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On Saturday night, the Showtime's anticipated Super Six tournament kicked off with a bang. In Berlin, Germany, Arthur Abraham knocked out Jermain Taylor in the twelfth round. Over in Nottingham, England, WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch won a controversial split decision over Andre Dirrell.
WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler sat ringside in Berlin, Germany and watched Arthur Abraham's brutal knockout of Jermain Taylor in the closing seconds of the twelfth and final round. Kessler and Abraham are both stablemates under promotional company Sauerland Event and they are also the co-favorites to win the Super Six tournament. Kessler faces Andre Ward in the first stage of the Super Six on November 21 in Oakland. He could wind up facing Abraham down the line.
WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch saw no controversy with his recent split decision win Andre Dirrell in Nottingham, England. The fight was close and so were the scores. European judges Massimo Barrovecchio and Daniel Van de Wiele scored it 115-112 for Froch, and Mexican judge Alejandro Rochin favored Dirrell, 114-113.
At the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch (26-0, 2OKOs) won a twelve round split decision over Andre Dirrell (18-1, 13KOs), picking up two points in the first stage of the Super Six Boxing Classic tournament. The scores were 114-113 for Dirrell, 115-112 for Froch and 115-112 for Froch.
In a little while, super middleweights Jermain Taylor (28-3, 17KOs) and Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24KOs) will battle it out at the O2 World Arena in Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany. The fight will be televised on a "delayed basis" on Showtime later tonight. For those who are unable to watch tonight's event, the result will posted right here at the conclusion of the fight. Taylor and Abraham battle in the first round of the Super Six tournament.
Trainer Freddie Roach shouldn't have any worries. Kenny Bayless has been selected as the official third man to referee the welterweight clash between Manny Pacquiao and WBO champion Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Roach was worried that Joe Cortez, who is Puerto Rican like Cotto, might land the slot.
The hot story, broken by BoxingScene.com's Ronnie Nathanielsz, and later denied by Michael Koncz - has now been confirmed to be 100% legit. As previously reported on BoxingScene, Manny Pacquiao's conditioning coach Alex Ariza punched out Michael Koncz, who is Pacquiao's advisor, after tempers exploded at Manny's training camp in Baguio City.
WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch doesn't expect a war on Saturday night. He expects challenger Andre Dirrell to run away and survive like he did in the fight with Curtis Stevens. Froch plans to come forward and take the fight to Dirrell from the opening bell. He doesn't think Dirrell will be able to run for twelve full rounds. Froch plans to punish him once he slows down.
Hard punching featherweight Mario Santiago (20-1, 14KOs) has inked a three-year deal with Top Rank. He hopes the deal will put him in position to land a major fight in 2010. Santiago returns on Saturday night in Texas in a tune-up against Chule Morris (11-7-2, 8KOs).
WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon is keeping his fingers crossed that IBF champion Brian Viloria beats Omar "Nino" Romero without injury on December 5 in the Philippines. Viloria has been talking with Top Rank, who also promote Viloria, about a unification bout in early 2010.