Ward vs Froch: Is Super Six Final the Biggest, Most Important Fight in Division's History?
by Scott Christ on Nov 17, 2011 2:53 AM EST
in Boxing Video - Showtime
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PrintHere's another installment in the Showtime "I Am a Fighter" video series, a quick look at Carl Froch, the WBC super middleweight titlist who faces Andre Ward on December 17 in the finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Froch (28-1, 20 KO) and Ward (24-0, 13 KO) are fighting for Froch's WBC belt, Ward's WBA belt, the Super Six trophy, and the Ring Magazine world championship, which is vacant, and has been at 168 pounds since Joe Calzaghe went up to light heavyweight, won the Ring belt there from Bernard Hopkins, and didn't look back.
Here's a question: Is Froch vs Ward the biggest fight in the division's history, or, in case you disagree with me about what is the biggest fight in the division's history, allow me to ask a different question.
Is Froch vs Ward a bigger fight than the 2007 battle between Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler? I know Calzaghe vs Kessler was "only" watched by 1.4 million in the U.S., which HBO panicked about at the time, but I can guarantee that's more viewers than will watch this fight live in the States, and this one is actually taking place here, with a top American fighter. The live draw in Cardiff for Calzaghe vs Kessler will, of course, blow away the Atlantic City turnout, and I think that Calzaghe vs Kessler still meant more to more boxing fans than Ward vs Froch will.
That's not to say this isn't a big fight, because it's a legit fight for the division. But I think there's been the idea that it's the biggest fight in the history of the super middleweights, and I just don't feel that's true. And considering Calzaghe vs Kessler was a clear 1 vs 2 deal, with two undefeated fighters, one of whom had long dominated at the weight, I don't think it's really a stronger or more important matchup either. But maybe I'm wrong.
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I voted yes because the Super Six has effectively drawn me in
And I feel more interested/invested in the match up. So I guess it’s the biggest fight in super middleweight history for me personally which is how I vote, not trying to base it on historical fact (which I’m woefully inadequate of doing anyway)
I’m really looking forward to it, but it’s nowhere close to as big as Calzaghe-Kessler. In terms of anticipation and significance, it’s not close to Jones-Toney either, or for that matter, Hearns-Leonard II. Eubank-Benn II was also huge.
TheBoxingBulletin.com
yeah, I was trying to figure out if I’d even have it top five all time int he division, and those three were on my mind. No knock on Ward-Froch or anything.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Nov 17, 2011 3:56 AM EST up reply actions
I think when considering the fact that between them they’ve cleared out the division, save for Bute, it is certainly one of, if not the most significant fights in the division, but Calzaghe v Kessler was higher profile and had the massive 50,000 live gate.
Joe and Mikkel conbined didn’t have as many top name opponents and wins on their record as Ward and Froch have combined though, imo.
I voted yes, but after reading what you and A.F. have said, plus the fact that Bute has a legitimate shot at knocking either one of these guys off, maybe it’s not quite as important as i first thought.
Ward v Bute or Froch v Bute should be bigger than this fight, when it hopefully happens next year, but even that fight might not beat the two mentioned above for importance/significance.
In general, the 168lb division is in better shape than it’s ever been though, no doubt in my mind about that.
Benn vs. McClellan?
17 million watching, 10,300 gate. Not definitive, just throwing it out there.
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It’s not the most significant fight re numbers, and the older fights were overall more significant, because there were more people stilll into boxing to make them more significant. So I voted no. But I think the SS has put the SupMids on the map, that the division is in top form, and, in a way, that it should be the most significant fight of the div’s history—boxing demographics are what keep it from being so. And a lot depends on how the fight goes, i.e., will it have been a truly great fight? (I hope so.)
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
The division is definitely more legit now, even more so than the Calzaghe-Kessler fight.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Nov 17, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah the Super Six essentially got people to care about the Super Middleweight division by attracting talent from other divisions and forcing the prospects to fight tough competition early in their careers. The most important fight of this tournament is going to be the first big fight the champion takes after the tournament. If that fight makes a boat-ton of money, then it will be easier to sell the tournament idea to the big promoters. Even though the tournament format has its disadvantages, this one has proven to be wildly entertaining and a winning idea overall for Showtime even with all the injuries and delays.
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
by Waldo Rastel on Nov 17, 2011 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
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