THIS marks the beginning of a new weekly section, wherein three of the Boxing News team ? Web Editor Danny Flexen, Reporter Matt Christie and Editorial Assistant John Dennen ? will debate one of the coming weekend?s big fights and then make their all-important prediction. This will then form part of a league table where the Mystic Megs will be separated from the cystic smegs. We will award ourselves three points for naming the correct winner, a bonus point for the method of victory ? stoppage, points etc ? and another for either the round of an early finish or the type of decision (unanimous, split or majority).
The debate we have will be recorded live then transcribed for this page. We kick off with the Super Six clash between WBA super-middleweight champion Andre Ward and Allan Green. Once you?ve read what we think, we want to know ?Who are you picking?? Please click ?Leave a comment? at the bottom of the page and give us your own predictions. We hope you like reading the new section as much as we did making it.
Danny Flexen: Andre Ward v Allan Green is the big fight this weekend. First of all, what do we think of Allan Green? Matt?
Matt Christie: Allan Green?s been around for quite a long time now and he?s never really gone anywhere. He had that loss to Edison Miranda which I don?t think you can judge too much from ? I think it?s been proven that he had medical issues with his colon. What I do think you can judge from that fight is that while Ward?s been saying he?s going to get a knockout I don?t think that?s going to happen. If Green can stand up to Miranda in that kind of state, he can stand up to Andre Ward.
John Dennen: But Miranda was about to knock him out just before the fight ended ? in the 10th round when Miranda charged in, Green was going to go.
DF: I think the intriguing thing about that fight is that in the build-up Green talked a lot of trash like he has for this fight but against Miranda once he felt Miranda?s power he went into his shell. But I?m not sure Ward has that same level of power to keep Green on the back foot. He?s more speed than power.
MC: Yeah, I think Ward?s as effective as he is awkward. I hadn?t seen anything like that for quite a while, the way he leaps in and leaps out again. He proved to be Mikkel Kessler?s worst nightmare and I didn?t see that coming [laughs]? I think somebody else did.
DF: [laughs] Yeah, I can?t remember who that man was off the top of my head but if he were here I?d shake his hand and call him a genius.
The Kessler fight was obviously Ward?s coming-out party but I thought he showed a lot of physical strength, he was robust, good on the inside; he showed elements of Bernard Hopkins as much as Roy Jones in that fight.
MC: You would hope that Green will really test Ward?s whiskers. He?s got that fantastic left hook and that lovely right hand over the top as well.
JD: But Ward?s quite hard to hit and Green, his hands are fast but his footwork appears quite slow. If you?re Miranda standing in front of him looking to unleash big shots then he can get you but Ward?s awkward, moves his body as much as his head and it?s hard to see how Green?s going to trouble Ward.
DF: Ward dominated Miranda but he was fighting a Miranda who had been stopped a couple of times by that point. Green fought Miranda not long after he?d lost to Arthur Abraham the first time and broken his jaw.
JD: But there is a case for saying Ward is overrated, that maybe Kessler did have a bad day. His next performance against Froch was far better.
MC: That?s a difficult question. The crucial thing about this fight for me is that Ward has already proven himself. Three fights ago he hadn?t really fought anyone but he shined against Miranda then even more against Kessler. Green hasn?t had that coming-out party and it could potentially be his night but I can?t see it.
PLACE YOUR BETS
DF: Now it?s time to put our necks on the line and make predictions. Matt, who?s going to win and how.
MC: Ward to win, on points and it?ll be unanimous.
DF: John, the man who gave us Scott Lawton to beat Leva Kirakosyan [everyone laughs], we?re desperate to hear who you?re going for.
JD: I think Ward might put Green down a couple of times but I don?t think he?ll stop him. So I think it?ll be a wide points victory for Ward.
DF: Well, at the risk of flying in the face of conventional wisdom, I?m going to agree with John and say Ward wins a comfortable unanimous decision.
