by David P. Greisman
It has taken two years – two years with several injuries, postponements, withdrawals and declarations of doom. But we are nearly there nevertheless, just a month and a half away from Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch and the conclusion of Showtime’s “Super Six” super middleweight tournament.
It has also been two years with important fights between many of the top fighters at 168 pounds. And Lucian Bute is waiting in the wings.
What comes after Ward-Froch? And will Showtime look to do more tournaments?
With Ken Hershman having departed the network for HBO, Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio is, for the moment, the point man for boxing questions.
BoxingScene.com: The “Super Six” is coming to an end. What’s the network’s perspective on the tournament finally at its finale?
DeBlasio: “It’s been an incredible two-year journey. I don’t think anyone expected the level of drama and intensity that went into every single fight of the ‘Super Six.’ We knew it would be special, and we knew all the fights would deliver based on the guys that we had in there. But who knew what we were really in for?
“It turned out to be one heck of a ride, I think, from the fans’ standpoint and what ‘Fight Camp 360,’ our documentary show, has been able to show. The intensity, the competitiveness and the drama that goes into all of these fights are really something special. So everyone at our network, all corners of the company, everyone’s really looking forward to Dec. 17 and seeing the crowning of a super middleweight champ.”
BoxingScene.com: Any thoughts to another tournament, whether it’s one like the “Super Six” or one similar to the bantamweight tournament?
DeBlasio: “I think there’s talk of that all the time. You always have to look for the right opportunity to do that, because, really, the stars have to align. In the bantamweights, you had four guys that were willing to step in and put it all on the line in single-elimination style. In the ‘Super Six,’ these guys made a tremendous commitment, especially Carl Froch and Andre Ward.
“They made a commitment to fight the best guys in the division. Stars aligned between the promoters and deals that could be worked out to create the ‘Super Six, as well as the bantamweights, to a slightly smaller scale. I think the tournament format has proven innovative and captivating for fans.
“We always look to do something like that. But it’s not something that you can just say ‘Okay, we want to do it’ and execute it. There are a lot of peaks and valleys and challenges and hurdles that go into it.”
BoxingScene.com What happens after the “Super Six” championship? Is there any possibility for a rematch?
DeBlasio: “What happens after that is the promoters and the fighters will have to talk about what’s next for them and their future. And then they would come to Showtime and say ‘Look we want to do this. We want this fight. We want that fight.’ And we have the option to discuss.”
BoxingScene.com: How important is it to get the winner of the “Super Six” in with Lucian Bute – should Bute come out victorious against Glen Johnson?
DeBlasio: “I think what Showtime Boxing has done best over the last several years is put on the most competitive and most important fights for the divisions, from flyweight and bantamweight all the way through to super middleweight, and, when the opportunities arise, at heavyweight and cruiserweight and light heavyweight. That’s our goal: Let’s put the best, most competitive and most important fights on TV.
“If Lucian Bute beats Glen Johnson [tonight] – and with the ‘Super Six’ winner on Dec. 17, whomever that is – that fight is the biggest fight in super-middleweight history, in my estimation. So of course that’s something we’d look to do, and it’d be an important fight for boxing.
“However, super middleweight is so deep, and the guys that have suffered one loss or have stepped out of the ‘Super Six’ are all still viable competitors and still pose a big challenge to the titleholders. You’ve got Robert Stieglitz, and Mikkel Kessler over there in Europe as well. So there’s a lot to still happen in the super-middleweight division.
“I wouldn’t want to denigrate any other fight if the Bute vs. ‘Super Six’ winner doesn’t come off, but sure, the Bute-‘Super Six’ winner is definitely the biggest fight that can be made in this division.”
BoxingScene.com: What’s your prediction for who wins the “Super Six”?
DeBlasio: “I’m going to talk to you strictly as a fan, not as a network guy. I’m not going to be able to pick one guy over the other.
“I think the beauty of this final is you have two of the original contestants from the ‘Super Six.’ They have fought the toughest gauntlet of fights of any fighter out there today, one after another after another after another.
“Andre Ward handled all his business seemingly pretty well. He beat Kessler pretty handily. He handled Allan Green without problem. He really didn’t sustain any punches against Arthur Abraham. Carl Froch has been through the battles. Each fight was a battle. These guys have come through the toughest fights of any fighters of this era in succession. For the two of them to meet is something so special.
“As far as a prediction, I think Ward has got the ability and the skill, but I think Froch just has this fearlessness about him, that he’s not afraid to take a punch to get in there and get close and land his own punches. Look at what Froch did against Glen Johnson. Glen Johnson landed some huge shots against Froch, and every time he did, Froch responded with a three-punch combination, a four-punch combination.
“I mean, his will is unbelievable. And I think Andre Ward’s been underestimated in terms of his chin and his will. This is really as close a fight as you can get, in my opinion.”
David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter at twitter.com/fightingwords2 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fightingwordsboxing, or send questions and comments to fightingwords1@gmail.com
