Benn backs Ward to beat Froch

Former super-middleweight world champion Nigel Benn has tipped Andre Ward to beat Carl Froch in the final of the Super Six tournament this weekend.

Nottingham's WBC title-holder Froch faces American WBA champion Ward in Atlantic City, with Ward the favourite.

"I fancy Ward to win it. He's very slippery, a very good fighter," Benn told BBC Sport.

"Don't get me wrong, Carl's a good fighter, a strong guy, and it will be a close fight, but Ward will edge it."

Former Olympic champion Ward has won all 24 of his professional fights, including a victory over Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, who in turn beat Froch.That defeat by Kessler, in 2009, is Froch's only loss in the paid ranks and the 34-year-old has since beaten Arthur Abraham and Glen Johnson to reach the final of the tournament.

However, Froch is a 2-1 underdog with British bookmakers, while most pundits expect the 27-year-old Ward to outsmart his English rival.

While Froch has often complained about a lack of media and public interest in his fights, Benn insisted modern fighters were partly to blame for their lack of exposure.

"I wish I saw more of them, they box once every six or seven months," said Benn, who was a central figure in British boxing's last great boom in the early 1990s, when his fights with Chris Eubank were watched by millions on terrestrial television.

"How are you going to get a name? Carl Froch is a great fighter but we see him once in a blue moon. You've got to keep busy and then 'bang, bang, bang', prepare for another one.

"I was fighting every month - one year I had 13 fights - 'bang, knock him out, bring on somebody else, bang, knock him out, bring on somebody else'.

"The British public watched us grow up because they didn't have to pay for it. Now boxing is scattered all over the place, on Sky Sports or pay-per-view, and people can't afford it."

manos de piedra wrote:I think if Ward wins he will have established himself as the clear number 1 in the division.

Id consider Bute to have a claim but as a distant second given his weaker opposition and the fact I dont think hes looked anything as good as Ward appears to be.

I think if Froch wins it will blow the whole division wide open again as all of Froch, Kessler, Bute and Ward could have a similarly leveled claim.

That wouldbe my take on it anyhow.

paperbag_puncher wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:I think if Ward wins he will have established himself as the clear number 1 in the division.

Id consider Bute to have a claim but as a distant second given his weaker opposition and the fact I dont think hes looked anything as good as Ward appears to be.

I think if Froch wins it will blow the whole division wide open again as all of Froch, Kessler, Bute and Ward could have a similarly leveled claim.

That wouldbe my take on it anyhow.

Would disagree that Bute hasn't looked as good as Ward. Fair enough his quality of opposition has been inferior but he's been pretty impressive in the way hes dealt with them. Since the 1st Andrade fight he's dispatched everyone of his opponents comfortably bar Glen Johnson who he had a shutout against. Ward may have fought better quality but i find Bute's style far more pleasing on the eye.

manos de piedra wrote:

paperbag_puncher wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:I think if Ward wins he will have established himself as the clear number 1 in the division.

Id consider Bute to have a claim but as a distant second given his weaker opposition and the fact I dont think hes looked anything as good as Ward appears to be.

I think if Froch wins it will blow the whole division wide open again as all of Froch, Kessler, Bute and Ward could have a similarly leveled claim.

That wouldbe my take on it anyhow.

Would disagree that Bute hasn't looked as good as Ward. Fair enough his quality of opposition has been inferior but he's been pretty impressive in the way hes dealt with them. Since the 1st Andrade fight he's dispatched everyone of his opponents comfortably bar Glen Johnson who he had a shutout against. Ward may have fought better quality but i find Bute's style far more pleasing on the eye.

Well I think the two or intrisically linked. Ward has looked more impressive by virtue of the fact hes facing significantly better opposition. Bute is good, underrated I feel by some who think hes little more than a protected champ, but Ward has countless more dimensions to his game. Like Mayweather, I get the feeling he can beat his opponents multiple ways in whichever way he chosses. Up close, At distance, from the southpaw stanc, from the orthodox stance. Hes a massive all rounder and multi talented. And he also appears to smart enough to adapt. He often takes a round or two to figure his guy out but the second half of the fight hes in complete control.

I hope Im wrong because Froch is probably my favourite current fighter my I think Ward is the real deal and will have too much for Carl. Im in the minority, but I expect a convincing win for Ward on this.