Sakio Bika vs Andre Ward - 27th November!

Sakio Bika Replaces Andre Dirrell as Andre Ward's Opponent

by Lem Satterfield (Boxing Editor) - Fanhouse dot com - 12th Oct 2010

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FanHouse has confirmed that WBA super middleweight (168 pounds) champion Andre Ward (pictured above, at left), whose scheduled Nov. 27 bout with Andre Dirrell was scuttled on Oct. 7 when Dirrell withdrew with a neurological issue derived from a concussion, will fight Australia's Sakio Bika, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

ESPN's Dan Rafael first reported the likelihood of the fight.

Although Ward-Dirrell is part of the Showtime's Super Six World Middleweight Classic, Ward-Bika is "not likely" to be, according to the source, even though Ward already has earned a position in the tournament's semifinals.

Ward (22-0, 13 knockouts) and Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) are friends and former U.S. Olympic teammates, with Ward having earned a gold medal, and Dirrell, a bronze.

Ward-Bika is likely for The Oracle Arena in Ward's hometown of Oakland.

Ward's promoter, Dan Goossen, of Goossen Tutor Promotions, would not comment.
Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) is coming off of July's first-round, disqualification loss to Jean Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16 KOs) of France, whom he hit while the fighter was down in their IBF super middleweight eliminator bout.

Bika had dropped Mendy to his knees with a left hand to the temple, and then hesitated before driving home a vicious right uppercut that caused a knocked-cold Mendy to pitch forward face-first where he lay motionless for about 20 seconds.

Referee Joe Cortez determined that Bika had fouled Mendy in the fight, which took all of 89 seconds to complete.

The winner of Mendy-Bika was set to be in line for a title shot against the winner of Friday's fight between IBF king Lucian Bute (26-0, 21 KOs) and Jesse Brinkley (35-5, 22 KOs).

Entering his fight with Mendy, Bika had won six straight bouhts, four of them by knockout, since losing by a lopsided unanimous decision to Bute in June 2007.

 

Nice, now don't stuff it up Sakio!

 

Good fight, Ward is pretty slick but Bika is a rough ******* - if he tags ward early could be his only chance.

 

Disqualification written all over this one .

 

No chance come hell or high water can bika win this fight :deal

Apart from that go bika.... But it's a bit like thinking the roosters can beat the dragons :hey

 

I actually Ward suits Bika a hell of a lot more than people think...Smart money is on Dre but this could be a very interesting fight.

 

How much of your hard earned are you putting on bika mate?

 

I agree with every post before me.

Sakio not skilled enough to compete with ward who has shown he can fight rough and dirty himself.

Sakio needs to get lucky and early. Great to see him finally get a gig but cant go past ward who is in another post code when it comes to class.

 

Probably nothing, depends what he is paying though. Might put on a double for Bika by KO and Sharks to win the premiership next year. :deal

 

Talking about postcodes bika could have lived in another one if he took the mundane fight :yep

 

Sakio had no chance of getting down to welter lol @ 168lbs They would have found Mandy's head i'n another post code .

 

So... they didn't had the balls to invite Andrade.
But Bika is not bad at all.

 

Ward all day. Good for Bika though :good

 

good luck mate.:thumbsup

 

Ward wins and very very easily on points imo.