Super Middleweight

WBC super middleweight champion Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika (32-5, 21 KO) isn't the most fundamentally sound fighter. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old Cameroonian, who now calls Australia home, has ascended to a world championship.

He won the vacant title by majority decision over Marco Antonio Periban in June. Opposing Bika on Saturday will be Anthony "The Dog" Dirrell (26-0, 22 KO). He is the younger brother of super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell. The Dog has established an impressive beginning to his career, but Bika is definitely a step-up in competition.

The bout is part of a huge four-fight card from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday. The main event features Zab Judah battling Paulie Malignaggi, but there are two other title bouts on tap. IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander will defend his title against Shawn Porter.

Austin Trout will also take on slick Cuban Erislandy Lara for the vacant WBA super middleweight title. It is awesome when champions in the same weight class fight on the same card. It can easily be a precursor to a bout. Could the winner of Bika-Dirrell face the winner of Lara-Trout? We shall see, but for now, here's how you can watch this exciting card.

When: Saturday, Dec 7 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

TV: Showtime

The Book on Bika and Dirrell

Finally Champion

Bika has been fighting professionally for 13 years. He's faced the likes of Sam Soliman, Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute, Peter Manfredo, Jr., Andre Ward and Jean-Paul Mendy. The only two of the aforementioned fighters Bika has beaten are Soliman and Manfredo, Jr., though he had dropped Mendy before he was disqualified for hitting him while he was down.

It has been a long journey for Bika, but he finally captured the world title that had eluded him in June. The win over Periban obviously wasn't the victory over a major name he'd like, but it resulted in a world title nonetheless.

Beating Dirrell won't get him a great deal of respect, but it could set up another opportunity to fight a bigger name in the sport.

Completing the Comeback and Making His Own Name

Anthony is looking to be known as something more than Andre's little brother. Though he hasn't faced any opponents of note, his 84.62 KO percentage implies he has big-time power. The 29-year-old Flint, Mich. native has an opportunity to make a major name for himself in this fight.

He told Eric Woodyard of MLive.com: "I'm going to go in and do what I need to do to win. I'm experienced too. I've been doing it twenty years. I just know I'm an athlete I can do it all. That's my plan, do what I want to do."

Bika will not cooperate with Dirrell's game plan, but we'll see if he can force him into submission.

Per Woodyard, Dirrell has overcome several obstacles in his route to this title shot. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. A situation of mistaken identity had him arrested and locked up for a night in 2008. Lastly, he was in a motorcycle accident in 2012.

Despite all those potentially life, and career-threatening events, Dirrell has persevered. Heart and will should not be an issue for him on Saturday night.

Prediction

Dirrell has the length, athleticism and dexterity to defeat Bika. The key to the fight will be poise. If he can keep his distance, he'll be able to utilize his massive 3.5" reach advantage (74.5" to 71"). Bika is awkward and a bit wild. His aggression can disturb the rhythm of opponents.

At some points, he seemed to even give Ward some issues in their bout. If Dirrell stays composed during Bika's assaults, he can win this fight by decision. 

Dirrell is going to become one of the biggest stories at the end of the year by completing his comeback with a unanimous decision victory.

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Howard Foster—the referee who controversially stopped Carl Froch's world super middleweight title bout with George Groves—has received death threats in the aftermath of the fight, according to reports.

Foster's family has also been on the receiving end of abuse, according to Lucy Thornton of the Mirror:

There are fears Howard Foster may now quit his ref duties for upcoming fights as a result of the backlash.

It is believed Foster and his family have been subjected to constant abuse since he sensationally stepped in during a high profile World Title bout between Carl Froch and George Groves.

Foster's decision to step in during the ninth round has caused huge debate across the boxing world. The 51-year-old made a quick decision to end the contest in Froch's favor, although many believed that Groves was leading on points, especially after he knocked Froch down early.

Although the referee appeared to save Groves any serious damage in a moment of Froch dominance, it is arguable to suggest he made a premature decision.

Foster left the ring hidden under a jacket and was met with a chorus of boos as he exited the arena.

Groves has since launched allegations of corruption toward the British Boxing Board of Control, as reported by Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail. He also criticised Foster and called for a rematch on Twitter:

Thornton's report suggests Foster has been barred from discussing the fight in public, while an unnamed friend spoke about abuse received across the past week:

Howard and his family have been receiving many threats.

He can take criticism and often he has to, but when him and his family are threatened outside their homes it has reached another level.

Robert Smith, chief for the BBBoC, has avidly defended Foster across the past few days. He originally stated he agreed with the decision "all the way" and confirmed the official was "happy" with his call, per BBC Sport.

He backs the under-fire referee once again in Thornton's report, highlighting the possibility of permanent damage to Groves if Foster hadn't called time: "Howard Foster is a world-class professional. Another punch could have made a massive difference to George’s career."

Although South Yorkshire police are yet to report any official claims of abuse, you only have to listen to the reaction of the crowd and scroll through the constant stream of insults aimed Foster's way on Twitter to understand the situation could potentially be dangerous.

While it is debatable as to whether or not he should have stopped the fight, any death threats aimed the professional's way are indisputably unfair.

Despite what was shaping up to be one of the best British sporting events of 2013, the world title fight between Carl Froch and George Groves ended in disgrace thanks to an early stoppage by referee Howard Foster.

Groves did the unthinkable in round one when he dropped the IBF and WBA Super-Middleweight champion Froch, and the challenger was comfortable from then on with only the odd moment of complacency marring a superb performance.

With his legs tiring in the ninth round, Carl Froch unleashed and caught Groves with heavy leather. No one, though, thought the 25-year-old was unable to defend himself, other than the referee and Froch, that is.

In a moment of madness, without giving Groves any chance of recovering, referee Foster grabbed the London boxer in what looked like a headlock to end the fight.

Before the bout, Froch was very much the crowd favourite. Those in attendance at the Phones 4u arena in Manchester cheered when the champion entered the building and booed when Groves was being introduced.

The noisy crowd expressed their anger at the decision with another chorus of boos post-fight and directed their disgust at the referee, which included less than savoury chants in his direction.

In huge contrast to the pre-fight mood, Groves was cheered after what was an unexpectedly excellent and gutsy performance in a very entertaining fight. The southerner won over what would have been a largely northern crowd, which is no small feat.

Froch, on the other hand, did the opposite. The favourite with bookies and the majority of fans before the bout and the more liked boxer saw his personal reputation dismantled.

During the bout, Froch was warned about the use of his forearm during the eighth round and the referee from Doncaster, who had called for both boxers to break, was forced to warn Froch when the Midlander continued in his attack on Groves. A clear act of desperation from the champion as he attempted to turn the tide but now the fans were beginning to change their opinion of The Cobra.

It was his words, not his boxing, however which angered the crowd and viewers at home most.

In his post-fight interview the 36-year-old defended the referee's decision. Long-time fans of Froch would have been more disappointed than angry with his interview, which is always worse.

Froch said in the post-fight TV interview: "George had his head low and I had a free shot and the referee had a split-second decision to make. It was dangerous and he had to put the safety of the fighter first."

His words were met by more boos and the man from Nottingham received heavy criticism for his defense of the decision. The only redeeming feature of the interview was when he expressed his desire for a rematch.

"Let's have a rematch [against Groves] and sort it out," said Froch.

Froch managed to go from pre-fight favourite among the fans and in terms of ability to being booed by the crowd because of an awful display of public relations and some questionable actions in the ring. 

Groves went from an underdog being jeered by a partisan crowd to being cheered by all corners of the arena. His stock has elevated to the point where he will likely be favourite if and when the pair do eventually meet in a rematch.

Carl Froch retained his super middleweight titles with a TKO over George Groves, but thanks to a controversial stoppage of the fight, this bout raised more questions than it answered.

Referee John Foster ended the fight in the ninth round after Froch (32-2-0, 23 KO) battered Groves (19-1-0, 15 KO) on the ropes. The stoppage prompted outrage from the crowd.

Although Groves did appear to be dazed by the onslaught, many still believed that the challenger deserved a chance to keep fighting. Two of the bout’s judges had Groves up 76-75 at the time, fueling the result’s controversy.

But despite the storm of debate regarding the result, the fight still provided some revealing insights about both competitors.

Groves’ Power

Groves might not have come out of the fight with a win, but he proved that his punching power isn’t to be taken lightly.

The challenger displayed his power in the first round when he dropped Froch for just the second time in his career. He landed a hard right on a counter to knock Froch down, as this video shows.

Froch is known for his endurance and ability to get stronger as fights go on, so Groves was aiming to end things quickly with punches like that one. It was an eye-opening moment that certainly catalyzed some early excitement.

He also dominated in the second round, using the strength of his jab to bully Froch, as the Mirror’s Joe Mewis explained. 

Froch looks to be in real trouble in these early stages.

Groves is using his speed to real affect, landing yet more dangerous jabs with his right hand. He's started like a freight train and Froch looks like he's content to just get through the second round and regroup.

Although Groves didn't get the chance to finish the fight, he earned his place in the title bout. A rematch would prove a lot.

Would his strength have worn Froch down? Thanks to the stoppage, no one can be sure.

But despite this uncertainty, Groves still showed some fortitude against Froch.

Froch’s Endurance

Froch might not have landed some of the convincing punches that Groves managed, but his ability to take a beating served him well.

“The Cobra” has long been renowned for his strong chin, and it was really put to the test against Groves.

However, for all of the crowd’s sympathy toward Groves, Froch was absorbing the punches well. It took him six rounds, but the defending champion was working his way back into the bout, as The Telegraph’s Gareth Davies explains.

Groves was the aggressor in the sixth, but somehow the champion stayed on his feet after a series of heavy shots. Then the roles reversed and Groves was under pressure himself, finishing the assault by pushing his head in on Froch. 

Referee Foster warned him, as he did on several occasions during the fight with both men. Froch was warned in the eighth for putting his forearm into Groves neck, after an attack, but the action was unabated. 

Froch began to work his way into the fight in the eighth and ninth rounds, alternating assaults on Groves head and body, but the challenger kept his nerve and focus.

Groves might have had the early momentum, but Froch has experience with protracted bouts. He had taken a beating in the fight, but that was no guarantee that he wasn’t gearing up to deliver one of his own.

It’s possible that Groves would have rebounded over the match’s last three rounds, but it’s equally likely that Froch could have withstood the pounding and worn Groves down.

Groves scored the moral victory in this one, but Froch retained his titles for bouncing back when it was needed most.

This pairing is ripe for a rematch, and it seems the fighters are amenable to it per the AFP's Nick Parkinson via Yahoo! Sports, but this bout did little to shed light on how it might go.

Instead, it confirmed a lot of the conventional wisdom surrounding each fighter and showed that Groves and Froch were evenly matched.   

In one of the most controversial decisions in recent memory, Carl Froch defeated George Groves via a ninth-round TKO. Many believed that the referee stoppage was premature, but the victory stands nonetheless.

The only rational next fight for him is a rematch with Andre Ward.

Froch is now 32-2 with four consecutive wins since losing to Ward on Dec. 17, 2011. He has defeated Lucian Bute, Yusaf Mack, Mikkel Kessler and Groves during that time, re-establishing his reputation as one of the best super middleweights in the world.

Unfortunately, this win wasn't without controversy.

Just because it was controversial doesn't mean that it was unimportant.

With Froch's win, he improved his record and held onto his titles. In turn, he's remained near the top of the super middleweight rankings.

He has set up the rematch with Ward.

Top Stars Meet Again

Froch's victory and his post-match speech won't win over many fans, but he's the reigning IBF and WBA super middleweight champion. He's won four in a row, and the only documented loss on his resume over the past three years was against Ward.

The only option is to pit the top two fighters in the division against each other.

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN, Froch is currently the No. 2 super middleweight in the world behind Ward. He owns wins over the No. 4 and No. 5 fighters in Bute and Kessler, respectively.

The WBC stripped Ward of the super middleweight title due to inactivity, per Ryan Maquinana of CSN Bay Area. He has been praised for standing up to the WBC on the premature decision, but as he continues to step into the ring, he will need to continue proving himself.

Undefeated at 27-0, he doesn't have a better opportunity to prove himself than to face Froch, who sports two major titles.

Ward dismantled Edwin Rodriguez last week and now deserves a greater challenge. Froch is arguably the biggest name in the division. He's directly below Ward in the 168-pound division, took Ward to the cards during their previous fight and, fair or foul, is coming off a win.

That all adds up to Froch vs. Ward II.

All About Ward

Admittedly, a rematch between Froch and Groves is reasonable. The decision was controversial, and many viewed the bout as either highly competitive or a potential Groves victory.

The truth of the matter is that Froch vs. Ward II is more about Ward than it is about Froch.

As previously alluded to, the sanctioning body stripped Ward's WBC super middleweight title after it prematurely decided he had taken too much time off between defenses. Upon returning to the ring, he dominated Rodriguez to re-establish his reputation as the second-best fighter in the world.

Who is better for him to face than the No. 2 fighter in his division?

Sakio Bika will defend the WBC super middleweight title against Anthony Dirrell in December, but neither Bika nor Dirrell has Froch's name value. Groves deserves his rematch, but there is a more high-profile fight to build.

For that reason, pitting the controversially victorious Froch against Ward in a rematch is the only rational option.

Boxing has another stinker on its hands.

Carl “The Cobra” Froch (32-2, 23 KO) was literally handed a TKO win over George Groves (19-1), thanks to the most inept job of refereeing you’ll ever see. Referee John Foster stopped the bout in the ninth round after Froch stunned Groves with a hard combination. Groves was indeed hurt, but the stoppage was terribly premature. 

When you consider that Groves had dropped Froch in the first round, controlled the rest of the fight and had never been on the canvas, the stoppage was inexplicable. Froch was allowed to hold on to his WBA and IBF super middleweight titles. There is a possibility he would have stopped Groves, but the challenger earned the right to fight longer.

The result outraged the crowd and broadcast team for Sky Sports, which included English fighters David Haye and Amir Khan. 

Boos cascaded from the fans in the Phones 4U Arena in Manchester after Foster stepped in and the official decision was announced.

Groves clearly outfought Froch for most of the fight. On my scorecard, I had him up 77-74 heading into the ninth round. Had Groves remained on his feet after the round, Froch still would have been down by two points.

After the fight, Froch was surly and perhaps less than honest when he talked about the conclusion. Amidst the boos from the crowd, The Cobra was dismissive about the referee's decision and continued to deliver backhanded insults to his opponent. 

Immediately after the fight, Froch wouldn't even shake Groves' hand. That was the behavior of a man who knew he'd been given a gift.

Groves was visibly upset after the fight. He became emotional as he sat next to Froch at ringside to discuss the night’s events. The crowd had gone from berating him as he entered the ring to cheering him on with every post-fight word. 

Obviously, a rematch is going to be in high demand.

It is hard to blame Froch for this mess of a result. After all, he didn’t make the choice to stop the fight, but when a fighter is the beneficiary of such a controversial decision by a referee, he’s going to become the villain in the eyes of fans.

A rematch could be entertaining, but it won’t right the wrong that occurred on Saturday night.

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The super middleweight division has given boxing some of its most memorable fights over the past five years. IBF and WBA super middleweight champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch (31-2, 22 KO) is partially responsible for a lot of those bouts.

His two thrilling bouts against Mikkel Kessler and his clashes with Glen Johnson and Jermain Taylor were all good fights.

Froch has built a reputation as an exciting fighter. He hopes to extend his trend of thrilling bouts and hold on to his titles when he faces fellow Englishman George Groves (19-0, 15 KO) on Saturday at the Phones 4U Arena in Manchester.

These two may be countrymen, but there has been no fellowship in the months leading up to their bout. To put it plainly, they don't seem to like each other much, and that goes beyond the normal banter that is customary between fighters.

Per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport, Froch said, "My experience at top level, my punching power and Groves' inability to take a punch are the reasons he's not going to do what he says he's going to do. He's going to run for his life, jab and grab and try to get through it, he's not going to stand and fight."

Groves says Froch is wrong if he thinks he's going to run from him. In fact, the 25-year-old felt so confident, he even outlined how he would beat the 36-year-old champion. According to Dirs, Groves said this at the pre-fight press conference: 

I'm going to win the jab exchanges and I'm going to hit you with two right hands just to let you know I can do it whenever I want. Second round I'm going to do the same, but hit you with more right hands. Third round I'm going to push you onto your back foot. You're going to have to see what's coming next.

Those are definitely fighting words. The table is set for another super middleweight thriller. Here's how you can watch.

When: Saturday, Noon ET

Where: Phones 4U Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom

TV: Sky Sports

How Good is the Cobra?

Froch has been in the ring with some of the best fighters in the world, but where does that put him in the pound-for-pound rankings? He owns two world titles in one of boxing's most competitive divisions, but there is a distinct style that gives him problems.

Quicker fighters who can box seem to frustrate him. Andre Ward easily defeated Froch utilizing movement, slick counterpunching and varied attacks. Obviously, every fighter isn't as physically gifted as Ward, but perhaps that's the blueprint for taming the Cobra.

Froch almost always wants to brawl. When his opponents don't give him the fight he wants, he chides them in the media. After he avenged his loss to Kessler in May, Froch criticized Ward's fighting style.

In this case, he's started the insults even before the fight has taken place. Unless Froch can beat a quality fighter who doesn't fight a style that plays into his hands, it doesn't speak well of his diversity.

Froch doesn't want to chase Groves, and it almost appears he's trying to get under his skin to make him stand toe-to-toe with him. It is a smart strategy on Froch's part, but what if Groves is bluffing about standing and trading?

Will Froch be able to adapt and outbox a man 11 years his junior? That's the million-dollar question.

Taking the Bait?

Groves would be smart to fight his fight and refrain from trying to prove his toughness against Froch. The challenger does have 15 knockouts in just 19 bouts, but Froch has power and experience. 

If Groves has an edge, it is in natural quickness and agility. Froch knows this, and no matter what he says, he also knows this could be a tough bout if Groves chooses to box rather than slug.

Unless Groves is sending smoke screens, he's planning to try to claim his respect against Froch. That could be a strategy doomed to fail.

Prediction

Groves would be crazy to try to slug with Froch the entire night. I suspect we'll see a bit of what he referred to in his words to BBC Sport, but primarily, he's going to try to use his quickness to score with an in-and-out attack.

Unfortunately, it isn't going to work. He won't be able to avoid all of Froch's bombs, and there is a legitimate concern about Groves' defense. He keeps his left hand very low and is susceptible to right hands over the top.

Expect that punch to be Groves' undoing on Saturday night.

Froch will win by sixth-round KO.

Follow Brian for news and musings on The Sweet Science.

After a 14-month absence from the ring, Andre "S.O.G." Ward (26-0, 14 KO) is ready to reclaim his spot as the world's best super middleweight and one of the pound-for-pound elite. Waiting to ruin Ward's return is undefeated contender Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KO).

Rodriguez has been in the ring with a few notable names, including Darnell Boone, the man who once floored Ward in a bout back in 2005. La Bomba has been impressive lately, and he presents an interesting challenge for S.O.G. in his return.

Here's how you can watch the action on Saturday night.

When: Saturday, Nov. 16, at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif.

TV: HBO

Update - Friday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. ET

Delvin Rodriguez blew his opportunity to challenge for Andre Ward's title by missing weight. Per Rick Reeno of Boxing Scene, Rodriguez weighed in at 170 pounds, two pounds over the 168-pound limit. The fight will go on, but Ward's title is no longer on the line.

This is not a good sign for Rodriguez heading in. Ward already had to be considered the favorite in this fight; the fact that Rodriguez wasn't disciplined enough to make weight at this stage of his career is discouraging.

---End of Update---

California Love

Who can blame Ward for fighting in his home state almost every chance he gets. How many non-American champions fight their entire careers in the friendly confines of their respective countries? Such is the spoils of success for a man who hasn't lost a fight as a professional.

After undergoing surgery on Jan. 4 to repair a tear in his right shoulder, Ward told Robert Hough of Fight News that he feels as though he'll be able to generate more power in both hands. If there is any valid criticism of Ward's game it is his lack of punching power. He's only stopped 14 of his opponents in his career.

That said, he does possess the speed, punching accuracy and in-ring I.Q. to make up for a power deficiency. Against a hard-charging and hungry contender, we'll see if he can answer the challenge with another win.

Hungry and Focused

After Rodriguez knocked out Denis Grachev in his last fight, he earned the attention of many in the boxing community. The 28-year-old has had a hard time getting a serious look from contenders and cable networks up to this point, but this is a major opportunity for him to set himself up nicely.

He is facing one of the sport's best, but Ward is coming off a major injury and subsequent layoff. 

If there is an opportunity to perhaps take advantage of him, it would seem this would be the time. During the press conference that appears below, Rodriguez said he'd never had to be at his best before, but he knows he must be at his best to beat Ward.

That is perhaps the understatement of the year.

Rodriguez also requested Ward take VADA testing in the video. Per World Boxing News, Rodriguez says that Ward still hasn't submitted to testing. It may be a non-issue, but in this steroid-conscious sport and world, it is worth noting.

Prediction

Unless Ward is rusty or distracted, his superior boxing skills should lead him to victory in this one. Rodriguez can punch, so there is danger there, but Ward is too smart to be caught off guard. 

Rodriguez is an exceptional body puncher, and that could ultimately be his best weapon, but he also has a tendency to throw wide and telegraphed shots. Experienced, talented and quick fighters like Ward will take advantage of that.

Look for Ward to counterpunch and potshot Rodriguez early and then open up an attack meant to prove he can stop his opponent by the sixth round. By the eighth round, Ward should have convinced everyone in the building that he is the better man, and someone will mercifully call an end to the bout.

Ward will win by TKO, and I predict the end comes in the eighth round.

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