The Super Six World Boxing Classic: moving forward

We'll assume that there will be no attempt to salvage the third round of the Group Stage of the tournament, and that Showtime will proceed directly with the planned matches as the de facto Semi-finals following the withdrawal of Mikkel Kessler (meaning Allan Green is out).

Andre Ward and Olympic teammate Andre Dirrell are still inked in to meet on September 25th (location unknown). One week later, Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham are set to brawl.

The four possible semi-final outcomes (barring a draw or no contest in any match):
Ward > Dirrell & Froch > Abraham.
Ward > Dirrell & Abraham > Froch
Dirrell > Ward & Froch > Abraham.
Dirrell > Ward & Abraham > Froch.

The four possible resultant Finals matches are:
Ward vs. Froch
Froch vs. Dirrell
Ward vs. Abraham
Abraham vs. Dirrell

So, there are a total of eight possible ways for the elimination stages to play out (again, assuming the tournament moves forward with the above scheduled matches as the semi-finals and barring a draw or a no-contest in any match-up).

Ward > Dirrell & Froch > Abraham. Ward > Froch
Ward > Dirrell & Froch > Abraham. Froch > Ward

Ward > Dirrell & Abraham > Froch. Ward > Abraham
Ward > Dirrell & Abraham > Froch Abraham > Ward

Dirrell > Ward & Froch > Abraham. Dirrell > Froch
Dirrell > Ward & Froch > Abraham. Froch > Dirrell

Dirrell > Ward & Abraham > Froch. Dirrell > Abraham
Dirrell > Ward & Abraham > Froch Abraham > Dirrell


Pick which set of outcomes you feel most likely and explain why. The poll will close on September 25th.

 

I think Ward will shock people with his ability to hurt Dirrell, especially with many considering him a light puncher and with Dirrell having fought well against two huge punchers at 168. Ward will catch Dirrell and hit him with far more accurate and crisper shots than did either Froch or Abraham (or indeed, any Dirrell opponent to date). A UD or late TKO will be the result of Ward's timing and strength taking the edge off of Dirrell's speed and explosiveness.

Froch is no dummy and will likely try to go to his boxing skillset against Abraham. This will result in several very boring rounds, with Froch earning a lead on the cards with his awkward and economical punching out of an unorthodox defensive stance trumping the technical but even more economical punching of Abraham out of his own more traditional defensive stance. Eventually, Abraham will "wake up" and be able to draw Froch into a fight by provoking his instinctive "stand and hit back when you get hit" response, as Mikkel Kessler was able to do at times. The difference is that Abraham will be fresher from having done so little and is a more dangerous puncher than Kessler when he gets into his groove. A late TKO will be the patient predator's familiar reward. If Froch gets cocky in the build-up and decides to slug earlier, he will be knocked out very swiftly.

Ward will thoroughly box the ears off of Abraham, taking no risks and not getting suckered into a dust-up, knowing full well that he can't hurt the literally steel-jawed German-Armenian.

 

You voted for Abraham to beat Dirrell in the finals, genius. :yep

 

Froch has managed to pull a couple of big wins out of his ass (Taylor with the KO in the waning moments while well behind on two cards and Dirrell with a late surge and the benefit of a dubious point deduction to nick it on points) - but beating Abraham and then Ward is a tall order. How do you see those breaking down, if you don't mind? Or do you just have faith in him finding a way on the basis of heart and grit?

 

It's interesting that the only untouched option so far is Froch beating Dirrell in the championship match - even though Froch vs. Abraham could be for the WBC title which could mean that Froch could leverage to again have hometown advantage (especially with the win on paper over Dirrell) despite Ward-Dirrell being for the WBA belt. :think

If it's between the two of them in the UK again, you'd think Dirrell fans would have to be nervous.