Dirrell: Sakio Bika Not a Real Champ, I Will Burn Him

By Edward Chaykovsky

Unbeaten Anthony "The Dog'' Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs) is not going to recognize Sakio Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs) as the WBC super middleweight champion, because Dirrell believes he did more than enough to win their fight, which ended in a controversial draw, last December. They meet later tonight in a rematch at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

"I'm definitely ready to fight. If I wasn't I sure couldn't make it happen in two days. I'm basically going to stick to my game plan from the first fight, but with a few tweaks. I want to leave nothing to chance," Dirrell said

"It's been nine months since our first fight. You can't call Bika a real champion. I beat him the first time; this time it's going to be worse. There's going to be a new champion on Saturday. It's going to be a helluva fight, but I'm going to burn him."

Dirrell is also inspired by fellow cancer survivor Danny Jacobs, who captured the WBA's 'regular' middleweight title last week with a TKO win over Jarrod Flecther at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn New York. Jacobs will be sitting ringside as an expert analyst for Showtime's commentary team.

"I already won my toughest fight when I beat cancer. A big part of my motivation on Saturday is knowing that Danny Jacobs will be calling the fights from ringside for Showtime," Dirrell said.