Super Six Stage Two: Abraham vs. Dirrell

The Super Six World Boxing Classic will begin its second stage on March 27th in Detroit, when IBF titlist Arthur Abraham takes on Andre Dirrell.

The concept of the tournament has received mixed responses thus far, but this brainchild of Showtime must be given due credit for at least attempting to eliminate a lot of complication. It’s taking a prime sampling of the Super Middleweight division and forcing them to meet one another in the ring through structured and logical plotting. The fighters aren’t quibbling over money, arguing over drug tests, or drudging up any other dubious reasons for routinely avoiding each other. They fight the assigned opponent; they win or they lose; they accrue points; and they advance or fall back depending on the outcome. It has been a while since the sport has seen such relative clarity.

The first stage of the tournament concluded with some intriguing results. Arthur Abraham emerged in the lead with a three points earning after his devastating late round knockout of Jermain Taylor. Wisely, Bad Intentions turned to good ones when he chose to remove himself from the competition, allowing room for Allan Green.

The final fight of the first series saw early favorite Mikkel Kessler unable to keep pace with the impressive Andre Ward. Ward showcased speed and an estimable skill set in the fight. His performance has altered some projections on the ultimate winner in the final stage. This brand of unexpected turn out keeps the excitement over upcoming bouts fresh. It is essential to maintain viewers’ interest if the network is considering bringing the tournament structure to another division in the future.

Still, the detractors do come armed with legitimate reasons for being disenchanted with the Super Six. Probably most notable among them is the time that elapses between bouts. There is a yawning stretch that separates the first fight of the tournament from the final, crowning bout. It can be challenging to keep cumulative results in mind over that time span, and the points system can lead to diminished single victories. Keep in mind that a setback on the tournament scorecard can be suffered even by a fighter who is awarded decision wins, if another fighter proves to be more effective as a knockout artist. So far, Abraham is the sole earner of the maximum three points. Because of the rules of the system, the pressure to go for the knockout will inevitably loom over each contest. That could potentially make for some entertaining bouts later on, as the points earnings become more decisive.

When Andre Dirrell faces Arthur Abraham in the opening fight of the second stage of the series, it will be a challenge for Dirrell to overcome his own internal obstacles. He is the least seasoned of all the fighters in the tournament, and he will have to keep himself from becoming flustered in the intimidating presence of Abraham.

Dirrell has good boxing skills. He is quick and throws sharp and crisp punches. He is a natural southpaw who can shift to the orthodox stance. He does however, have a tendency to move around too much, disrupting the delicate balance between being elusive and all out avoiding a fight. In the bout with Froch, he went too far in vocalizing his irritation with fouls. He will need to learn to roll with the punches, both literally and figuratively, if he wants to remain competitive against diverse styles.

To have success against Abraham, he will need to box and move, but in the proper ratio. It is crucial that he not make himself appear as though he’s running. He can’t turn his back and outwardly betray any weakness. Dirrell’s best chance for victory will be on the judges’ cards. He needs to make the most of his boxing skills in every round. Abraham isn’t the competitor for Dirrell to try to address with any ambitious knockout punches; he will be better off to be smart here and concentrate more on trying not to be knocked out. Two points is better than no points.

For his part, Abraham will likely enter the ring fight night with his usual armored, peek-a-boo style. He has awesome power, and he won’t be trying to dictate the tempo of the fight with any wasted, exploratory punches. His power will be his tactic to combat Dirrell’s speed. When Abraham was in defense mode against Jermain Taylor, he kept his feet primarily grounded, allowing Taylor to almost pivot around him. That solid stance on the canvas can function to increase his leverage and power. When Taylor would move within range, Abraham would release his guard and let loose powerful combinations and flurries. Abraham didn’t need to conserve punches at these times or overly trouble himself with achieving accuracy with each throw. He won’t need to against Dirrell either. If any one of his shots lands, it could mean the end of the fight.

If Abraham vs. Dirrell deteriorates into the worst case scenario, it will feature Dirrell converting the ring into a track and running in circles. Abraham will be forced to chase after him, and he may or may not be able to catch him. If Dirrell confines himself to only throwing punches on the fly, he will be reducing his own strength and he will not affect Abraham in the least. Abraham will then appear to be the lone aggressor in the bout, and Dirrell might possibly drop another decision. Such a showing would be a certain disappointment. But that being said, the prospect of a disappointing show does nothing to lessen the likelihood of it coming to fruition on March 27th.

Another victory for Abraham would leave him in very good standing for the rest of the tournament. Another defeat for Dirrell would create a virtually insurmountable setback. If the pundits have it right, King Arthur might conclude the second stage by moving yet another step closer to replacing his prop crown with a real one.