Whether you are Filipino, Mexican or American, you should pay attention to the action Saturday 8 PM ET happening in England and Germany that officially kicks off the Showtime-sponsored Super Middleweight (168) Super Six World Boxing Classic.
That’s a lot to fit on a business card, but I believe this tournament – style (round robin modified) 168 pound event could be the wave of the future to bring big name fighters together when they are kept apart by the numerous sanctioning groups that promise them easier and lucrative fights from time to time.
On Saturday we have two fights. WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch, hosts WBC No. 1 Contender Andre Dirrell from Froch’s home of Nottingham, England.
Former IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham hosts former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in Germany. Abraham has vacated his 160 title and will now campaign as a super middleweight.
Froch is about a 2 to 1 favorite over Dirrell while Abraham is just under 2 to 1 pick over Taylor.
I have included a few details here. But to be sure, and to see easily the best boxing site ever created, go to the Showtime site.
http://sports.sho.com/world-boxing-classic.html
For all six participants to to face each other will take almost three years. This is not a one loss and you’re out gig. Each fighter is guaranteed three fights. Provisions are in place for injuries and virtually anything the promoters could think of. However, boxing is the theater of the bizarre and unexpected.
At least the World Boxing Council says it will honor commitments made by its fighters in the tournament and not penalize them for missing mandatory WBC title fights while they are in the Super Six. This is a progressive, major concession. WBC President Jose Sulaiman has also offered the WBC’s assistance in supervising the fights.
This is quite an ambitious undertaking.
The tournament winner will probably be expected to win four of his five fights. Fighters get two points for a win and one point for a draw. A knockout will add one point.
Looking at the big picture, this could lead to tournaments in the lighter weight divisions that could lead to fights between Filipino and Mexican fighters that are never made because a loss could be financially devastating. This could start to take away that fear.
