Who Is Most Likely To Get "Ruined" In The 168 Tournament?

I think Andre Ward has the biggest chance to be ruined. He has yet to be in a big fight. His promoters are pretty much telling him to sink or swim. If he loses his first fight the next fight will be just as tough. He will not be able to fight an opponent just to get his confidence back.

 

Dirrell will be the sacrificial lamb.He'll look good early against Froch before being brutally KO'd.Taylor still has plenty to prove,and is still a "live contender" anyone writing Taylor off must be deranged,the guy can box,and has plenty of pop.I'd take Taylor over most of the 168's.

 

Good post. Amusing too, I love the photo / caption combination on your Avatar. That photo doesn't show Bernard at his best. ROFL.

 

Ward

He got good skills but starting up against Kessler will be too much for him! the only things Dirrell and ward are missing it's experience they will gett a shitload in this tournement but there maybe not ready to get 2-3 big fight in a row in a level there never compete yet!

 

Bute is ruined for bottling out a Froch match in the UK, which is probably why he didn't get an invite...........or maybe he did, but bottled that as well. Prefers to fight on someone elses undercard against a bloke he's already beaten.

As for the six participants, I have to admit I haven't seen either Ward or Dirrell, but the reports in Boxing News suggest they are a level below the others. So, out of the four I HAVE seen plenty of, I'd go for Abraham to struggle as he's pretty small compared with Kessler and Froch. Taylor will be there or thereabouts if he still has the desire.

 

Taylor will beat Abrahams ass, Abraham is not like Pavlik or Froch he fights at sluggish pace which suits Taylor.

Expect a similar win for Taylor like he did on LACY

 

froch

 

The form of the tournament raises some questions. For example: What happens if Kessler wins his first two fights, and Taylor has zero points (maybe two KO losses), with no chance of advancing to the semies and withdraws from the tournament?


The score after two rounds could be:
AA: 5 Points
Kessler: 5 Points
Froch: 3 Points
Ward: 3 Points
Dirrel: 0 Points
Taylor: 0 Points

Third round:
Kessler - Taylor
AA - Froch
Ward - Dirrel

Who would want to replace Taylor in that position? The fight would not be for Kesslers WBA title.

 

My guess is that the fighters wil have to sign contract committing them to the required number of fights. If they suddenly don't fancy it because they already can't win it and want to fight someone else, they would be sued for breach of contract. The organisers wouldn't be able to force a fighter to fight but they COULD prevent him from fighting outside the tournament.

In any case, I should imagine the purses will be very good for all the fights and if someone has lost their first two, they are hardly likely to be offered more to fight outside the tourny anyway

 

According to the poll it doesn't look like Kessler's in any danger of being "ruined". I still think that JT will surprise a few people yet.

 

Well Taylor could end his career after two more KO losses, or could get injured? :huh

 

Every fighter in this tournament stands to be ruined. Imagine if Kessler drops two fights or gets ktfo? Or if Ward or Dirrell get mugged by Abraham or Froch. The potential for career damage is huge for all involved.

 

I just want to say that this is the best thing to happen in Boxing in recent years. That being said I think AA, Taylor and Dirrell are the most likely of being "ruined". If I had to pick it would be AA because he is unproven at 168.

 

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Mikkel Kessler