Showtime's Super Six survives, Ward and Dirrell will fight

Andre Ward

Boxing has faced many problems through the decades, from the top boxers not fighting each other, to managers and promoters not paying boxers, questionable decisions by judges and sanctioning bodies, etc...

The issue of boxers avoiding each other surfaced again. Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell were supposed to fight each other last Saturday in a Group Stage 3 bout of the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic.

But proposed bout was never promoted, no tickets were sold and no venue was secured. Dirrell and Ward are good friends and there was speculation that they didn't want to fight each other. The problem was the bout between the two was pre-set when they signed on the dotted line for the tournament.

It would've been a shame if the fight didn't take place, because Ward and Dirrell are two of the best young fighters in the game. This may not be on the level of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but it's frustrating nonetheless. 

Showtime ended any speculation by threatening legal action against promoters Dan Goossen and Gary Shaw.

The bout is now set for November 27. No venue has been set, but the fight will take place barring an injury.

Inspite of the tournament pit falls, Showtime sports boss Ken Hershman is still excited about it.

Hershman said: “We have asked these fighters to challenge themselves against the best fighters in the world; not in one mega-fight, but in a consecutive series of career defining fights. Injuries and delays are inevitable. However, each one of them has accepted the challenge and brought a level of intensity to the ring that, in my estimation, is unmatched in all of sports.”

In other Super Six news, Allan Green won't be dropped from the tourney as some has speculated. Green will still participate, but no opponent has been determined.

SHOWTIME SUPER SIX STANDINGS

Record         Fighter                Points

2-0                Andre Ward            4

1-1                Arthur Abraham     3

1-1                Carl Froch              2

1-1                Andre Dirrell           2

0-1                Allan Green            0