Super Six Tournament Ruined: Carl Froch Wins Robbery Over Andre Dirrell

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 18, 2009 1:54 AM EDT in MMA News

As much as I've defended boxing on this site, I will not lie when absolute garbage happens in the sport. Anyone who enjoys boxing in any way has been looking forward to the start of the Super Six World Boxing Classic featuring six of the best super middleweights in the world competing in a round robin tournament.

In the first fight of the tournament Arthur Abraham knocked out Jermain Taylor with a stunning right hand in the 12th round. While Taylor started out hot, winning several rounds on my card, he eventually faded before being dropped with a picture perfect right hand. It was a solid, competitive start to the most interesting event to hit the sport in many years.

Then the second fight happened...

Andre Dirrell took it to Carl Froch from bell to bell, winning 10 rounds on my scorecard and by a score of 117-110 on Scott Christ's card. Froch looked completely outclassed for most of the fight, resorting at various points to throwing Andre to the ground, holding and hitting, hitting after the bell, hitting on the break, headlocks, and elbows. However, despite all of this referee Hector Afu saw fit to never deduct a point from Froch but instead to deduct from Dirrell for excessive holding. After the final bell the fact that the fight was being contested in Froch's home country of England sat in the back of my mind as heavy as Gary Shaw after a trip to the all-you-can-eat buffet. The official scores were read and it was Froch whose hand was raised after a split decision.

Scott Christ expands at BadLeftHook:

It was an odd fight to watch or describe, as it was dirtier than all hell, with a referee that could not keep control of the fight. I truly, truly feel Dirrell won the fight, and rather dominantly so. Froch rambled after the fight about Dirrell not being a warrior and standing and fight, but Dirrell landed much better shots than he did, and frankly made him look like a second-rate fighter. Dirrell showed his entire range of skills, and though Andre was not clear of any wrongdoing tonight (he held a lot, and sometimes blatantly so), he was far less dirty out there than Froch.

This sucked most of the enjoyment out of the tournament for me. This was supposed to represent something bigger. This was the best fighting the best in an effort to help bring legitimacy to boxing. What we got though was just more of the same old junk in a fancy looking package.

I still love boxing. But it's getting hard to defend at this point.

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Comments

I remember when people were saying that Sanchez/Guida or Condit/Kampmann were ‘robberies’. Hopefully this and Beebe/Easton finally resolve the issue of what a real robbery looks like, then let’s hope it never happens again.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Oct 17, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I don’t understand this at all. Dirrell looked like a puffed up Cory Spinks. He should be embarrassed by that performance. That people are up in arms is bizarre.

by Ty Lannister on Oct 18, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you kidding? Seriously?

Dirrell won the fucking fight, hands down. It doesn’t matter if you think the performance was shit. He got deducted a point for the hugging, but Froch was a dirty asshole too with that pushing Dirrell’s head down and beating him in the back of the head. It was a dirty fight, and Dirrell deserved the point deduction, but Dirrell easily won that fight.

Froch got a hometown decision. Even his hot, yet moronic girlfriend knew he robbed the decision. Look at the look on her face when the fight ends. She knows they lost, yet they give it to Froch. 115-112 is absurd, absolutely absurd.

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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 18, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Froch won by a round or two. To execute the gameplan that Dirrell did, you have to be a class apart like Mayweather to convince the judges and he just didn’t quite pull it off.

by An0nymous on Oct 17, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

me 2 dirrell finish strong but i think froch won 1 round more if not 2 in the beginning when dirrell was warming up

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by Silverobot on Oct 18, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Froch did not win at all.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 18, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

It was a pretty bad robbery but has nothing to do with the essence of the sport and I do not no why you want to open up another avenue of attack on boxing because of it. The Easton vs Beebe fight was just as bad and I feel like I can still defend MMA if someone has a problem with it.

by TLAoutlaw on Oct 17, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions

Easton vs. Beebe was far, far worse although this one was certainly bad.

by Luke Thomas on Oct 17, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty much. Brent is just a baby. Sandro/Omigawa didn’t ruin the FW GP. Where’s the diatribe on MMA?

by gunranger on Oct 17, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Boxing opens up avenues of attack on itself. Yes, MMA has its problems, but what has bogged Boxing down as been its own corruption. It’s not just one thing, or one match, it’s a constant barrage, from bad decisions to sketchy promoters, etc.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Oct 18, 2009 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Did you watch the same fight I did?
The fight was very close and when you factor in the point Dirrell had deducted I’d hardly say it was a robbery.

by scrambledeggs on Oct 17, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

I clearly didn’t watch the same fight. I saw Dirrell box circles around Froch, hit him with many, many more shots (both jabs and power shots), and generally force Froch into rough house tactics because he was so frustrated. I thought this was a robbery, just like Brent.

by kp the ghost on Oct 17, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It was a close fight. For every 2 punches dirrell landed he clunched and clinched. I had him winning but I knew the judges would award the aggressiveness of Froch especially with the crowd going crazy.

by gunranger on Oct 17, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed that Dirrell held too much but I thought some of that was the result of Froch lunging in. I just didn’t see Froch land more than a few good shots and he hardly touched him with the jab. Even in the early rounds when not much was going down I thought Dirrell dictated those rounds with his jab pretty effectively.

by kp the ghost on Oct 17, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

the crowd was most definitely silent for most of the fight- because they knew Froch hadn’t done much to cheer about. Horrible reffing, questionable judging.

by The Lethal Haze on Oct 18, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ll put it this way if you disagree with the decision that’s fine it was a close fight IMO, but to say Dirrell was robbed and the tournament is ruined is way off base.

You’ve even got one guy comparing it to the Beebe/Easton decision that’s lunacy and I’ll leave it at that.

by scrambledeggs on Oct 17, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

well said, i totally agree

by DRExLOC on Oct 18, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

You must have mistaken the Froch vs. Dirrell for Overeem vs. Sylvester.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 18, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn’t it a round robin/points type of tournament? So I guess it’s not completely ruined.

Keep firing Assholes!

Never trust a man with no shirt on.

by Ubernoober on Oct 17, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Yes Abraham is leading because he get’s a bonus point for the KO.

by scrambledeggs on Oct 17, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, except now Dirrell has to face fucking AA… so he’s pretty fucked. Would have been nice to get the win he deserved over Froch.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 18, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I had it 7 rounds to 4 with 1 round even (after the deduction), for Dirrell. Im still pumped for the rest of the tournament because of moments like Abraham KO.

YAMATO DAMASHII

by R.T. on Oct 17, 2009 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

I thought it was really close.

I’m not big on boxing but I thought at most it would be a tie. Froch was fighting dirty and Dirrell was avoiding fighting for the most part. He had spurts where he would do something but it seemed like whenever the fight was close he would tie up and hold on. I found that to be annoying.I think Dirrell lost based on his passive/non fighting.

by Discman2 on Oct 18, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

what a f**n BS decision, how are 2 judes scoring that fight 115-112 to Froch, and i cant freaking beleive they took a point away from from Dirrell but they let Froch slide on all his dirty antics, Froch did nothing the whole fight except land one half a$$ left hook . I think Dirrell completely outclassed that fake ass champ, by out boxing him and even landing more solid power punches with his little flurries, i honestly didnt see Frooch do anything in that fight, but yet they gave him the win?? it absolutely sickens me…. at least we got to see Abraham decapitate JT.

by DRExLOC on Oct 18, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

BTW why...

does the third fight of the super six tourney first round take place a month from now? How come they didnt do all three fights of the first round today?

by Discman2 on Oct 18, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

Scheduling conflicts, perhaps? Fighters, venues, you name it… Plus, this way one might actually get a few more viewers.

by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Oct 18, 2009 5:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Right...

a lot of it had to do with them wanting these fighters to headline their cards in locations where guys are draws. So the Abraham fight was in Germany, the Froch/Dirrell fight was in England. Etc…

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 18, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like the Judging disease is at epidemic proportions lately.

"Like a ballet of violence clothed in fine Brazilian silk." ~ MMASuPreMaCy

by Benicio on Oct 18, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

This fight made me want to puke. These two are supposed to be two of the best super middleweights in the world and they danced and held for 12 rounds. Froch plodded around the ring like boxings version of Chuck Liddell just looking to land a big punch. Dirrell looked faster, fresher, quicker and afraid to commit. He clearly outpointed Froch but the excessive holding was too much for me to stomach. Even though I think Dirrell won the fight…It was not impressive by any stretch.

by knowone on Oct 18, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Thank god for the AA fight. It was everything I was hoping for in the tourney.

Robbery? I think part of the reaction to the Dirrell-Froch fight is because it was so ugly and inconsistent. Do I think Froch won? No. But it was such an ugly mess of fighting and officiating that I really don’t know what the Judges were to make of it. I’m blaming Afu, he did nothing to keep this from turning into a street fight.

by John Nash on Oct 18, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

After watching this fight, I realized how hard boxing is to score. Dirrell was the better boxer in that fight. I think watching it as a whole, Dirrell wins, but round by round a case can be made for Froch. Dirrell has a real shot at winning this tournament though. I would love to see him make it out of the first round and rematch Froch and beat him.

by xDieseLx on Oct 18, 2009 1:22 AM EDT reply actions

I hate when boxers repeatedly try grabing and holding each other. In MMA its fine but in boxing it just kind of sucks.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Oct 18, 2009 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

117-110?

There’s absolutely no way the fight was that widely won by either boxer.

Creator of the FightMatrix rating system.

by JCS_FM on Oct 18, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

117-110 was a stretch IMO too, but 115-112 Froch is fucking insane.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 18, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think it should probably have been 115-112 Dirrell. 8 rounds to Dirrell, 3 to Froch, 1 even (when Dirrell got deducted for holding). 115-112 Froch is unfathomable based on the the fight I saw. I

by kp the ghost on Oct 18, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, know what?

If this were an amateur bout that we were discussing here then Dirrell would’ve won it by a huge margin. No doubt about it.
But this was a pro fight & although the official rule books don’t really state it that clearly, the two sports are, in fact, MUCH dIfferent.

Fair or not, a negative boxer like Dirrell can’t go into an opponent’s backyard, engage in a close, horrible messy affair like that & expect to get the nod. Especially with a title on the line.

by Jim Allcorn on Oct 18, 2009 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

by xDieseLx on Oct 18, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

in perfect world dirrell would of won but when i heard froch explain why he thought he won it made sense and the ref warn dirrell multiple times to not hold on to froch even if he was leaping it. it seem like he didnt want to fight so i could see how the judges saw dirrell losing and @ the very same time see dirrell winning by punches thrown

Twitter: @silverobot
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by Silverobot on Oct 18, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey.....

You’ve got boxing news in my MMA Blog! Honestly, I’m done with boxing.

MMA & K-1 >>>> Every other combat sport.

"I look down and boom! I kick 'im in his 'ead! I knew I ‘urt ‘im, when he said aarg" – GSP

by GSPwner on Oct 18, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

The Decision on the Froch-Dirrell fight was a joke.. No other way to put it. Froch landed maybe 1 significant shot. He was not landing very many jabs he looked completely frustrated. The referee was a joke. Scoring was a joke. I think the thing that was bothering me the most was the announcing. It sounded like Gus Johnson was the only one praising Dirrell for his work in the fight.

by asmiley420 on Oct 18, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Whining

I am not sure who won the Dirrell fight—I might have had Dirrell very slightly ahead, but virtually all the rounds after round 2 could have gone either way. After 6 rounds, with the point deduction, I had it even, 4 rounds to 2 rounds, with the point deduction making it even.

That said, damn. For as talented and quick as Dirrell is—quit whining. Constant bitching to the referee, not defending himself, and getting punched repeatedly while taking breaks to complain. He’s lucky he wasn’t knocked out while he took time off to lobby the ref. Its a fight dude—fight.

by Rob Maysey on Oct 18, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

Stop listening to Gus Johnson to formulate your own commentary. Dirrell lost from beign timid. Taylor got brutalized. Both will drop out from the tournament and ye yanks can stop watching and commenting on it. Enjoy.

by jubo on Oct 19, 2009 3:25 AM EDT reply actions