So here we are. The beginning stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, the biggest boxing promotion innovation of the last 20 years. Sure there have been tournaments, and sure there have been huge fights, but this is a whole new level. Five promoters, six top fighters, putting it all on the line for a modified round robin tournament, promising not only a series of big fights, but some incredibly promising bouts as far as action goes, too.

The tournament kicks off on Saturday, with one fight in Nottingham and another in Berlin. Showtime will televise in the States at 8pm ET, and Bad Left Hook will have live, round-by-round coverage of both bouts.

Note: The Abraham-Taylor fight will be shown in America on tape delay. Anyone that posts spoiler results will be banned for at least a day.

I think I've finally made up my mind on these two bouts, so let's do some previewing.

Berlin, Germany: Arthur Abraham v. Jermain Taylor

Though he's obligated to complete the tournament win, lose or draw, Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KO) is in a spot that many would call "do or die." I don't necessarily agree; Taylor's three losses have come to Kelly Pavlik (twice) and Carl Froch, and all three of them were great fights. Even in defeat, I've never stopped wanting to watch Taylor fight. He brings it.

He also says he's fixed his long-standing stamina issues, but that's something that will have to be proven in the ring.

The good news for Jermain is this: He's going to have a big height and speed advantage against Arthur. Simply put, he's a far superior athlete, and don't overlook Jermain's strength, either. It's been a while since he stopped anyone, but he floored both Pavlik and Froch.

This is also going to be without question the toughest opponent of Abraham's career. King Arthur currently sits on a celebrated 30-0 record, but being honest, most feel the best win he's got is Edison Miranda, who has been thoroughly debunked as a top-flight fighter. I would actually say his best win is probably Khoren Gevor, but Gevor is no Taylor. Past that, you're looking at a list of guys like Mahir Oral, LaJuan Simon, Elvin Ayala and Wayne Elcock; decent, tough fighters, yes, but also not on Taylor's level.

Abraham (30-0, 24 KO) has excelled in part due to a pretty soft schedule, let's not overlook that. But he's also a tremendous defensive fighter, a very strong puncher, and a double tough son of a bitch who once overcame a broken jaw to beat Miranda in their first go-'round. He has shown an ability to suddenly and viciously kick into a second gear and put the hurt on opponents. Taylor's chin has been tapped and he's been stopped by Froch and Pavlik, but both stoppages came when Taylor had exhausted himself due to poor conditioning. If that stamina is improved and he doesn't gas out, will Abraham be able to captailize?

Even if the stamina issues are fixed, one thing I could see happening is Taylor just going too hard trying to score a KO win over Abraham, tiring himself out and being left vulnerable yet again. A points win may be hard for Taylor to come by, and he might feel already that he'll need to stop King Arthur. Can he?

Sure, he can. But I don't think he will, and I think this is going to wind up a fight very close on the cards, with many believing Taylor deserved the victory. He'll likely be busier and will probably outwork and outland Abraham when all is said and done, but I see King Arthur taking a disputed decision in this one. Abraham MD-12

Nottingham, England: Carl Froch v. Andre Dirrell

Back when Carl Froch was a regional fighter in the UK and calling out Joe Calzaghe left and right, he was dismissed by most American fans, and I'll admit to being one of them. Watching Froch fight, I saw a battler, yes, but also a slow, not particularly strong guy who would likely be exposed by Calzaghe or even the guys two steps below Calzaghe. I saw Froch as a non-contender when it came to the world stage.

Now here we are, Froch holds the WBC super middleweight title, which he actually had to earn by beating Jean Pascal for the vacant strap, and he's defended it against Taylor with an epic come-from-behind win in April. He can battle, he has good power, he's got a fantastic chin, and he's got great confidence.

Dirrell is a different specimen. Flint, Michigan's "Matrix" was a highly-regarded amateur and has blossomed into a terrific pro fighter, running up an 18-0 (13) record. There is no doubt that Froch (25-0, 20 KO) is his greatest challenge, and that that's not even a debatable point. Froch's chin, heart and resolve have been tested. Dirrell's have not.

And that's what this fight comes down to, as simple and repetitive as it is. Can Froch keep up with Dirrell, and assuming "The Cobra" gets to Andre's chin at some point, is Dirrell going to have the fortitude to stand in there with this type of banger?

As an aside, I think a win here really boosts Froch, and that if he makes a strong run or even wins this tournament, we could have a superstar on our hands. He's like a mix of Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, the two biggest British stars of the decade. He fights more like Hatton, but his personality is really quite Calzaghe-ish; he's arrogant, he's a big talker, but there's also something about him when you pay close attention that lets you know how much he loves his job. Calzaghe, prickly as he could be, had that same vibe about him, always. A guy that fights like Froch does with his personality could become quite the "crossover" star with American audiences if all went well.

But back to the fight. Back in April, I thought I was going to pick Jermain Taylor right up until I sat down to piece together my thoughts for the preview article for that fight. Then my mind changed:

I really like JT. He's one of my favorite fighters, and by that I mean he's one of my favorite guys in boxing. Humble, funny, easygoing, doesn't talk a ton of trash, never seems to want to get all "personal." I think he's going to lose this fight. I think at some point, Froch is going to press him, hurt him, and move in for the kill when he sees an opportunity.

That is essentially exactly what happened in that fight, and for some reason, I'm getting the same gut feeling for this one. I think Froch is going to take Dirrell to a place he's never been (Teddy Atlas' Deep Waters™) and when the fight gets there, Dirrell will be in a massive amount of trouble. The Nottingham crowd will be shaking the building, and Froch is an excellent finisher who keeps his head even when he desperately needs that final knockout shot. Give me the "Cobra" in this one. Froch TKO-11

Taylor-Abraham photo by Howard Schatz / Froch-Dirrell photo by Tom Casino