pm. (more…)

  • Boxing Result: Andre Ward vs. Allan Green

    Despite the media buildup to last night’s Andre Ward vs. Allan Green WBA super middle title clash at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, the bout came off exactly as it appeared on paper beforehand; a fight between two very different class of fighters.

    Green had only once tested the waters at world level and had come away with a loss to Edison Miranda while Ward had earned his stripes in his last outing that saw a dethronement of of WBA champion Mikkel Kessler.

    That trend continued at the Oracle Arena last night as Ward simply had too much skill, strength and speed for the outgunned Green.

    For all of Team Green’s tough talk leading up to the bout, the fighter from Oklahoma was unable to deliver upon his promises to strip Ward of the WBA belt, instead, the 30 year old was outboxed in each and every round.

    Ward, who had shown class during the buildup, proved he had it in the ring too, utilizing perfect movement to not only nullify Green’s offense but to deliver sharp combinations coming off a picture perfect jab. (more…)

  • Boxing Preview: Andre Ward vs. Allan Green


    © Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing

    Everyone in the boxing community had a favourite going into the Super Six Showdown. And I bet that those opinions have now changed somewhat.

    That is the beauty of this tournament; there are new questions and answers being raised before and after every fight so far.

    Some would have favoured Andre Dirrell’s silky movement and speed of hand and foot; now they may question his heart when the going gets rough!

    Others may have said Mikkel Kessler is by far the more experienced man and the best all-rounder; fundamentally, he is solid. They may now wonder if he can deal with speed and whether or not there is a blueprint to beat him.

    Carl Froch’s fans, myself included, said his grit, determination, chin and power will carry him through the tournament…well it just about carried him through one fight, but when he met someone with equal qualities i.e. Kessler, he couldn’t adapt.

    I do not know if anyone favoured Taylor going into the tournament, the odds were stacked against him, and it is a shame but for right or wrong, he has now left the tournament. After two chilling knockouts from guys who are currently still in the super six, perhaps it is a good move. (more…)