Unofficial Media Poll

Over the days leading up to the match, I'll be tallying the opinion of boxing writers (and influential figures in boxing) on the Carl Froch v. Andre Dirrell fight and unlike our poll at Saddoboxing and the betting websites, as of today, the boxing writers favor Dirrell.

Caveat on the writers: not all of these writers are noteworthy, but they've all been published if only on blogs or boxing sites.

RingTV, Doug Fischer picks Dirrell:

"Dirrell has the athletic abiity, speed, reflexes and mobility to evade and pot-shot, stick-and-move on Froch. Froch is as tough as they come and is a come-forward fighter who wears guys down."

Ring Magazine, Joe Santoliquito picks Froch:

"I'm tired of doubting Froch. He made a believer out of me by dismantling Taylor the way he did, and this fight is taking place in Nottingham, England -- Froch land. Froch wins by decision."

New York Daily News, Tim Witherspoon picks Dirrell:

"I don't underestimate Carl Froch, but let's face it, Jermain Taylor was beating him from post to post until he ran out of gas. I don't think that's going to happen to Dirrell, who should win a decision against the sturdy Froch."

Historian, Bert Sugar picks Dirrell:

"Froch is a good fighter, but I believe that Andre Dirrell's skills and speed will simply be too much for him."

Yahoo Sports, Kevin Iole picks Froch:

"I like Dirrell a lot as a fighter, but he gets a big, strong hungry man fighting at home in his first major step up."

ESPN, Kevin Mulvaney picks Dirrell:

"Man, I have a hard time picking this fight. Dirrell is quicker, more skilled, and he can crack too. I could see him just landing blazing combinations on Froch all night long."

Showtime, Steve Farhood picks Dirrell:

"If Dirrell can stay off the ropes -- a big if -- then he can control the pace. We don't know yet how good Dirrell can be, but I'm betting he rises to the occasion.

Whether he can win a decision over an Englishman in Nottingham is, of course, problematic. With that said, I think he can squeeze one out."

From the Bragging Rights Corner, Kenny Perrault and Danny Howard (2nd Quote below) pick Dirrell:

October 17th, Trent FM Arena , Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom (Showtime)
"Carl Froch 25-0 (20 KOs) and Andre Dirrell 18-0 (13 KOs) get the much anticipated Super Middleweight tournament started. This tournament has created a lot of excitement in the boxing world and it finally gets under way with an exciting bout. Prediction: The southpaw Dirrell is simply going to be to slick for Froch and win a unanimous decision."

"So even though Froch is a tough customer, he is almost certainly going to fall behind on the cards very quickly and Dirrell is going to grind him down along the way. I don't expect Dirrell to make the mistakes Taylor did against Froch, but simply to follow the game plan better. Froch's lack of defense and his constant pressure will make this an exciting fight, but it's going to be Dirrell's time in England where I believe he will get a fair shake."

From the Sweet Science, Michael Woods picks Froch:

"Can he break through into the upper class of the division against a man who has had to dig deeper as a pro, and succeeded in that regard? Against a man with legitimately heavy hands? TSS-EM leans toward Froch, believing that Dirrell would have to fight 12 rounds of super slick pugilism, virtually mistake free, and thinks that is asking too much in his 19th fight as a pro."

From Boxing News24, Scott Gilfoid picks Dirrell:

"It’s a going to be a slaughter of epic proportions. Seriously, Froch is in way over his head in this fight and the way he got dominated by Taylor early on will look like child’s play after Dirrell gets through with him."

From Eastsideboxing, James Slater picks Froch:

"Take it for what it's worth, but I predict Froch will come out firing, back Dirrell up and get him out of there, in seemingly easy fashion, inside the first eight rounds."


From ESPN.com, Dan Rafael picks Dirrell:

"Froch will open the Showtime tournament in his home city of Nottingham, England, with a very tough assignment against 2004 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell, who has way more speed and skill than Froch" and "but I like Dirrell in the mild upset."

From the Boxing Bulletin, Mark Lyons picks Froch:

"My take is Froch adjusts to the speed after a few rounds and begins to break Dre down before stopping him late."

From Eastside Boxing, Eric Shaffer picks Dirrell:

"In a fight where fire works are expected I will pick the fighter I think has the better defence."

As of now, I have 5 picks for Froch and 10 for Dirrell. I'm still waiting on Graham Houston.

It would be a miracle if the bulk of the American boxing media picked a Brit to win.

Just about every boxing fan on the planet can't deny Froch has by far the superior form to Dirrell, right?

Scott Gilfoid - Froch is in way over his head in this fight :beat:

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Scott Gilfoid - Froch is in way over his head in this fight :beat:

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Seriously mate Boxingnews24.com is the worst pile of shite on the net.

Practically any nuthugger/hater can post up their semi-literate article on that site. Whenever I see a link to that site when checking newsnow.com I just ignore it.

One day they'll have some guy totally slating Pacquiao for exmple, the next day some other guy will be hailing him as the 2nd coming. Garbage

Well to be fair 2 out of the 4 picked Froch and Rafael just said Dirrell has more speed and skill but didn't pick anybody, that's not exactly controversial.

BTW you can go ahead and add HattontheHammer: Froch UD.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Well to be fair 2 out of the 4 picked Froch and Rafael just said Dirrell has more speed and skill but didn't pick anybody, that's not exactly controversial.

BTW you can go ahead and add HattontheHammer: Froch UD.

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James Slater is a Brit (well i'm pretty sure non-American). To be fair he seems to be underrating Dirrell a tad.....

As Rantcatrat keeps adding the "experts" (:beat:) I bet it's Dirrell by a landslide. (not saying they wont be right ;D)

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Originally Posted by Conrad

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Scott Gilfoid - Froch is in way over his head in this fight :beat:

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Seriously mate Boxingnews24.com is the worst pile of shite on the net.

Practically any nuthugger/hater can post up their semi-literate article on that site. Whenever I see a link to that site when checking newsnow.com I just ignore it.

One day they'll have some guy totally slating Pacquiao for exmple, the next day some other guy will be hailing him as the 2nd coming. Garbage

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I just read two of his articles on that site. He's about 18 years old maximum. And dumb to boot. ;D

Ive switched on this one.Think Dirrell will pepper him early but Froch ultimatly catches up to him for tko.1st time in the bigs for Dirrell and looking sensational vs Anthony hanshaw is,well, Anthony hanshaw.

Updated the list of writers. Majority are picking Dirrell.

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Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Updated the list of writers. Majority are picking Dirrell.

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Mostly American aswell.

Heres three to add to your so called " experts picks "

all three go Froch.

John Rawling commentator and boxing corrospondent.

Barry McGuigen ex world champ Itv Pundit

Duke McKenzie ex world champ Itv commentator

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96sO...mbedded#at=101

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Heres three to add to your so called " experts picks "

all three go Froch.

John Rawling commentator and boxing corrospondent.

Barry McGuigen ex world champ Itv Pundit

Duke McKenzie ex world champ Itv commentator

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96sO...mbedded#at=101

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so if these guys are right it is still Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham for Froch.

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Originally Posted by ryanman89

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Heres three to add to your so called " experts picks "

all three go Froch.

John Rawling commentator and boxing corrospondent.

Barry McGuigen ex world champ Itv Pundit

Duke McKenzie ex world champ Itv commentator

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96sO...mbedded#at=101

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so if these guys are right it is still Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham for Froch.

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Yes mate there his three opponents i think he goes 2-1 against them with his loss being Kessler.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryanman89

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Heres three to add to your so called " experts picks "

all three go Froch.

John Rawling commentator and boxing corrospondent.

Barry McGuigen ex world champ Itv Pundit

Duke McKenzie ex world champ Itv commentator

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96sO...mbedded#at=101

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so if these guys are right it is still Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham for Froch.

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Yes mate there his three opponents i think he goes 2-1 against them with his loss being Kessler.

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I did think i knew who was fighting who, i posted it all a few weeks ago. But according to Jazmerkin on another thread thats all changed now. And i just went on showtimes website and there is no evidence of a schedule past these fights and Kessler-Ward. So it seems he might be right.

Taylor eaked out some earlier rounds and lost a majority of the last 6 rounds to frock before the ko. froch was schooling taylor in the last 6 rounds. Tim Witherspoon is blind as a bat. Froch by ko 8th round.

Kevin Iole appears to be backing Froch as well

Froch could be Super Six sleeper - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports

Although, from reading it, he has no idea what Froch is generally like especially going on about Dirrell being 'outrageous' considering a few months of Froch saying he'd put Dirrell into a coma or a wheelchair ;D

He's not a bad writer generally, although often like a lot of US (& some UK) boxing writers, he seems to try & pass off second-hand knowledge about boxers from elsewhere as his own.