Inside the Super Six: Predictions from Within

Inside the Super Six: Predictions from Within
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 16, 2011

Tomorrow night, the historic, groundbreaking Super Six World Boxing Classic wraps up after beginning more than two years ago when Andre Ward and Carl Froch meet in Atlantic City for the Super Six cup, vacant Ring Magazine 168-pound title, as well as their respective alphabet soup titles.

We were able to speak to a majority of the fighters, promoters, and trainers who took part in the Super Six experience on a variety of subjects related to the tournament, most importantly who they feel will win tomorrow night.

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Dissecting the Super Six: Part 3

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 3

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 3, 2011

With the Super Six World Boxing Classic headed down the final straightaway, Leave it in the Ring lead writer Mark Ortega makes a comprehensive appraisal of the groundbreaking tournament’s unfolding and considers what the future holds following its culmination. Included are insightful takes courtesy of Ken Hershman, vice president of Showtime Sports (the network responsible for producing the round robin), and Goossen-Tutor’s own Dan Goossen, who promotes Super Six finalist Andre Ward.

Here in part three, Ortega explores the possibility of Showtime staging a similarly structured tournament in the future, as well as which weight classes prove attractive for such a venture.

As the end draws near and certain questions are being asked (is the Super Six format friendly to future tournaments? Is Showtime ready for seconds?), it is natural to ponder the prospect of a Super Six sequel.

“I couldn't be happier with the way it played out; I loved doing it, I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had a weight division that could deliver this level of fights for this long of a period and promoters who were willing to participate,” enthused Showtime Sports’ Ken Hershman.

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 2

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 2

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 2, 2011

In part two, Ortega examines how Showtime and promoter Goossen-Tutor prepared themselves for the hiccups inevitable to this novel undertaking and also how the Super Six has affected the career trajectories of the participating fighters.

For Ken Hershman, or any diehard fight fan, satisfaction is guaranteed. In addition to two alphabet trinkets (and a big shiny trophy), tournament spoils include the illustrious vacant Ring title plus much-deserved accolades. And had the purpose of the Super Six not written itself, culminating with the a meeting of the division’s true leaders, Showtime had covered their bases by securing a lucrative multi-fight deal with Lucian Bute. So fans of the Romanian kingpin and those dubious about the legitimacy of Andre Ward and/or Carl Froch—poised to meet in Atlantic City on October 29—can breathe a sigh of relief come the inevitable match between Super Six victor and the undefeated IBF champion.

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 1

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 1

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 1, 2011

With the Super Six World Boxing Classic headed down the final straightaway, Leave it in the Ring lead writer Mark Ortega makes a comprehensive appraisal of the groundbreaking tournament’s unfolding and considers what the future holds following its culmination. Included are insightful takes courtesy of Ken Hershman, vice president of Showtime Sports (the network responsible for producing the round robin), and Goossen-Tutor’s own Dan Goossen, who promotes Super Six finalist Andre Ward.

In part one, Ortega explores the provenance of the Super Six and all the elements necessary for the execution of such a historic event.

Just shy of two years ago, an announcement was made that would rock the foundations of not only the 168-pound weight class, but of the boxing world. Showtime, the long time runner-up in terms of premium televised boxing coverage in the United States, had announced a six man, abbreviated round robin tournament that would make great strides in determining a true champion for a weight division that had been lacking in prestige.

Ward-Froch for RING title at 168

Ward-Froch for the Ring title!

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

June 8, 2011

Following his Super Six World Boxing Classic semi-final majority decision victory over a rugged Glen Johnson last Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey, WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch has seen himself elevated to the #2 position in the Ring Magazine rankings. This now means that Froch's tournament finale with WBA champion and #1 rated 168 pounder Andre Ward will not only be contested for both fighter's governing body trinkets as well as the Super Six trophy, but now will also be for the vacant RING title as well.

Ward needs a Froch win to legitimize Super Six

Ward need a Froch win to legitimize Super Six

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

May 17, 2011

When the Super Six World Boxing Classic was first conceived at Showtime, the idea behind it was to crown more than just one star, and ultimately build the tournament champion into a crossover star that the network could champion in the coming years.

With last Saturday's lopsided victory over former middleweight kingpin Arthur Abraham in the books, and the second portion of the tournament final on the verge of being determined on June 4^th between WBC champion Carl Froch and 2005 “Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year” Glen Johnson, its an immaculate time to take a look at how things have progressed and where it could lead.

Ward rolls through Abraham into Super Six finale

Ward rolls through Abraham, into Super Six finale

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

May 14, 2011

With a Los Angeles Galaxy soccer game taking place just mere minutes away on the same turf, Saturday night's Super Six World Boxing Classic semi-final bout between WBA champion Andre Ward and former middleweight king Arthur Abraham felt much aligned with the usual pomp and circumstance that accompanies a game of futbol.

At the end of the day, 2004 United States Olympic Gold medalist and WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward marched to victory after early difficulties, conquering his Armenian born German foe on the hostile field of the Home Depot Center in Carson, California where Abraham enjoyed an awkward home field advantage in front of over 5,000 fans, many of them waving the red, blue, and gold flag of Armenia.