Super six tournament!!!!

[ryanman]

Kessler wins it all, though he loses once along the way. I actually think each fighter will lose at least once.

Yea i agree, i can't see anyone going through unbeaten. Its a tough ask, not just due to the level of opposition but the relentless nature of it. There are bound to be gruelling battles along the way, which even the winner will suffer from. Then they have no chance for a softer fight or a long lay-off, its straight back in (4 months or so) to another hard fight.

[chip]

Ill be shouting for Jermain but Kessler will win it

[Fenster]

I'll go with Abraham, even though I think Kessler would whup him, and the super six wont even finish.

[JT Rock]

I can see alot of new fans being made for each fighter, this is the best thing to come out of boxing for a long time.

Froch: its going to prove if he really is an elite despite glaring weakness

Kessler: Is he the current legit king pin at 168 based on merit or did he slide in to fill the void left from Calzaghe?

Taylor: With this new life given, will he put his late fight demons to rest and gain the momentum and mojo back he once had on his way to fulfilling his true potential?

Abraham: Is the beast from Armenia/Germany going to invade this tournament and prove he is all that is advertised?

Dirrell/Ward: Will these 2 bright and exciting young men grow to superstardom before our eyes?

So many questions, outcomes and variables to be considered, all for the good

[superheavyrhun]

Good thread ...and I'm a little torn in the decision. I'm afraid I'm looking at the Europeans to actually prove the stronger, and I think it'll be Kessler coming out on top if it actually gets to a conclusion.

I'd still love to see Froch do well, but I think a direct Kessler will find it hard to miss that glaring gap in Froch's defence.

[skel1983]

I was thinking on the same lines as Fenster, say for instance Kessler blasts Ward out in quick style lets says three rounds, basically a total beatdown. Then somehow Ward makes it to the final to fight Kessler again

Or maybe there is a bad beatdown and the guy stock falls in the event and is not getting as much money as he thought and decides he cant be arsed with the tournament anymore??

If there is no schedule either surely a fighter can just say nah im not doing that or something similar when they come to sitting down for the next rounds of fights.

[Rantcatrat]

No, the Ring isn't going to have it's vacancy filled at least not yet. Kessler is 1, Bute is 2. There is no working around that, Ward is 9 so there won't be a champion in the first round. By the end of the thing I'm sure someone will be able to jump Bute and we can have a 1,2 bout for the Ring belt. As of right now, no.

The Ring offered to supply belts to the 1978 Don King US championship tournament that had a huge negative fallout.

Can't a Ring champion be filled with the winner of the number 1 and the number 3 fighters? If Froch beat Dirrell and only lost to Kessler in the tournament...couldn't a Froch v. Kessler fight be for the Ring belt especially if Andrade beat Bute?

Said it from the start. Jermain Taylor will revive his career by winning the tournament

That would be monstrous. Doubt it will happen, but I'd love to see it. In fact, I think a Kessler v. Taylor fight would be fought at an amazingly high level of boxing. I'd love to hear Manny's round-by-round on that one.

I'm taking Kessler he has the most well rounded skills, power, and experience combo.

I not saying he's the most skilled boxer, or fastest or strongest. But he is the most overall solid in all categories combined.

He is the complete package. I agree. I'm also impressed that he is willing to go anywhere to fight anyone. He fought Calzaghe in Wales, Mundine in Australia, and now Ward in Oakland? Even in Denmark, hasn't he caught wind about the raucous Oaktown fans?

well full disclosure I've put myself down for Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell and am giving some consideration to Kessler.

Why not throw Froch, Abraham, and Taylor in there too?

Here's a cool tale-of-the-tape on Taylor v. Abraham: Jermain Taylor vs Arthur Abraham: Tale Of The Tape

Everyone's picking their winner, but how about explaining the reasoning given the Showtime match and point structure. Each fighter faces three opponents over the next 18 months. The top four fighters advance to the semi-finals where it is single elimination. The fighters receive 2 points for winning a fight, 1 extra point for a knockout, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for losing.

I could see Froch beating Dirrell, but he then faces Kessler and that is a bad match up for the Cobra. Or, Froch loses both matches. Thus, I don't see how Froch gets passed the first round.

I could see Kessler losing to Ward on points in Oakland, but beating Froch. Or, Kessler wins both fights. Either way he makes it to the next round.

Who do Dirrell, Ward, Taylor, and Abraham fight after the first round? I'm sure Abraham and Taylor fight in the US. That'll help me decide the rest.