RingTV.com caught up to switch-hitting supermiddleweight contender Andre Dirrell, who returns to the ring Friday night in a Showtime-televised double-header that also features the comeback of former undisputed middleweight beltholder Jermain Taylor at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, Calif.
The 28-year-old Dirrell (19-1, 13 knockouts) will be in against a southpaw in Darryl Cunningham (24-2, 10 KOs), and Taylor, opposite the 24-year-old Baltimore native Jessie Nicklow (22-2-3, 8 KOs), who is 3-0-1, with one knockout since being stopped in the fourth round by Fernando Guerrereo December of 2009.
A former Olympic bronze medalist, Dirrell was last in the ring against Germany’s Arthur Abraham in March of last year in the second round of the Showtime’s Super Six World Super Middleweight Classic.
That bout ended in controversy when Abraham was disqualified after punching Dirrell — who was far ahead on the cards — while he was down in the 11th round. Dirrell then exited the tournament, citing neurological issues.
Prior to facing Abraham, Dirrell had lost a split-decision to current RING No. 2-rated WBC supermiddleweight beltholder Carl Froch, who was dethroned in the Super Six title bout by unanimous decision on Dec. 17 against RING No. 5-rated pound-for-pound fighter and WBA titleholder Andre Ward.
Also a former member of the Super Six Tournament is the 33-year-old Taylor (28-4-1, 17 KOs), whose past two bouts, similarly, were against Froch and Abraham. Taylor was knocked out in the 12th round by Froch in April of 2009, and by Abraham in the 12th in October of 2009 — one bout prior to Abraham’s facing Dirrell.
