The bouts are below, who you picking? CARL FROCH vs. ANDRE DIRRELL (for WBC World Championship) JERMAIN TAYLOR vs. ARTHUR ABRAHAM MIKKEL KESSLER vs. ANDRE WARD (for WBA World Championship) My picks: Froch by late stoppage - Dirrell might prove to be the surprise package, but I think he might be a bit green for this tournament Abraham by late stoppage - provided Abraham brings his power with him, I think he's got a bit too much in what is otherwise a good scrap Ward by points - Kessler too inactive, Ward has variation. Kessler only struggles with Calzaghe once the Welshman developed a plan b, I think Ward has the speed and angles to change game plans when needed.
It might get ugly, but I think Dirrell has shown that he has the legs to move away from Froch. I don't see him staying there and trading or running ineffectively like Taylor did late in their fight. He holds tremendous physical advantages over the Englishman, but we'll have to see how his chin and heart hold up against the esteemed titlist.
It's a round robin, so there will be a couple sets of fights to determine the semis. Check the site for the points system they are using.
CARL FROCH vs. ANDRE DIRRELL - I am predicting a Froch victory, late KO or TKO JERMAIN TAYLOR vs. ARTHUR ABRAHAM - This is the one fight that leaves me with almost no doubt as to who the winner will be. Unless Arthur is unable to catch Jermain, I predict that Taylor will once more be KO'd. My guess is sometime after the 6th round. Look for Taylor to be ahead on the scorecards but take several hard shots through the early portion of the fight. i don't believe Taylor is aggressive enough to make any headway in this tournament. MIKKEL KESSLER vs. ANDRE WARD - Kessler by KO mid fight. More expirience, more skill, and more power for Kessler make this one fairly easy to pick. All of these guys are fantastic fighters and anything could happen though I'm nearly certain that Taylor isn't moving past the first fight. He lacks a killer instinct, aggression, and is damaged goods.
Not fair for the Americans though is it? They're fighters just don't seem good enough (apart from maybe Taylor)
I think Froch will stop Dirrell. I just think that The Cobra will at some point take this kid into the trenches and stop him. I genuinely do believe that Taylot will beat Abraham. But he must not get involved in any form of early exchanges, pace himself and his conditioning has to be 110%! I think Ward will outpoint Kessler, infact I wouldn't be too shocked if Kessler FAILS to make it to the last four.
i really think ward got the **** end of the stick. I believe he has tremendous potential but not seasoned enough yet to just be thrown in against kessler like that. Dirrell has the skills to beat froch but still could go either way. and Taylor has the skillsets to beat anyone in this tourny but not the head for it.
You are quite likely right. However, there are reasons to think at least two of these fights might go the other way. I think Abraham is gonna blow Taylor out, but if Ward is better than people think he may be able to upset the recently inactive Kessler. It's highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened in boxing. The Froch fight, imo, is the most winable for U.S. fighters. Froch is quite flawed from what I saw in the Taylor fight. I've never thought much of Taylor and he was winning until he got starched. If Dirrell is as good as his Olympic rep suggests, he could beat Froch. That said, I would not be at all surprised if it turned out as you suggest either.
I put a bit more stock in Ward upsetting Kessler, but other than that I think you've hit on the nail on the head.