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Andre Dirrell: “I believe Abraham is easily beatable”
by Geoffrey Ciani & Jenna J - This past week’s edition of On the Ropes featured exclusive interviews with Andre Dirrell, Kevin McBride, Vivian Harris, and Michael Oliveria. Highlighting this episode was a nice conversation with Super Six participant, Andre Dirrell. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
Regarding his injury that delayed his upcoming fight with Arthur Abraham three weeks:
“Well, it’s fine. The past week I sustained a back injury and I didn’t want to risk the fight so that’s the reason why it was postponed. I went to the doctor to make sure everything was okay. I just pretty much threw my back out and we’re working on that right now.”
On whether or not he believes he will be prepared on March 27 with the injury:
“I’m hoping that will be the case. I know for certain this fight will go on but I’m hoping that’s the case. I’m hoping we can get in there as soon as possible because I’m in shape, I’m working hard, and I’m ready to show the world what I can do..”
Regarding his controversial split decision loss against Carl Froch in round 1 of the Super Six:
“The decision still bothers me a little. I have that loss on my record, you know. I look at it, and I move forward with confidence. Like everyone says, most people believe I won the fight and I do as well. I put in the work and I put in the time, but unfortunately I did not come out with the victory. I’m moving forward now and the world’s going to see how I respond and I know it’s going to be with excellence.”
On what he could have done differently against Froch:
“Well I actually could have threw more punches on the inside. I was focused on making sure he didn’t get his punches in on inside and that was the major mistake that I actually made in that fight.”
Regarding whose first round victory most impressed him: Andre Ward or Arthur Abraham:
“Andre Ward—and I’m sure I speak for everyone in the boxing world when I say that. He showed an excellent performance, he went in there with a solid game plan, and he came out victorious. (Mikkel) Kessler was one of the favorites and Ward got in there and made him look like a little boy.”
On his scheduled third round match-up against Andre Ward:
“You have boxer against boxer. I take more chances, he’s more careful so we both go in there with a solid game plan but I believe it’s going to be an excellent fight and it’s something the crowd is going to be interested to see.”
His views on the upcoming fight between Froch and Kessler:
“I’m really not too focused on that fight but I said that before I fought Froch that I don’t believe he’s going to beat Kessler. He has a better chance against Abraham if you ask me but I don’t see him beating Kessler. Kessler’s a great boxer, still, and his confidence is still going to be through the roof knowing what’s at stake in this tournament. Everybody’s coming a little bit stronger and a little bit harder. I’m not counting Froch out at all, but I believe Kessler’s just the better man.”
His views on the upcoming second round fight between Andre Ward and Allan Green:
“Allan Green’s coming in this tournament full-fledged. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain. He knows this is a gift, so I’m thinking he’s going to take it and run with it—not the victory. I believe Andre Ward will come out with the victory, but who knows, simply because the determination that Allan Green has coming into this tournament is through the roof. I know he’s going to come hard, I know it’s going to be a great fight, but I do see Ward pulling off a slight victory.”
His views on Abraham’s victory against Jermain Taylor:
“It was good. It was Arthur Abraham. You see him every fight fighting the same way. He’s a careful puncher, he has great defense—it’s really hard to break, but if you make all the right moves and you utilize the ring then I believe he’s easily beatable. Not just with me, but with any boxer who’s disciplined enough to get in there and be able to handle that style for twelve rounds. I thought it was a good performance from Jermain Taylor as well, and unfortunately, the reason why Jermain got knocked out as we all know is that he stood right there like he was stuck on the mat. He stood right in front of him before the knockdown. He wasn’t supposed to give him that opportunity. If he wouldn’t have gave him that opportunity it would have been a decision for Abraham, but he stood there and gave Abraham the shot and that’s what caused Jermain Taylor’s demise.”
On what he perceives as an advantage in his fight against Abraham:
“Quickness and my ability to counter punch two or three times better than any opponent he’s ever faced. I’m going in there with confidence, like I said, and I’m just ready to get in there and show the world what I can do.”
On what he considers to be Arthur Abraham’s greatest asset:
“He’s explosive. I mean he’s explosive and he’s undefeated, so he’s super confident. He hits hard, he’s explosive. Any one punch can end the fight—I know that won’t happen. You don’t fight too many fighters with the explosiveness that Arthur Abraham has. He knows how to come out of that shell real fast, he’s quick with the hooks he throws, and he’s definitely an explosive fighter so you have to be careful.”
On whether he intends to take advantage of Abraham’s notoriously slow starts:
“If that does come about. Who knows how he’s going to start when he gets in there and faces me. I’m young, he knows I have great foot movement, and he knows I can get out of there. So he might press his luck early and that’s what I’m getting prepared for. I’m not getting prepared for him for the last six rounds with Arthur Abraham, I’m getting ready for the full twelve.”
His prediction for his fight with Abraham:
“I’ll come out with the victory. That’s my prediction.”
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by Geoffrey Ciani & Jenna J - This past week’s edition of On the Ropes featured exclusive interviews with Andre Dirrell, Kevin McBride, Vivian Harris, and Michael Oliveria. Highlighting this episode was a nice conversation with Super Six participant, Andre Dirrell. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
Regarding his injury that delayed his upcoming fight with Arthur Abraham three weeks:
“Well, it’s fine. The past week I sustained a back injury and I didn’t want to risk the fight so that’s the reason why it was postponed. I went to the doctor to make sure everything was okay. I just pretty much threw my back out and we’re working on that right now.”
On whether or not he believes he will be prepared on March 27 with the injury:
“I’m hoping that will be the case. I know for certain this fight will go on but I’m hoping that’s the case. I’m hoping we can get in there as soon as possible because I’m in shape, I’m working hard, and I’m ready to show the world what I can do..”
Regarding his controversial split decision loss against Carl Froch in round 1 of the Super Six:
“The decision still bothers me a little. I have that loss on my record, you know. I look at it, and I move forward with confidence. Like everyone says, most people believe I won the fight and I do as well. I put in the work and I put in the time, but unfortunately I did not come out with the victory. I’m moving forward now and the world’s going to see how I respond and I know it’s going to be with excellence.”
On what he could have done differently against Froch:
“Well I actually could have threw more punches on the inside. I was focused on making sure he didn’t get his punches in on inside and that was the major mistake that I actually made in that fight.”
Regarding whose first round victory most impressed him: Andre Ward or Arthur Abraham:
“Andre Ward—and I’m sure I speak for everyone in the boxing world when I say that. He showed an excellent performance, he went in there with a solid game plan, and he came out victorious. (Mikkel) Kessler was one of the favorites and Ward got in there and made him look like a little boy.”
On his scheduled third round match-up against Andre Ward:
“You have boxer against boxer. I take more chances, he’s more careful so we both go in there with a solid game plan but I believe it’s going to be an excellent fight and it’s something the crowd is going to be interested to see.”
His views on the upcoming fight between Froch and Kessler:
“I’m really not too focused on that fight but I said that before I fought Froch that I don’t believe he’s going to beat Kessler. He has a better chance against Abraham if you ask me but I don’t see him beating Kessler. Kessler’s a great boxer, still, and his confidence is still going to be through the roof knowing what’s at stake in this tournament. Everybody’s coming a little bit stronger and a little bit harder. I’m not counting Froch out at all, but I believe Kessler’s just the better man.”
His views on the upcoming second round fight between Andre Ward and Allan Green:
“Allan Green’s coming in this tournament full-fledged. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain. He knows this is a gift, so I’m thinking he’s going to take it and run with it—not the victory. I believe Andre Ward will come out with the victory, but who knows, simply because the determination that Allan Green has coming into this tournament is through the roof. I know he’s going to come hard, I know it’s going to be a great fight, but I do see Ward pulling off a slight victory.”
His views on Abraham’s victory against Jermain Taylor:
“It was good. It was Arthur Abraham. You see him every fight fighting the same way. He’s a careful puncher, he has great defense—it’s really hard to break, but if you make all the right moves and you utilize the ring then I believe he’s easily beatable. Not just with me, but with any boxer who’s disciplined enough to get in there and be able to handle that style for twelve rounds. I thought it was a good performance from Jermain Taylor as well, and unfortunately, the reason why Jermain got knocked out as we all know is that he stood right there like he was stuck on the mat. He stood right in front of him before the knockdown. He wasn’t supposed to give him that opportunity. If he wouldn’t have gave him that opportunity it would have been a decision for Abraham, but he stood there and gave Abraham the shot and that’s what caused Jermain Taylor’s demise.”
On what he perceives as an advantage in his fight against Abraham:
“Quickness and my ability to counter punch two or three times better than any opponent he’s ever faced. I’m going in there with confidence, like I said, and I’m just ready to get in there and show the world what I can do.”
On what he considers to be Arthur Abraham’s greatest asset:
“He’s explosive. I mean he’s explosive and he’s undefeated, so he’s super confident. He hits hard, he’s explosive. Any one punch can end the fight—I know that won’t happen. You don’t fight too many fighters with the explosiveness that Arthur Abraham has. He knows how to come out of that shell real fast, he’s quick with the hooks he throws, and he’s definitely an explosive fighter so you have to be careful.”
On whether he intends to take advantage of Abraham’s notoriously slow starts:
“If that does come about. Who knows how he’s going to start when he gets in there and faces me. I’m young, he knows I have great foot movement, and he knows I can get out of there. So he might press his luck early and that’s what I’m getting prepared for. I’m not getting prepared for him for the last six rounds with Arthur Abraham, I’m getting ready for the full twelve.”
His prediction for his fight with Abraham:
“I’ll come out with the victory. That’s my prediction.”
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