Froch (left) Ward (right)
Atlantic City, NJ– Super middleweight (168) champions (WBA) Andre “Son of God” Ward (25-0, 13 KOs) and (WBC) Carl “Cobra” Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) unified their respective titles to typified the historic “Super Six” tournament in emphatic fashion and the result???
WARD SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT & BATTERY!
After a dismal “feeling out” type round 1, a fight broke out in round 2. Sitting ringside, it was the kind of round which had the feel that the fighter who got the “better” of it, would set the tempo of how the bout would flow and be controlled. In the aforementioned monumental second frame, Andre Ward humbled a loosening up and aggressive Carl Froch by keeping Froch on the outside with laser like jabs and mugged him on the inside with blistering hooks. From that point on, each round was almost a mirror of the one before it showcasing a masterful performance of versatility in the ring.
Ward smashing Froch with a mean left hook
Down the stretch of the tilt, a desperate Froch tried a few rough house tactics (including a back fist, yes, a back fist) as the embarrassment for the Brit continued to pile on from furious combinations of bad intent delivered by Andre Ward. While scoring for this bout is to no avail, it should be noted that two absolutely crazy judges (John Stewart, Craig Metcalfe) had it 115-113, while the “sane” scorer had the bout 118-110. I had the bout 9 rounds to 1 (119-109) for Ward.
POST FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTABLES
An obviously jubilant ward addressed the media explaining that he noticed how slow Froch was and from this, felt early on that he could beat him to the punch. Andre also was quick to point out Carl’s pre fight insults in regard to Ward’s supposive lack of punching power. Ward: “he said I couldn’t punch, but it was clear I hurt him several times, I felt it, I saw it in his eyes. When asked what’s next for him Andre stated, “I deserve a long rest, but I can get better”. Afterward, a disappointed but classy in defeat Carl Froch didn’t hold back in letting the media know that he was well aware of the drumming Ward put on him explaining that he had tremendous difficulty due to Andre’s slippery tactics, Froch:
Ward slips Froch’s failed right hook
“I wanted to put shots together but he slips, he slides…fair credit to him because Andre won fair and square.
UNDER CARD RESULTS
Up and coming Heavyweight Bowie Tupou (22-1, 16 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over Donnell Holmes in a good looking “back and forth” pitched tift. Judges score cards read 96-93, and 95-94 (twice).
In a fantastic scrap, light heavyweight (175) Edison Miranda (35-6, 30 KOs) captured a hard earned 5th round TKO win over Kariz Kariuki (24-10-2, 19 KOs)
Over six scheduled frames, Cornelius White (18-1, 15 KOs) and Yordanis Despaigne (9-2, 4 KOs) went “toe to toe” in their Light Heavyweight “blood bath” clash. In the end, White proved to be the better combatant as the judges verdict rendered 60-53, 59-55 (twice) in his favor.
Heavy handed U.K. Bloke Kell Brook (26-0, 18 KOs) broke “tough as nails” spirited Luis Galarza (18-3, 14 KOs) with a violent left hook, right hand combinataion inside of the final mark of the fifth.
In an old fashion Jersey turf battle, New Jersey heavyweight pug John Lennox (8-1, 4 KOs) beat resident neighbor Jeremiah Witherspoon (2-2, 1 KOs) like a pinata in the final round to score a devastatingly pulverizing knockout.
Light Middleweight (154) Boyd Melson (7-0, 3 KOs) flattened hopeless combatant Daniel Lugo (1-3) in round.
Ward closing the show
Attendance tonight was 5,626. Not bad considering most people in the tri state are affected by the recession and it’s a week before Christmas .
Photography: Mike Liddle
John Signorella