Andre Dirrell Targets Carl Froch Rematch After Easy Win

By Cliff Rold

Making only his third start since an infamous 2010 disqualification win over Arthur Abraham in the “Super Six” tournament, 30-year old Andre Dirrell (22-1, 15 KO), 172, of Flint, Michigan, scored a fifth round stoppage of 32-year old Vladine Biosse (15-5-2, 7 KO), 172, of Providence, Rhode Island, in Light Heavyweight action.  The referee was Jeff Macaluso.

Looking sharp and moving regularly from southpaw to orthodox, 2004 US Olympic Bronze Medalist at Middleweight peppered Biosse with right jabs and outworked him at close quarters.  In the fifth, Dirrell battered Biosse with short hooks and uppercuts off the ropes before unleashing a storm of left uppercuts to hurt Biosse and back him to the ropes.  Landing at will with power shots, Macaluso halted the action at 2:46 of round five.

It was Biosse’s third straight loss and fourth in his last six starts.  Three of those four losses have been inside the distance.

Interviewed in the ring after the fight, Dirrell commented on returning to action for the first time since February 2013.  “I usually come into a fight nervous…but today, I felt comfortable ever since walking into the arena.  Not just cause the of the level of the opponent but because I wanted to look good.  I knew I looked good because I trained so hard.”  Looking to the future, Dirrell was open to competing at both Super Middleweight (168 lbs.) and Light Heavyweight (175).  “I’m juggling from 68 to 75.  I want to do both weight classes but first and foremost I want to win a title down here at 68.”

“My first target is (IBF/WBA titlist) Carl Froch.  I want Carl Froch.  I don’t know how long it’s going to take.  I told him on the phone a while back that I’m working.  I told (manager/advisor) Al (Haymon), it’s unrealistic, but if I can get in there with Froch today, I would do the job. I would get the job done.  I want to earn my spot.  I want to earn a shot at Froch.  I want to earn a shot at (lineal World Champion Andre) Ward.”

Dirrell, always an outstanding talent, sounded the part.  Time will tell if he can get fully back on track.       

The card was broadcast in the US on ESPN2 as part of its “Friday Night Fights” series, promoted by Goosen Promotions.

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene and a member of the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com