Boxing.com

Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, the semi-finals of Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic get underway with undefeated WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (23-0, 13 KOs) defending his crown against Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs).

The Oakland-based Ward, 27, opened the Classic and many people’s eyes when he upset Mikkel Kessler on Nov. 21, 2009. In his next fight, on June 19, 2010, Ward decisioned Allan Green, who forgot he was in the ring to fight and not grab a paycheck. Since Ward’s 12-round pounding of Green, he fought Sakio Bika on Nov. 11, 2010, not as part of Showtime’s tournament, and relieved The Scorpion of his title.

On the other side of the ledger, Ward’s opponent, Arthur Abraham, 31, has had less success of late. Although he KO’d a shot Jermain Taylor on Oct. 17, 2009, in his initial Classic outing, in his next bout, on March 27, 2010, Abraham was DQ’d in round 11. Abraham was trailing on all three scorecards when his opponent, Andre Dirrell, slipped and fell to the canvas. Abraham hit Dirrell when he was down, and his unsportsmanlike conduct indicates how well, or how poorly, he deals with pressure and imminent loss.

Abraham’s next opponent in the tourney was heavy-handed Carl Froch. Froch’s lopsided 12-round victory on Nov. 27, 2010, advanced him in the tourney as he continued to cement his legacy.

“I think Carl showed us a good blueprint [for beating Abraham],” Ward says. “But I’m going to do it my own way. I’m very desperate, too. I don’t think people understand that. I try to train with a sense of urgency. Whether Abraham had beat Carl Froch in convincing fashion or if he was in the situation he is now with two losses, I would still train the same. I train until it hurts.”

Ward is young and hungry. He still has lots to learn. But Ward is a smart fighter. He won’t trade with Abraham because he doesn’t have to. Ward will box and move. He will move and box.

“When I prepare for Arthur Abraham, I train for the best Arthur Abraham. I take being the WBA champion very seriously. I respect every fighter in the sport and I train for every fight accordingly.” 

Ward is the betting favorite.

“A lot of people use the term ‘favorite’ very loosely,” he says. “But I don’t consider myself the favorite because I haven’t gotten my just dues yet. I train with a chip on my shoulder because there is more to prove. There is still plenty of work to be done.”

If Ward gets past Abraham, the winner of the next semi-final, Carl Froch or Glen Johnson, will be ready, willing, and able to give him a fight for his money.

“I feel Abraham has got the punching power in both hands to take Ward to places he has never been inside a boxing ring,” says Froch. “It’s just a matter of whether or not he can get past Ward’s excellent boxing ability, the kind of ability that earned him an Olympic Gold Medal. Although this is the pros, I still think the smart money is on a points win for Ward. But, don’t be surprised if Abraham turns up meaning business and uses his strength to close the ring down. He might just catch Ward unexpectedly for a KO win.”

Glen Johnson does not agree. “It is going to be a tough, close fight,” he says.” I like Ward pulling out a close win. If Abraham is going to win, he’s going to have to score a knockout, but I see Ward using his speed and coming away with the decision.”