Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey– After 26 months of roller coaster tournament drama, Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic came to an end Saturday night with Oakland’s Andre Ward (25-0, 13 KOs) taking a twelve round unanimous decision victory over the UK’s Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) and adding Froch’s WBC super middleweight title to his own WBA strap.
From the opening round, Ward took complete control of the bout, fighting on the outside when he wanted and taking the action inside whenever he chose to do so.
Froch, as tough and as game as he was, had no answer and could not match the speed or guile of his opponent. As the rounds passed, the frustration was evident as the tough Brit, who got to the tournament final with wins over Glen Johnson, Arthur Abraham, and Andre Dirrell, could not muster anything resembling a sustained offensive attack.
On Ward’s part, it was smooth sailing through twelve as he built an early lead with a slick, elusive speed-based attack and then ensured the win by taking the battle inside in the later rounds, smothering Froch’s shots and grappling his way out of any possible danger.
The judges’ scorecards were unanimous, although a bit odd: 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110 for Ward. The Boxing Tribune also scored the fight 118-110 for Ward.
Andre Ward, who beat Froch, Arthur Abraham, Allan Green, and Mikkel Kessler to take the Super Six win, now moves on to a possible bout with IBF titlist, Lucian Bute, although the WBC mandated earlier this week that the winner of Ward-Froch face Anthony Dirrell next.
Off-TV Undercard:
— Top welterweight prospect, Kell Brook (26-0, 18 KOs) stopped Tennessee-based club fighter, Luis Galarza (17-3, 13 KOs) in the fifth round of their scheduled ten.
— Light Heavyweight, Cornelius White (18-1, 15 KOs) scored the major upset over Cuban Olympian, Yordanis Despaigne (9-2, 4 KOs), winning a six round unanimous decision by scores of 59-55, 59-55, and 60-53.
— Edison Miranda (35-6, 30 KOs), in a light heavyweight bout, stopped Australia-based journeyman, Kariz Kariuki (24-10-2, 19 KOs) in the fifth round of their scheduled eight rounder.
— Heavyweight, Bowie Tupou (22-1, 16 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Donnell Holmes (33-2-2, 29 KOs) by scores of 95-94, 96-93, 95-94.
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