Quote Originally Posted by amat View Post
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?

Quote Originally Posted by Violent Demise View Post
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.

Quote Originally Posted by killersheep View Post
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?

Quote Originally Posted by OumaFan View Post
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.