By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com spoke to promoter Gary Shaw about the third stage bouts in Showtime's Super Six tournament. The fight between Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch has yet to be finalized, but Shaw predicts a knockout win for Abraham when it actually takes place.
"Abraham will knock Froch out. Mikkel Kessler don't hit like Arthur Abraham," Shaw said.
The sides for Froch and Abraham have not finalized an agreement on where their fight will take place. The same situation stands true for Andre Dirrell vs. Andre Ward, set for the tentative date of September 25. Showtime wants to place Kessler vs. Allan Green on the same date to create a televised doubleheader.
Shaw is still very against the idea of making the fight in Ward's hometown of Oakland, California, telling BoxingScene there is "less than no chance" of an agreement being reached to send Dirrell-Ward to Oakland. Ward's promoter Dan Goossen is open to sending Ward to Dirrell's hometown of Detroit - for the right money. Shaw has not made an offer, but says he's been waiting for "two months" to receive a return call from Goossen to discuss the fight.
Dirrell and Ward have been friends for a long time. Shaw doesn't believe the friendship will affect the action in the ring. He predicts an impressive win for Dirrell, by decision or knockout.
"I think they are going to be friends until one of them lands the first hard punch. Then they won't be friends anymore," Shaw said.
"It's a close fight. Both guys are highly skilled. Both guys know each other very well. I believe Dirrell wins by a very, very late knockout of just a decision."
When asked for a prediction on the tentative co-main event between Kessler and Green, Shaw backed Kessler 100% to come out with a win. He doesn't see any possible scenario where Green will be able pull it off.
