Super Six World Boxing Classic
{{short description|Boxing competitions}}
File:Showtime-super-six-boxing.jpg, Abraham, Froch, Taylor, Kessler, Dirrell (l. to r.). Not pictured are Johnson and Green, who replaced Taylor and Kessler in 2010's Group Stage 3.]]
The Super Six World Boxing Classic was a professional boxing tournament organized by the Showtime television network in co-operation with Sauerland Event. The tournament was held from 2009 to 2011, with all fights being contested in the super middleweight division. The winner of the tournament, Andre Ward, unified the WBA (Super title), WBC and The Ring Super Middleweight titles.
The competitors entered into the tournament were then-WBA Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler, then-undefeated WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, former middleweight champions Jermain Taylor and Arthur Abraham, and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell. Taylor and Kessler withdrew during the tournament and were replaced by former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson and super middleweight contender Allan Green.
The first matches took place on October 17, 2009. After three group stages, two semi-final matches were set. Ward defeated Abraham in the first, held on May 14, 2011. Froch defeated Johnson in the second, held on June 4, 2011. After Froch defeated Johnson, he was elevated to the number 2 rating by Ring Magazine. With Ward being rated number 1, the final pitted the number 1 and number 2 fighters against one another. This allowed for the Ring title vacancy to be filled at the tournament final.{{cite web|url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/167635-ring-ratings-update-froch-advances-to-no-2-super-middleweight|title=Ring ratings update: Froch advances to No. 2 super middleweight|author=Doug Fischer|date=8 June 2011|work=Ring TV}}
WBA Champion Ward beat WBC Champion Froch in the final of the tournament on 17 December 2011 at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/7027390/andre-ward-carl-froch-super-six-final-rescheduled-dec-17|title=Andre Ward-Carl Froch Super Six final rescheduled for Dec. 17|work=ESPN.com|date=27 September 2011}}
Format
All bouts were scheduled for 12 rounds.
The original format was based on a slate of six fighters who would compete throughout the group stage of the tournament, folding down to semi-final and final matches. The original format was adjusted due to numerous injuries and withdrawals amongst the original six boxers, and the insertion of replacement boxers at different stages through the tournament.
The competition started with a group stage where each boxer was meant to fight three times. A boxer would be awarded three points for a win by knockout or technical knockout, two points for a win on points (or by disqualification), one point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.[http://sports.sho.com/sswbc/scorecard.html Super Six World Boxing Classic Scorecard].
The top four from the group stage continued to the semifinals, matching the leader against no. 4 and no. 2 against no. 3. The winners of the semifinals then proceeded to the tournament final.
The WBC Super Middleweight Championship and WBA Super Middleweight Championship were meant to be on the line for each of the champions' fights, resulting in the unification of the two at the conclusion of the tournament.
Although this unification was potentially jeopardized by the withdrawal of former WBC champion Mikkel Kessler and the non-tournament bout between WBA (Super) Champion Andre Ward and Sakio Bika which followed the withdrawal of Andre Dirrell, both titles remained in the mix following the end of the group stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.badlefthook.com/2010/11/27/1839263/super-six-results-from-helsinki-carl-froch-v-arthur-abraham|title=Carl Froch Shuts Out Arthur Abraham Over 12 Rounds|author=Scott Christ|work=Bad Left Hook|date=27 November 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.badlefthook.com/2010/11/27/1839710/fight-results-andre-ward-against-sakio-bika#comments|title=Andre Ward Overcomes Sakio Bika Test in Oakland|author=Brickhaus|work=Bad Left Hook|date=27 November 2010}}
Participants
- Winner
- {{flagicon|USA}} Andre Ward – tournament winner and WBA (Super), WBC and The Ring Super Middleweight Champion. Ward won the WBA title in his Stage 1 fight and defended it to the end of the tournament. Ward won the WBC title from Froch and the vacant Ring Magazine title by defeating Froch in the final.
- Finalists
- {{flagicon|GBR}} Carl Froch – eliminated after defeat by Ward in the final. Froch was WBC champion entering the tournament, lost that title and then regained it during the course of the tournament. He carried the WBC title into the final bout.
- Semi-finalists
- {{flagicon|GER}} Arthur Abraham – eliminated after defeat by Andre Ward in semifinals.
- {{flagicon|JAM}} Glen Johnson – eliminated after defeat by Froch in the semifinals, replacement for Mikkel Kessler after Group Stage 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=31369|title=Glen Johnson-Allan Green is On! Super Six For Nov. 6 – Boxing News|work=boxingscene.com}}
- Round Robin only
- {{flagicon|USA}} Jermain Taylor – withdrew after Group Stage 1{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/more/sport/story/1843.html|title = Jermain Taylor withdraws from Super Six}}
- {{flagicon|DEN}} Mikkel Kessler – withdrew after Group Stage 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=5495497|title=Mikkel Kessler out of Super Six tourney|author= Dan Rafael|work=espn.com |date=2010-08-25 |access-date=2010-09-07}} Entered tournament as WBA champion and lost belt to Andre Ward in first bout; defeated Carl Froch for WBC title in next bout, but vacated title as he withdrew.
- {{flagicon|USA}} Andre Dirrell – withdrew after Group Stage 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=31596|title=Super Six Bombshell! Andre Dirrell Has Withdrawn! – Boxing News|work=boxingscene.com}}
- {{flagicon|USA}} Allan Green – eliminated after defeat by Glen Johnson in Group Stage 3{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/mma/boxing/11/08/allan.green.appeal/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112081739/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/mma/boxing/11/08/allan.green.appeal/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 12, 2010 | work=CNN | title=Green to appeal knockout loss to Johnson in Super Six tournament | date=November 8, 2010}} Replaced Jermain Taylor after Group Stage 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4851824|title=Super Six: Allan Green replaces Jermain Taylor, to face Andre Ward|work=ESPN.com|date=23 January 2010}}
Promoters
- Lou DiBella (promotes Allan Green, Glen Johnson and formerly Jermain Taylor)
- Dan Goossen (promotes Andre Ward)
- Mick Hennessy (promoted Carl Froch prior to his fight with Glen Johnson)
- Matchroom Sport (promotes Carl Froch starting with the Glen Johnson fight)
- Kalle Sauerland (promotes Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham)
- Gary Shaw (promotes Andre Dirrell)
Group stage
= Group Stage 1 =
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%" |
| style="background:#008b00;"
| Date | Competitor One | Result | Competitor Two | Venue | Titles |
| October 17, 2009
| {{yes2}}Arthur Abraham | {{yes2}}KO (12) 2:54 | {{no2}}Jermain Taylor | O2 World, Berlin, {{flagicon|Germany}} Germany | None |
| October 17, 2009
| {{yes2}}Carl Froch | {{yes2}}Split Decision | {{no2}}Andre Dirrell | Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, {{flagicon|GBR}} United Kingdom | Froch retains WBC Super Middleweight Championship |
| November 21, 2009
| {{yes2}}Andre Ward | {{yes2}}TD (11) 1:42 | {{no2}}Mikkel Kessler | Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, {{flagu|United States}} | Ward takes WBA Super Middleweight Championship. |
= Group Stage 2 =
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%" |
| style="background:#008b00;"
| Date | Competitor One | Result | Competitor Two | Venue | Titles |
| March 27, 2010
| {{yes2}}Andre Dirrell | {{yes2}} DQ (11) 1:13 | {{no2}}Arthur Abraham | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, {{flagu|United States}} | None |
| April 24, 2010
| {{yes2}}Mikkel Kessler | {{yes2}}Unanimous Decision | {{no2}}Carl Froch | MCH Messecenter Herning, Herning, {{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark | Kessler takes WBC Super Middleweight Championship |
| June 19, 2010
| {{yes2}}Andre Ward | {{yes2}}Unanimous Decision | {{no2}}Allan Green | Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, {{flagu|United States}} | Ward retains WBA Super Middleweight Championship |
= Group Stage 3 =
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%" |
| style="background:#008b00;"
| Date | Competitor One | Result | Competitor Two | Venue | Titles |
| November 6, 2010
| {{yes2}}Glen Johnson | {{yes2}}KO (8) 0:36 | {{no2}}Allan Green | MGM Grand, Paradise, Nevada, {{flagu|United States}} | None |
| November 27, 2010
| {{yes2}}Carl Froch | {{yes2}}Unanimous Decision | {{no2}}Arthur Abraham | Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, {{flagicon|Finland}} Finland | Froch wins vacant WBC Super Middleweight Championship |
= Group Stage Table =
Top four fighters – by points – at end of the group stage entered the Knockout stage.
Following table shows final results from the group stage, after the final Group Stage bout of November 27, 2010.
For completeness, results for the three fighters who withdrew from the tournament are shown, though their relative standing in the tournament is not applicable (n/a).
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" | ||||||||||
| width=20|P
!width=200|Boxer !width=20|Fights !width=20|Wins !width=20|Losses !width=20|Draws !width=20|Knock Outs !width=20|Points !width=20|Titles Won !width=20|Titles Lost !width=20|Super Middleweight Titles at End of Group Stage | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:#cfc;"
|1 | {{flagicon|USA}} Andre Ward | 2 (3a) | 2 (3a) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6a | 1 | 0 | WBA |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|2 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Carl Froch | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | WBC |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|3 | {{flagicon|GER}} Arthur Abraham | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0| | |
| - | ||||||||||
| style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | {{flagicon|JAM}} Glen Johnson‡ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0| |
| - | ||||||||||
| 5 | {{flagicon|USA}} Allan Green‡ | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0| | |
| - | ||||||||||
| n/a | {{flagicon|DEN}} Mikkel Kessler^ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 (2b)| | |
| - | ||||||||||
| n/a | {{flagicon|USA}} Andre Dirrell^ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0| | |
| - | ||||||||||
| n/a | {{flagicon|USA}} Jermain Taylor^ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0| | |
| - |
^ indicates former participant, withdrawing sometime after Group Stage 1
‡ indicates replacement participant, added sometime after Group Stage 1
:a. Andre Ward had 2 actual fights/wins, and was granted an additional forfeit win and 2 points due to the withdrawal of Andre Dirrell.{{cite web|url=http://sports.sho.com/world-boxing-classic.html|title=Showtime : Sports : Home|work=SHO.com}}
:b. Mikkel Kessler had: won 1 title, lost 1 title, and vacated 1 title due to injury.
Knockout stage
= Semi-final =
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%" |
| style="background:#008b00;"
| Date | Competitor One | Result | Competitor Two | Venue | Titles |
| May 14, 2011
| {{yes2}}Andre Ward | {{yes2}} Unanimous Decision | {{no2}}Arthur Abraham | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, {{flagu|United States}} |
| June 4, 2011
| {{yes2}}Carl Froch | {{yes2}} Majority Decision | {{no2}}Glen Johnson | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, {{flagu|United States}} |
= Final =
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%" |
| style="background:#008b00;"
| Date | Competitor One | Result | Competitor Two | Venue | Titles |
| December 17, 2011
| {{yes2}} Andre Ward | {{yes2}} Unanimous Decision | {{no2}} Carl Froch | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, {{flagu|United States}} |
Controversy with Group Stage 3
A number of developments required multiple adjustments to the original plans for Group Stage 3.
As of August 12, 2010, a venue had not been chosen and ticket sales had not started for the scheduled September 25, 2010, bout between Dirrell and Ward. This was expected to result in a new date for the fight.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=20331|title=Ward-Dirrell in Jeopardy? Looks Highly Unlikely for September 25 |author= Hector Linares|publisher=Boxingtalk.com |date=2010-08-12 |accessdate=2010-08-16}} Instead, on October 7, 2010, it was reported that Andre Dirrell withdrew due to an undisclosed injury. This resulted in a decision to have Ward fight Sakio Bika in a non-tournament bout, which created the possibility that the WBA Championship could have been removed from the tournament. (Ward did defeat Bika, so the WBA Championship remained in the Super Six tournament).
On August 25, 2010, Mikkel Kessler withdrew from the tournament citing an eye injury. On September 6, 2010, the WBC vacated its Super Middleweight Championship, announced that Kessler will be the first contender when he returns from his injury (naming him Champion Emeritus), and announced that it would grant its championship to the winner of the upcoming Group Stage 3 match between its number one contender, Dirrell, and the WBA champion, Ward, to be followed with a mandated WBC title fight against the winner of the Froch-Abraham match.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=5541374|title=Mikkel Kessler is 'champion emeritus'|author= Dan Rafael|work=espn.com |date=2010-09-07 |access-date=2010-09-07}}
The promoter for Abraham requested that the WBC rethink its determination that the WBC title should go to the winner of the Dirrell-Ward match. On October 6, 2010, a Showtime press release confirmed that the WBC would grant its championship to the winner of the rescheduled Froch-Abraham match.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingnews24.com/2010/10/abraham-vs-froch-for-wbc-super-middleweight-title-on-november-27th/|title=Abraham vs Froch for WBC super middleweight title on November 27th|publisher=boxingnews24.com|date=2010-10-06|accessdate=2010-11-23|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101012424/http://www.boxingnews24.com/2010/10/abraham-vs-froch-for-wbc-super-middleweight-title-on-november-27th/|archivedate=2013-11-01}}
On September 13, 2010, it was announced that Carl Froch was suffering from a back injury and would have to delay his fight with Arthur Abraham, which had been scheduled for October 2.{{cite web|url=http://blog.newsok.com/boneman/2010/09/13/back-injury-for-carl-froch-postpones-super-six-bout/|title=Back injury for Carl Froch postpones Super Six bout…|author= Bob Przybylo|publisher=The Oklahoman, NewsOK.com |date=2010-09-13 |accessdate=2010-09-13}}
On September 29, 2010, it was reported that former IBF, IBO, Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion and former Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year Glen Johnson would replace Kessler in Group Stage 3.
Non-Tournament Bouts
As part of their contracts with Showtime regarding the Classic, fighters are able to take non-tournament bouts if their schedule permits.
Since Andre Ward already qualified for the semifinals and his planned opponent Andre Dirrell withdrew, a decision was made to have Ward fight Sakio Bika in a non-tournament bout.
After losses in his last two round robin matches, Arthur Abraham elected to take a tune-up bout with Croatian boxer Stjepan Božić before his semifinal match against Andre Ward.
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%" |
| style="background:#008b00;"
| Date | Competitor One | Result | Competitor Two | Venue | Titles |
| November 27, 2010
| {{yes2}} Andre Ward | {{yes2}} Unanimous Decision | {{no2}} Sakio Bika | Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, {{flagu|United States}} | Ward retains WBA Super Middleweight Championship |
| February 12, 2011
| {{yes2}} Arthur Abraham | {{yes2}} TKO (2) 1:01 | {{no2}} Stjepan Božić | RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Mülheim, {{flagicon|Germany}} | None |
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://sports.sho.com/world-boxing-classic.html}}