Age: 32                                                                                                                        Age: 27

Height: 6'1"                                                                                                                   Height: 6' 2"

Reach: 74-1/2"                                                                                                              Reach: 75"

Record: 25-0 (KO 20)                                                                                                 Record: 18-0 (KO 13)

***WBC Champion***

There's not really much that can be said about Froch, he's been on cloud nine ever since his dramatic knockout victory of Taylor earlier this year. Froch was behind in the fight but was landing the harder shots and actively pressuring the busy Taylor, who in the later rounds took heavy damage and wilted under pressure. Froch is a visceral fighter, he presses forward even if it means he needs to take a few shots to find his range to land some devastating blows and rarely fighting on the outside. 

Although Dirrell is taking the biggest step of his career, he has shown that he is a rising star in the 168 pound division and with his excellent power and hand-speed he is a force to be reckoned with. Dirrell has pummeled his last five opponents by using a wicked mix of power and speed, yet his last set of opponents were mere confidence boosters to set him up against the biggest test of his career. It seems like the general public seem to agree, he is the least favored to win the tournament let alone the fight. 

How the fight is going to break down is that Froch will try to impose himself on the speedier fighter and try to slow him down. This is going to lead to Dirrell firing shots to deter the charging champion, the hand speed difference as well as craftsmanship will be apparent throughout the first four rounds where Dirrell will be absolutely outclassing Froch. Dirrell may find himself ahead, but Froch will not let up the pressure. 

Froch doesn't have defense, he has a reliable chin and is a stubborn pressure fighter which may spell doom for Dirrell. When Dirrell feels like he gets an opponent reeling, he tends to get over excited and throws too many punches and if his stamina is below top notch, his activity will account for nothing. Dirrell must fight and retreat with his jab, when Froch begins to push the envelope in the later rounds, he has to have enough in the tank to fend him off. 

So even though Froch is a tough customer, he is almost certainly going to fall behind on the cards very quickly and Dirrell is going to grind him down along the way. I don't expect Dirrell to make the mistakes Taylor did against Froch, but simply to follow the game plan better. Froch's lack of defense and his constant pressure will make this an exciting fight, but it's going to be Dirrell's time in England where I believe he will get a fair shake.

On to the main event now as Jermain Taylor faces off against Arthur Abraham:

JERMAIN TAYLOR                                                                                                   ARTHUR ABRAHAM

Age: 31                                                                                                                        Age: 29

Height: 5' 11"                                                                                                               Height: 5'10"

Reach: 74"                                                                                                                   Reach: 72"

Record: 28-3-1 (KO 17)                                                                                              Record: 30-0 (KO 24)

What has gotten more attention and coverage than the fight itself is whether or not Taylor is a serious fighter anymore. He's lost three of his last four, two by knockout and his only win is coming against a lowly Jeff Lacy. The stakes are at the highest for Taylor who is in a must-win situation should he want to continue his career, a loss at this point would cripple him. No fighter has been so physically gifted yet so highly criticized as Taylor is heading into the tournament.

Hopefully he is focused, he's heading into a fight with the fighter many are expecting to steamroll through him and win the tournament. Abraham is the total package fighter, or at least is being billed to be, he has been looking for an opportunity to break out as a mainstream fighter and beating Taylor will do just that. After being shunned by Kelly Pavlik and growing out of the 160 pound class, Abraham has often been referred to as boxing's best kept secret, whether the secret is out is going to depend on how things turn out in Germany.

Taylor has to be ready to fight all 12 rounds as well as backpedal and defend, Abraham is no doubt going to come right to him like Froch and Pavlik did in the past, forcing a fight and tiring him out. In both the fights with Froch and Pavlik, Taylor showed poise and power in the early half of the fight, dominating the action until he slowed down and was eventually knocked out. Abraham will be more of the same for Taylor, but Taylor should take solace that he's been in the ring with someone like Abraham  before, the same can't be said the other way around.

Although Abraham is undefeated, his best wins have been a pair of victories over an overrated Edison Miranda, that alone should tell you about the class of fighters he's been against. At least he has disposed of his competition without much fuss, usually decking them to the canvas with some wicked power punches. Abraham is going to be mindful of Taylor's punches and keep his hands up like Winky Wright use to, but when he stops Taylor from moving the hands will be moving all over the place but targeting the body to sap his opponent.

For me, this is an easy pick and it's Taylor by decision. Sure, he was knocked out by Froch in his last fight but Taylor was outclassing Froch until he got tired, Abraham has never been in the ring with a fighter of Taylor's caliber. I don't think Taylor is washed up, but he's in need of a victory more than anybody in the tournament and I believe he's got too many tools against Abraham. I'm not going to be surprised though if Abraham gets the decision, they are fighting in Germany after all.

That should wrap up what will be an excellent night of boxing, be sure to check back for the next tale of the tape when Chad Dawson seeks deliverance as he heads into a rematch with his toughest challenge to date, Glen Johnson. Keep on swinging!

10-14-2009