The Way I See It 09.08.10: The WBC Strikes Back

Posted by Joe Roche on 09.08.2010

The Super Six survived an injury to Mikkel Kessler but the WBC has decided to try to end the tournament once and for all.

A few weeks ago, in this very column space I wrote an article about how I felt that the injury to Mikkel Kessler and the subsequent removal of Allan Green from Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic was a major blow to the tournament its potential claim to legitimacy. The column garnered some attention in some unusual places – but the main criticism I received was that the revamped Super Six, with semi-final matches between WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell and a bout between Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham for the now "vacant" WBC Super Middleweight title would create more drama, and help usher in a major Super Six finale slash unification bout.

In theory the criticism of me was at least somewhat warranted – I mean that proposition of two title fights leading to the Super Six unification finale was a good one. But then the WBC had to be the weasel and now…well now we're left once again with a tournament in jeopardy of losing its legitimacy (and potentially its championship).



Earlier this week the WBC named Mikkel Kessler their "champion emeritus" in the 168-pound division and then announced that the now "vacant" WBC Super Middleweight title will be awarded to the winner of the upcoming Ward – Dirrell showdown, and not as previously rumored/reported as fact the upcoming Froch – Abraham battle.

What Showtime and the Super Six is left with is this – their finals will take place months before the final two competitors are determined in the tournament. Essentially the winner of the upcoming Ward – Dirrell WBC/WBA Super Middleweight Title bout will be the Super Six Champion because what incentive is there for the unified champion to defend the belt against the Froch – Abraham winner when neither Froch or Abraham can put a title on the line?

Would you like me to carry this a few steps further?

Let us assume for a moment that Andre Ward, who is likely the prohibitive favorite at this point to beat Dirrell whenever the two decide to meet, is successful and becomes the WBA/WBC Super Middleweight Champion. Of the four fighters left at this stage, Dirrell (would be eliminated via loss to Ward), Froch and Abraham, nobody would be left without a blemish. Dirrell beat Abraham, Kessler beat Froch, and either Froch or Abraham would have a second loss – regardless of who survives the Froch – Abraham bout neither of them would have much of a claim to being the top dog in the Super Six. In my mind the big money coming out of Ward – Dirrell (in which Ward were victorious) would be in a Ward – Lucien Bute bout.

On the flip side let us predict that Andre Dirrell should carry off the upset and hand Ward his first professional loss. Dirrell has already beaten Abraham, and there are many people out there who believe he beat Froch too – wouldn't the bigger money be for a Dirrell – Ward II? I think it's safe to say that Dirrell will not fight Abraham again (we all remember how that ended), so unless Froch wins would Dirrell have any desire to see the tournament out to it's logical conclusion – and even then is anyone anxious to see a repeat of their first fight?

At least in my world – the WBC has put the final nail in the Super Six coffin and for what purpose? Andre Dirrell is the #1 ranked super middleweight by the WBC and if anyone can explain that to me I'd likely pass out from amazement. But Carl Froch is #2 (even though he beat Dirrell) and Arthur Abraham is #3. So you're telling me that the sanctioning organization that thought it was prudent to name a "Champion Emeritus" and who has a litany of belt classes that would make Crayola blush was too high and mighty to permit the #2 and #3 contenders vie for the title so that a beautiful tournament concept could be carried out to its logical conclusion…

AND SHOULD WE EVEN MENTION THE FACT THAT ABRAHAM V. FROCH IS LISTED ON THE WBC'S OWN EFFING WEBSITE AS THE BOUT FOR THE VACANT WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE?



……

I apologize; I got a little carried away there when I forgot that the WBC is run by a band of blind mice.

See how they run?

However, unlike the last time I wrote an article telling Showtime that their Super Six tournament was doomed to ruin I am here this time around with a suggestion.

Re-seed the tournament.

Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell were set for Sept. 25th but everyone knows that isn't going to happen on that date. As a matter of fact there is still a question of whether or not the two will ever step into the ring together (and let's not even being to describe how bad for the tournament that would be).



So why not make everything easier? Andre Ward will defend his WBA super middleweight title against Arthur Abraham and Andre Dirrell (the WBC #1) will take on Carl Froch (the WBC #2) for the WBC super middleweight title and then VOILA you've got a unification bout in the Super Six finals instead of no fight which you're very much on the cusp of moving forward.

Here's the thing – would anyone complain about the previous paragraph happening?

Showtime already has to retool the tournament due to the Kessler injury; Ward-Dirrell and Froch-Abraham were never slated as the semi-final bouts we just wound up here. Yes the standings as they are today would make those two fights the semi-finals, but we covered the lunacy of thinking that Allan Green couldn't have upset the apple cart last week – so I'm not so tied up with the current standings to think that the whole thing can't be reorganized.

The major draw of the tournament in its re-formatted state was that we would get two title fights and then whittle the competition down to two fighters vying for a unified championship (and very likely the #1 ranking in the world at 168 pounds). That's all out the window, and the incentive to stay in the tournament until the final bout has gone out with the bath water.



I feel like I've covered the problems in depth at this point but the reality is that the winner of Ward – Dirrell would have ZERO incentive to continue in the tournament and yes before anyone says anything, THIS IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY THE WBC'S FAULT.

Showtime had a good plan. They dealt with a very bad situation and turned it into an interesting scenario and then the WBC went and f**ked the whole thing up by being short sighted and arrogant. Can someone please tell me who the WBC Board of Directors is and how do we vote them out of office? I mean – not to relive a few paragraphs ago but YOU LISTED FROCH-ABRAHAM AS A TITLE FIGHT ON YOUR OWN WEBSITE!!!


- In case you forgot

The entire situation is so asinine that I'm not even able to properly end this column. Perhaps if we're lucky the WBC will sanction Froch-Abraham for a Super-Secret Universal Championship with a picture of two doves and the Monte Carlo skyline etched in platinum on the leather in a "one-time only" type scenario until the next time they want to squeeze blood from a stone. So thank you WBC for making me forget why the hell I was so angry in the first place, at least you're good for something.