Arthur Abraham vs Andre Dirrell Preview - Major Factors or Minor Players?

Jeff Pryor previews Saturday night's Super Six showdown between Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham.

The news out of the "Super Six" has been decidedly less "Super" than our hopes had been for this tournament. Fighters dropping out, injuries, postponements and a few misfire match-ups in round one.

It was a little over four months ago when the tournament was set on it's head and the top dog got beaten soundly by the young upstart. With Kessler on a decline, suddenly the whole thing is up in the air and any fighter might be able to steal the show. On saturday, two of the more dynamic fighters square off and pit there unusual styles against each other.

At first blush, Arthur Abraham and Andre Dirrell seem opposites in their fighting styles. Abraham is a tough as nails champion who has fought through grotesque injury to will his way to victory, and fights with his back to the ropes in a tight shell, exploding suddenly and ferociously in spurts and fits.

Dirrell is more of a mover; fast hands, fast feet, a matchup nightmare athletically, but his will lacks the steely fiber that his counterpart embodies across the ring.

The interesting thing is that there are significant similarities between the two than wouldn't be immediately apparent upon first glance. While each is packing major firepower in their arsenal, neither utilizes it consistently.

Dirrell seems to lack confidence and settles for hanging on in close and letting his foe outwork and out man him.

Abraham is willing to lay back, hiding behind a tight high guard and let opponents fire away at his defenses for huge chunks of each round.

Conventional wisdom would seem to say that Abraham will be able to utilize his tougher tact and just out fight a youngster in Dirrell who doesn't always behave like a fighter. To my mind however, this is a trap fight for "King" Arthur and should he languish on the ropes too much and give the play away to Dirrell, he will lose his kingdom, which at this point is an undefeated record and a lead in the Super Six Tournament.

Here's how Abraham may blow this one... if he allows Andre Dirrell to fight at his own pace, throw a flashy combo and then get on a bicycle and kill the round, he will lose, and that is exactly the strategy I would expect Dirrell to employ.

Hidden by his last second knockout of Jermain Taylor in the first round of the tournament, was Abraham's otherwise lackluster performance, in which he frankly just didn't do much. Another thing hidden by his brick wall defense may be a conditioning problem. For someone who throws only a handful of punches a round, Abraham could be seen sucking wind late in the fight.

In a way, Dirrell could be the Pacquiao to Abraham's Clottey. And no, Dirrell as a fighter, isn't fit to shine Manny's shoes, but he can certainly shoeshine against the stagnant earmuffs of a stationary target and tie up or run away should Abraham decide to toss off one of his haymaker, spot 'em from a mile out, bombs.

Make no mistake, this could be a horrible fight, if both men show their usual level of aggression for much of the bout. Someone has to step up, and I think the onus is on Abraham to do so. He needs to do more, that is the bottom line. He drew damaged goods in round one, and he may not be able to rely on one of his big strikes ending the fight like he has in most of his bouts.

Dirrell may stink it out and manage a decision, but he certainly has the tools to impress if he finds some confidence, which a listless wait and see performance by Abraham will invite and inspire.

However, "The Matrix", which can only be described as one of the more ridiculous nicknames in boxing history, has his share of exploitables.

While he shows flashes of brilliance, he more often suffers from long stretches of unbearable skittishness. He had a penchant for taking a knee or collapsing to the canvas once Froch began turning the screws on him. When a fighter starts easily going to the mat in a clinch or in some cases, willingly sticks his head under an opponent's arm and goes down unaided as Dirrell did... at what point does that become taking a knee? Clearly the reason for such a maneuver is to avoid any punishment after committing a tactical error that has put you in a bad position. It's a fine line between accidentally getting your head stuck under an arm, and putting your head there for a little "No mas" break.

His other stock in trade seems to be grabbing on the inside and complaining about getting hit while he hugs it out. Holding excessively, turning ones back or bending over in front of an opponent should not be a "Get Out of Jail Free" card or in this case a "You Can't Punch Me Right Now" card. Unless Dirrell shows some grit, and particularly if Abraham amps up the aggression, Dirrell may find himself all but out of the tournament's point system with back to back losses and a tarnished reputation.

This Saturday the tournament should get quite a bit clearer. Either one of them steps up and takes the fight decisively, stamping themselves as a true force in the competition, or one of them skates by in a close tactical eye sore of a fight.

e-mail Jeff Pryor

Have your say: Arthur Abraham vs Andre Dirrell - Poll & Discussion