Left to right - Gary Shaw, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham and Wilfred Sauerland

Saturday night at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan the inaugural Showtime World Boxing Classic super-six tournament returns with a hugely anticipated bout between undefeated ‘King’ Arthur Abraham 31-0 (25) and Andre ‘The Matrix’ Dirrell 18-1 (13).

Former IBF middleweight champ Abraham will venture out of his German homeland for only the second time in his career (unless you count Switzerland). Luckily for him, his first fight in the U.S, in June of 2008, concurred with what many believe to be his best performance to date.

Having already gone twelve hard rounds with tough Edison Miranda in Germany, and having fought most of the fight with a broken jaw, Abraham bravely accepted the challenge of a Miranda rematch in the States. He never gave Miranda a chance and blew him away within four rounds. Everyone thought this was the real coming out party for Abraham, but for two or three fights he retreated back to Germany and away from the limelight. Now, after defeating Jermain Taylor last time out with a final round KO, he returns to the States to face his stiffest test since the Miranda rematch.

Andre Dirrell will have a point to prove. Having complained bitterly about the judging in his last fight, a split-decision loss to Carl Froch in the UK in the first round of bouts, Dirrell will be wanting to make amends with a win.

Dirrell (Left) and Abraham pose for the cameras

Whether he deserved the win over Froch is questionable, but I think it’s fair to say he was maybe a little too negative that night, especially considering he was fighting in his opponents back yard. The one thing going for Dirrell however is his speed. At times he absolutely blinded Froch in their fight, displaying far superior hand speed and reflex, but most people would say he just didn’t do enough of it, preferring instead to skirt the ring and try to win going backwards. It was a fairly ineffectual strategy and you get the feeling he will have to stand his ground and try to control center ring a lot more if he is going to start getting decisions at the top-level. I think a lot of it will come with confidence and maturity. After all Dirrell is still inexperienced with just 18 pro fights. After a long, successful amateur career he will need time to fully adjust to the pro game.

However, that being said I can see Dirrell beating Abraham. I know it’s not the common view, but in truth Abraham has looked slightly below par in his last few fights. Until the KO, his fight with Jermain Taylor was not the most exciting, and Mahir Oral gave Abraham a real tough test before getting stopped in ten the fight before. Sure Abraham can punch, but as the cliché goes, you can’t hit what you can’t see. I believe Dirrell’s speed could be so superior that Abraham will be winging into the wind all night long, punching spaces where Dirrell used to be. Dirrell will need to have a bit more authority than the Froch fight though, and if he truly wants to win he must try to force Abraham on to the back foot at times, as risky as it may be. With the fight being held in the States in can honestly see Dirrell coming away with a decision win, but only if Abraham fails to detonate a bomb.

1. Abraham Disqualified against Dirrell
2. Abraham and Dirrell weigh in with the Hitman
3. Abraham-Dirrell Conference Call Quotes