Friday, July 17, 2009

168 lb. Tournament

Showtime announced that they are planning to have a tournament of the top fighters throughout the world in the 168 lb. weight class. It is not the standard tournament, for full rules espn.com has a good breakdown. They are hoping it will boost ratings and it will.

Some of the fighters to be included are WBC champion Carl Froch, WBA champion Mikkel Kessler, Andre Ward, my hometown favorite, and even Arthur Abraham, who for vacated his 160 lb. title. This has the potential to be a great series.

Boxing as a whole is constantly fighting to decide a true champion of the world and this tournament could do it.

My overall prediction is that Mikkel Kessler will win the tournament. He is an extremely strong fighter however he is very upright. His sole loss was to Joe Calzaghe who gave him many different angles and looks. If he faces Andre Direll or Andre Ward they might give him similar looks and win. Arthur Abraham is also undefeated and good but Kessler is better. As for Froch, he is good but not the best in the tournament, he had an impressive win over Jermain Taylor but that was one fight. I don't think he, or anybody else for that matter, could take the power of Kessler.

There is one sure winner and that's the fans.