From 411mania:
In a telephone conversation with Dan Goossen earlier today, the promoter told 411mania that negotiations are still ongoing with Gary Shaw as it relates to the Super Six World Boxing Classic showdown between Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell.
Both sides have remained pretty firm about not wanting their own fighter to compete in the other's hometown. A large portion of insiders feel Dirrell was robbed in his Round 1 clash with Carl Froch in England while his second fight in his hometown of Detroit resulted in a technical decision win over Arthur Abraham. Meanwhile, Andre Ward has enjoyed both of his fights in Oakland, much to the dismay of some of the Super Six promoters who aren't too thrilled that Ward has not yet had to go on the road.
Goossen, however feels it's less about having a hometown advantage and more about what makes sense financially when explaining his stance on bringing Ward vs. Dirrell to Oakland.
"Obviously Andre has been drawing a lot of fans and big gates, outside of the super fights out there, and that's against fighters that the casual fan doesn't know that well," explained Goossen. "They didn't know who Miranda or Kessler were...they knew he was a champ but that's it and with Green, well he had less name value than Miranda, which wasn't that great to begin with. Andre has been pulling in some big numbers out there..bigger than last weekend's card in Las Vegas even ...taking the fight out of Oakland would leave a lot of money on the table."
Goossen also pointed out that Dirrell's fight in his own hometown didn't draw that many fans, especially in comparison to the numbers Ward has done in Oracle Arena throughout the tournament.
As it stands, the two promoters continue to discuss the date and location of the fight which was tentatively scheduled for late September.
I agree like i said it before, all the fights from now on should be on neutral soil, or even give Dirrell a fight in Detroit, but Ward don't need any hometown decisions. He still would have wooped Kesslar if he fight completely clean.
He's gonna win the tourney then kick Bute's ass...lol.
This fight should be in Detroit. Dirrell has gotten screwed royally in this tournament having to go to England where boxing is a joke just to get screwed by a bunch over of Euro homers and not being expected to fight somewhere other than his hometown against a guy who has already fought at home twice.
Nobody has pointed out that all 3 of Dirrell's fights in this tournament were against undefeated fighters... undefeated... no Allen Green's or Jermain Taylor's for him.
To expect him to fight the 3 best guys in the tournament and take 2 of 3 in the opponent's hometown is nonsense.
That being said I know that Shaw and Dirrell will happily leave money on the table to bring it to Detroit.
Advancing to the semi finals after receiving a fair decision will make him 10x more money over the next year than the amount he lost by not going to Oakland.
All the super 6 fights should be fought on neutral soil from now on. This shit is becoming too much of an issue. I still got Ward winning it, wherever he fights. He'll beat Bute too. He'll come out of the tourney with much experience, confidence to lose. Ward is polishing up and honing his skills while Bute take it a bit easy.
You take out of it what you put into it. Well, least most of the time it works that way.
he'll send ward to detroit so Ward can have his "away" fight inside the US and get him home advantage for the semi final
Yeah. Still I seem to recall that the semis should be held in the US according to the initial agreements between the promotors. Even if say Abraham should meet Kessler in an all euro showdown.
Homefield is not only about judges. It's also referee, not leaving your familiar surroundings etc.
Lol if Ward-Green had trouble selling. Goossens arguments come tumbling down... if Dirrells manager Shaw is wise enough to look through it.
My guess is that Goossen is just trying to gain some leverage and a larger slice of the pie before agreeing to sending Ward to Detroit.
Give Shaw a few hours he willl comeback with fire, he always does. That guy really loves his fighters lol.
I think they should do it in Vegas, I thought that was the plan?
but I doesn't matter as long as the fight happens, Ticket Sales won't be a problem but they need to hurry up and fight a place to have the fight so they can start selling tickets
Has Ward got any gift decisions? No.
But in all fairness, didnt Ward-Green almost get canceled due to lack of ticket-sales?
what? shit was packed in there! btw i think the fight should be in vegas.
Has Ward got any gift decisions? No.
But in all fairness, didnt Ward-Green almost get canceled due to lack of ticket-sales?
Homefield is not only about judges. It's also referee, not leaving your familiar surroundings etc.
Lol if Ward-Green had trouble selling. Goossens arguments come tumbling down... if Dirrells manager Shaw is wise enough to look through it.
My guess is that Goossen is just trying to gain some leverage and a larger slice of the pie before agreeing to sending Ward to Detroit.
Goossen protects Ward to the highest degree. Stretching the truth to some extent by saying that Dirrell is not a big draw but failing to say the fight wasn't scheduled for Detroit untill some 2 weeks before.