Some smart heads banging together in boxing may have saved the day, for now, for a sport currently bedevilled by reduced budgets and television companies withdrawing from the broadcasting of boxing.
For once, a rarity in boxing, six promoters and their boxers have come together under one banner for a 'Champions' League. Necessity, perhaps, more than design has brought rivals together in an industry often defined by its infamous promotional battles, yet it may prove ground-breaking and other weight divisions may follow.
The novel move has seen World Boxing Council super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, from Nottingham, and as good a boxer the United Kingdom has at present, drawn by a cunning plan into fighting against the top six 168lb fighters in the world.
Froch, never shy of offering a word or two about his own confidence, has already promised to be the last man standing at the end of the forthcoming 'Super Six World Boxing Classic'. It means for the 32 year-old that he will put his world title and unbeaten 25-fight (20 KOs) record on the line in an innovative round-robin tournament. It is the kind of thinking which boxing is going to have to come up with if it is to stay in the limelight. Earlier this year, Froch's dramatic, last-gasp victory stoppage victory over Jermain Taylor was shown on a fuzzy internet stream, a poor showing for the most dramatic of denouements. Although Froch's thrilling victory over Canadian Jean Pascal was seen live by over 3-million viewers on ITV1 last December, Froch's promoter, Mick Hennessy, could not secure a UK television deal for the Taylor contest.
Barry Hearn has already shown with his Prizefighter series, screened on Sky Sports, that there is mileage in three-round contests over one evening, with several bouts. Fast and furious. "It works for a modern, younger audience," says Hearn.
The Super Six will be a much broader extension than Hearn's novel idea, but nonetheless, it has breathed life into a strong division, the series culminating with an undisputed champion. "It has the potential to breath new life into the sport," said Hennessy.
Froch fights three opponents in the three group stages over the next 12 months and begins his campaign, which offers two points for a victory with a bonus point for a knockout or TKO, at the Nottingham Arena in October with a title defence against American Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KOs).
The four points leaders at the end of the group stage progress to the semi-finals.
Froch is already eyeing a showdown in the final with Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, the World Boxing Association title-holder, early in 2011. "I'm going to be the last man standing," said Froch when the event was announced at Madison Square Garden, launched by US television network Showtime. The tour has also made its way through London, Berlin and Copenhagen.
"I'm a world champion and I've worked so hard to get here that I'm not giving my belt up for anyone. Kessler's an excellent fighter but I believe I'm the best of the bunch and it's just about going out now and proving that."
Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) will open his campaign against American former Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward (19-0, 12 KOs), while Germany's Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs) relinquished his International Boxing Federation middleweight crown to take on former undisputed middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs).
Great move, right time. It may just prove to be a saving grace for the sport.
No comments:
Post a Comment