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I often base most of my boxing picks around mental outlook, or at least using it as a starting point. It's amazing how important it is to a fighter's success... it's one of the reasons I tentatively picked Froch to beat Taylor, for example. (That and the fact that Taylor is a terrible finisher who gases out after ten rounds).
But how would you rank the mental resolves of the Super Six? Here's my take, from best to worst:
1. Andre Ward.
I confess, I don't know much about Ward and have only seen two of his fights. When the chips are down, will he be able to come back from adversity or will he reach straight for his shine box? So far the signs are good, and it's not everyone that can make Mikkel Kessler mentally fold. No, wait, sorry, my mistake... it IS everyone that can make Mikkel Kessler mentally fold.
2. Carl Froch.
I did think there were chinks in the armour of Froch's psyche last time out as he let frustration get to him. But I suppose if you're going to get thrown off your game in the ring, then there's worse things you can do than bodyslam your opponent and repeatedly rabbit punch him. At least you're making sure it's still going your way, right? With his mental strength then I'd never completely write off Carl against anyone in the tournament, even if he didn't possess his silky smooth skills and lightning speed. He's a man that will always believe he can win, no matter what.
3. Arthur Abraham.
Down in my estimation after Saturday. I always thought his "nein! Low punchenshun! In my ballsenshun!" routine was just a bit of schtick. Every time the guy gets hit anywhere below the armpit he's bitching to the ref, but I thought it was just for ****s and giggles. But for a 30+ fight professional and former world champion to get themselves DQ'd... that shows a frustration and desperation that I hadn't previously suspected.
4. Allan Green.
Green made a name for himself with that 17 second piece of mayhem, but when he was dropped by average Edison Miranda he went into survival mode quicker than Paulie Malinaggi did against The Paler. Green always struck me as the naturally blackest of the Super Six, but as soon as he was KD'd he couldn't wait to reach for his shine box. This guy capitulates so readily if he fought Kessler the only competition would be to see who could quit on their stool first.
5. Mikkel Kessler.
Whenever I see Kessler on TV I always remember that time when I played a game of Poker with him. We'd both gone all in on a hand, and I was gutted when I saw him turn over a Royal Flush. All I had was a 2 and a 6.
However, fortunately for me I threw my cards over with speed and from the side of the table. Straight away Mikkel's face and body language fell.
"Schnell," he said, "Nein... nein... I izt are und fold. You vin."
"Mikkel," I protested, "wtf?? You've got a Royal Flush, there's no way you can lose."
"Nein," he said, "the way you throw down zee cards... so fast, so many anglezzz. Very confusing. I izt are und resigned to defeat. You vin."
He was a right prick if I'm being honest.
6. Andre Dirrell.
It's always difficult to describe to people what happened after you've seen a Dirrell fight. As soon as you tell them that he was on the canvas 20-30 times they go "wow, was his opponent a hard puncher then?"
And you have to explain "no... he was never knocked down. He just likes flopping over and falling on the canvas for no reason."
Dirrell is an undeniably talented boxer, but as soon as he sees a gloved hand on another man's body he's got one eye on his shine box and the other on which part of the canvas he'd most like to have a nap on.
Dirrell might also go down in history as being the first boxer ever to argue with the post-bout interviewer that he actually lost a fight.
"You won the fight, Andre."
"No, I didn't, Jim Gray, I was KTFO, dawg. I lost, man."
"No, Andre... you're confused. You did win the fight."
"No, I DIDN'T! Will everyone please stop talking to me? I lost the fight, dawg! LET ME BREATHE!"
But how would you rank the mental resolves of the Super Six? Here's my take, from best to worst:
1. Andre Ward.
I confess, I don't know much about Ward and have only seen two of his fights. When the chips are down, will he be able to come back from adversity or will he reach straight for his shine box? So far the signs are good, and it's not everyone that can make Mikkel Kessler mentally fold. No, wait, sorry, my mistake... it IS everyone that can make Mikkel Kessler mentally fold.
2. Carl Froch.
I did think there were chinks in the armour of Froch's psyche last time out as he let frustration get to him. But I suppose if you're going to get thrown off your game in the ring, then there's worse things you can do than bodyslam your opponent and repeatedly rabbit punch him. At least you're making sure it's still going your way, right? With his mental strength then I'd never completely write off Carl against anyone in the tournament, even if he didn't possess his silky smooth skills and lightning speed. He's a man that will always believe he can win, no matter what.
3. Arthur Abraham.
Down in my estimation after Saturday. I always thought his "nein! Low punchenshun! In my ballsenshun!" routine was just a bit of schtick. Every time the guy gets hit anywhere below the armpit he's bitching to the ref, but I thought it was just for ****s and giggles. But for a 30+ fight professional and former world champion to get themselves DQ'd... that shows a frustration and desperation that I hadn't previously suspected.
4. Allan Green.
Green made a name for himself with that 17 second piece of mayhem, but when he was dropped by average Edison Miranda he went into survival mode quicker than Paulie Malinaggi did against The Paler. Green always struck me as the naturally blackest of the Super Six, but as soon as he was KD'd he couldn't wait to reach for his shine box. This guy capitulates so readily if he fought Kessler the only competition would be to see who could quit on their stool first.
5. Mikkel Kessler.
Whenever I see Kessler on TV I always remember that time when I played a game of Poker with him. We'd both gone all in on a hand, and I was gutted when I saw him turn over a Royal Flush. All I had was a 2 and a 6.
However, fortunately for me I threw my cards over with speed and from the side of the table. Straight away Mikkel's face and body language fell.
"Schnell," he said, "Nein... nein... I izt are und fold. You vin."
"Mikkel," I protested, "wtf?? You've got a Royal Flush, there's no way you can lose."
"Nein," he said, "the way you throw down zee cards... so fast, so many anglezzz. Very confusing. I izt are und resigned to defeat. You vin."
He was a right prick if I'm being honest.
6. Andre Dirrell.
It's always difficult to describe to people what happened after you've seen a Dirrell fight. As soon as you tell them that he was on the canvas 20-30 times they go "wow, was his opponent a hard puncher then?"
And you have to explain "no... he was never knocked down. He just likes flopping over and falling on the canvas for no reason."
Dirrell is an undeniably talented boxer, but as soon as he sees a gloved hand on another man's body he's got one eye on his shine box and the other on which part of the canvas he'd most like to have a nap on.
Dirrell might also go down in history as being the first boxer ever to argue with the post-bout interviewer that he actually lost a fight.
"You won the fight, Andre."
"No, I didn't, Jim Gray, I was KTFO, dawg. I lost, man."
"No, Andre... you're confused. You did win the fight."
"No, I DIDN'T! Will everyone please stop talking to me? I lost the fight, dawg! LET ME BREATHE!"
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