It was yet another boxing year where the two biggest fighters in the sport had the biggest fights, but not against each other. Manny Pacquiao won an easy decision against Shane Mosley and then a close decision in fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Floyd Mayweather beat Victor Ortiz in an odd fight after Ortiz earned his chance by beating Andre Berto in an outstanding slugfest.

And the Super Six World Boxing Classic finally ended and Andre Ward was declared the winner after defeating Carl Froch in the tournament final.

Jake Emen, managing editor at ProBoxing-Fans.com, Jason Hagholm co-host of FGB Radio, and Big D from Superfriends Universe join Duan and me with picks for the 2011 FGB boxing awards.

Boxer Of The Year

Jake – Andre Ward

Andre Ward navigated the Super Six and emerged undefeated, with two title belts and the tournament championship. Not only did he beat Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham, he dominated them all. Ward is the clear choice for Fighter of the Year – his two 2011 performances over Froch and Abraham are enough to justify that – and it’s the culmination of a longer journey which led him from unproven to division kingpin.

Duan – Andre Ward

In a year when a lot of the sport’s big names had bad nights, Ward’s consistency has to be admired. He’s earned the right to be called the best Super Middleweight in the world.

Jason – Andre Ward

Andre Ward won the Super 6 and dominated some of the best fighters boxing has to offer.

Big D – Miguel Cotto

Great year for the Puerto Rican with a win over Ricardo Mayorga and a sweet win over Antonio Margarito. People are talking Pac for 2012 already!? I’d like to see it again!

GG – Andre Ward

The Super Six final against Carl Froch clinched it for Ward. It wasn’t just that he won the tournament. It was the way he won it. He clearly won all of his fights, going through some great boxers along the way.

Fight Of The Year
Continue Reading »

GP has done it again. Check out this masterful video on their picks for the top fights of the year.

It’s finally here. Over two years since the beginning of the tournament, we’re down to the final two, and these are the right final two. There were three group stages. Andre Ward is undefeated in the tournament, besting Mikkel Kessler (the early tourney favorite) and Allan Green. Carl Froch beat Andre Dirrell (remember him?) by split decision and lost a close decision to Mikkel Kessler, before easily defeating Arthur Abraham. Ward didn’t have a stage 3 fight because Dirrell withdrew because of injury. Ward took a tune-up belt, beating Sakio Bika in a pretty rough fight.

In the semi-finals, Ward defeated Abraham while Froch beat Glen Johnson, who was a replacement. The finals was supposed to happen in October, but was postponed until tonight because of a cut to Ward’s eye.

If Ward does pull out a decision in a close fight, I’d love to see them fight in Froch’s home town in an immediate rematch. Give Kessler to Lucian Bute.

Carl Froch vs. Andre Ward

R1
They are going to be able to fight on the inside. Ward landed a nice left hook out of the break. Froch looks a little slow early on. Both were able to land their jabs a couple of times. Ward is slightly more elusive so far and is landing after Froch misses with short lefts and jabs.

R2
Ward is gaining confidence with his left hand. He landed a nice left hook and them immediately a jab, jab, left hook combination. Ward’s not even really using his right hand. Froch is throwing shots inside and to the body, which don’t look fantastic, but will probably do more damage later on in the fight. Ward hit him with a big left hook that looked like it may have been the back of the head. I have Ward up 2-0 on my card.

R3
This was the best round so far and really close. Ward probably edges him again, but Froch is landing to the body and he’s hooking back. Ward’s left hook is still his best shot, but Froch is throwing back off the hook. Business is about to pick up.

R4
Lots of inside fighting in the round and Froch is looking tired. The ref is letting them rough house a bit, though it’s not bad. Ward had his elbows up a few times. Ward ended the round strong. Froch needs a second wind or he may go down.

R5
Ward had his hand on Froch’s chin and then pushed it and hit Froch with a hook. The problem here is that Froch can’t land from the outside and when he goes inside, he pays for it. Froch needs to figure out how to fight from the outside in order to have a chance. Ward is pushing him around. Ward with a short left hook to end the round that looked like it caught Froch’s attention. I have Ward up 5-0.

R6
Froch is a tough man. He took some brutal left hands and is being outclassed, but he’s still on his feet. Ward is just too quick for him and is landing that left hook at will.

R7
Both guys pretty much took a break for the round. Froch should’ve won this round, but he looks tired. Though they weren’t hard punches, Ward outlanded him nearly 3-1. I don’t have Froch winning a round yet.

R8
Ward is allowing the pace to slow down, rather than going for the kill. Froch looks arm weary. Ward landed a huge right hand. Froch missed a right hand and looked so exhausted that he threw a backhanded slap too. He also threw a right hand after the bell.

R9
I know the stats may say differently, but I think Froch won this round. For whatever reason, Ward is fighting left-handed, and Froch was able to hit him more often. Ward looked confused fighting left-handed. He needs to switch back.

R10
Another pretty lackadaisical round in which Ward won it closely. Froch started out well, but faded in the end. Ward continues to dominate.

R11
I think I may give Froch that round as well. Right now, I have it 9-2. Ward was sloppy and did a lot of running.

R12
I’m not sure if Froch hit him in the round. Froch was throwing huge right hands, but didn’t land any of them. Ward landed the best punch in the round, which was a big left hook. I have it 10-2 for Ward.

Winner: Andre Ward

115-113, 115-113, and 118-10

Andre and Carl do a press conference in front of Carl’s home fans. Andre says no matter what, he still feels that his back is against the wall. Then, they immediately go to New York to tape the Staredown video show.

And then, they go to Oakland near Andre’s hometown. Of course, Virgil Hunter opened his mouth to talk trash.

They show Andre’s cut which pushed the fight back two months. He wanted to be 100%.

Froch says he found out on Twitter. His mom says he has freak of nature-like genetics and she doesn’t think he’ll ever lose again.

They show Carl’s son who his mom says is Carl all over again. Carl’s beautiful girlfriend says that he’s a great father.

Ward talks to the Oakland Raiders after meeting Hue Jackson at his church.

They show Ward beating Mikkel Kessler after Froch lost to Kessler and showed both guys beating Arthur Abraham.

I have a feeling this is going to be very close fight. Ward is more athletically gifted, but Froch is probably more savvy. Whatever happens though, it will be the end of the Super Six. We could see more than fight between these two guys.

Here’s the entire episode below:

An excellent six minute profile video of the WBC champion put together by Luke Monaghan of GQ. Froch vs Ward is live on Showtime at 9pm Saturday. UK coverage will be running from midnight on Sky Sports.

Carl Froch from Luke Monaghan on Vimeo.