Ward, Froch Thank Super Six For Profiles Being Raised

By Robert Morales

The theory goes that fighters not from the United States want to come here so they can become more known, which in turn can further a career.

Carl Froch of England is living proof this works. Not only has he fought three times in the U.S. - including twice in his past five bouts - he has fought on Showtime many times thanks to the cable network's Super Six super middleweight tournament.

Froch will get even more exposure when he takes on Andre Ward of Oakland next Saturday in the tournament final at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. (on Showtime). He does not take any of his good fortune for granted.

"I'm getting viewed on TV by many fight fans now, which is great," Froch said. "I've actually become more popular in America than before in England, which is great. I've really gotten some great matchups since the tournament started.

"(Andre) Dirrell, (Mikkel) Kessler, (Arthur) Abraham, (Glen) Johnson and now Ward. I don't think those fights would have happened if it wasn't for the tournament. It's been great for Andre and it's been great for myself."

Ward could not agree more.

"I think before the Super Six, the super middleweights were really a sleeper division," said the Oakland-based Ward, who has fought all but two of his bouts in the UnitedStates. "They looked right over the super middleweight division. They talked more about the light heavyweight division.

"And now people are talking about us and even after the tournament they are looking at the possible matchups with the fighters. I don't think I would have gotten this much visibility, or the division wouldn't have either, if it wasn't for the Super Six Tournament."

Besides the tournament championship, both fighters will be putting their world championship belts on the line.

Froch, 34, is 28-0 with 20 knockouts. Ward, 27, is 24-0 with 13 knockouts.