NEW YORK (Dec. 9, 2011) – Through the last two years, no four men have been closer to the action in the Super Six World Boxing Classic than SHOWTIME announcers Gus Johnson, Al Bernstein, Antonio Tarver and Jim Gray. Appropriately, the entire team will again sit ringside on Saturday, Dec. 17 as Andre Ward and Carl Froch battle for super middleweight supremacy in The Final LIVE on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Each member of the Super Six broadcast team offered their commentary on the historic bout.
Gus Johnson, Play-by-Play Announcer
“We’re witnessing two fighters who haven’t reached their peak yet. This fight is going to go a long way in determining what path they take. The winner has the opportunity to launch into super stardom at 168. The winner will have the chance to potentially become a household name moving forward.
“These two men are meeting each other at the right time. They’re young. They’re strong. They’re hungry, humble and – maybe most importantly – they really want to test themselves. It’s tailor made. Ward-Froch will be cataclysmic.”
Al Bernstein, Expert Analyst
“Andre Ward is the consummate boxer-puncher. We thought Mikkel Kessler was the most skilled fighter in the tournament and Andre dominated him. In this match, Ward must bring the kind of ring generalship that allowed Andre Dirrell to do well against Froch – even in losing. The Ward jab needs to be established early and he must punch in combination, while mixing in just enough lateral movement.
“Carl Froch is a much more nuanced fighter than we expected to see in this tournament. He is a better pure boxer than he’s given credit for being. He showed that in wins over Arthur Abraham and Glen Johnson. He also has an iron chin. Ward will not attack him like Johnson and Abraham so Froch will need to push the pace more. He, too, must establish the jab early and then land his right hand behind it. He has not used his excellent uppercut as much in the Super Six; this would be a good time to bring it out of mothballs.”
Antonio Tarver, Expert Analyst
“The key for Andre Ward is to stay within himself, keep boxing and keep winning the rounds. I think there is a lot of pressure on him to do something exciting, to do something great, but he can’t play into that hype. He must stay disciplined. I think that’s the key word when I look at what he needs for this battle: discipline.
“For Froch, he’s going to have to cut the ring off. He’s going to have to limit Andre Ward’s movement. Carl is going to have to press him and I think he’s going to have to be the aggressor. He needs to make it a fight instead of a boxing match. Froch will have to corner Ward and make him fight with his back against the ropes. And if he can do that and sustain that kind of attack, press him mentally and physically, Froch will give Ward the hardest fight he’s ever had. If anybody gets knocked out in this fight, I see Froch catching Ward.
“I really feel like the winner of this fight will write his own ticket as to what he’d like to do in the near future so there is a lot at stake. I’m looking forward to it. We could be looking at the Fighter of the Year. When you look at what they’ve gone through, you’ve got to put Ward or Froch in the category for Fighter of the Year if one man can win convincingly.”
Jim Gray, Ringside Reporter
“The key for Ward will be to be patient. He needs to fight at his pace and not be lured in by Froch to brawl. He must also know that Froch has a great chin, and not be frustrated that Froch may not budge with his best shots.
“The key for Froch would be to somehow be able to get Ward to brawl. To get him into wild exchanges and catch him. Froch is tough and he has the ability to take fighters out of their plan and create opportunities.”
The event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Matchroom Sport and Antonio Leonard Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City and sponsored by Corona.
Tickets are on sale at the Boardwalk Hall box office or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com. All tickets purchased for the original event date will be honored on Dec. 17. If ticket holders are not able to attend on Dec. 17, refunds are available at the point of purchase. The non-televised undercard begins at 6 p.m. ET.
Middleweight Thomas Baldwin Looks To Remain Unbeaten Next Week In North Bergen
In his young fight career middleweight Thomas Baldwin has made some noise due to his punching power and unrelenting work ethic. Next Thursday, December 15, Baldwin will be looking to extend his unbeaten record to 3-0 as he will be fighting Dominique Foster at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen.
Baldwin (2-0-1, 1 KO) has displayed much skill and poise in his first three fights as a professional, showing off both his power and conditioning.
He gravitated towards the sport early on, and although where he grew up football and basketball were the majority sports played, he kept his passion for boxing alive inside of him.
“After football I would come home and watch old fight tapes of Ali and do my best to emulate him shadow boxing,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin continued his progression with boxing in college until he suffered an ACL injury that sidelined him for a while, in which he put on weight and jumped up to 215 pounds.
“The injury was a blessing,” said Baldwin. “Once I was healed up I began boxing full time, and knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Although he hasn’t fought in over a year, Baldwin is anxious to get inside the ropes next Thursday.
“It’s been a long time since I have fought, but I am ready,” said Baldwin. “Since I am a personal trainer, I always stay in shape, so even when I am not at the gym training I was doing what I had to in order to maintain. I knew that once I got my call, I’d be ready.”
Baldwin attributes his early success due to his work ethic and his supportive team. “Terrific and all the guys at Global Boxing are the best,” said Baldwin. “The work and sparring I get with those guys is top level. And working with Steve Frank has been huge for my progression.”
Following his fight next week, Baldwin has expressed much interest in fighting regularly in 2012. “I definitely want to fight consistently going forward; I’d like to get two fights in November and two in December,” said Baldwin. “Whenever they call me I know I will be ready; I just want to get out there to showcase my skills and let the public see more of me.”
Baldwin is currently managed under formed heavyweight knockout artist Lou Esa of Winning Method Management.
“Lastly, I’d like to give a shot out to all my team for always keeping me strong; Terrific, Steve Frank, Lou Esa and all of my friends and family, co-worker…everyone for keeping me going and supporting me.”
The entire fight card is comprised of highly-competitive bouts featuring some of the New York/New Jersey area’s finest young fighting talents.
Tickets, priced $100, $75 and $55, are on sale now and can be purchased at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen (201-348-3149), Trinity Boxing Gym near Wall Street (212-374-9393), at Jack Demsey’s Pub in Midtown Manhattan (212-629-9899), at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn (718-797-2872 or by calling RKO Boxing at 908-240-2097.
Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the first bout is set to start at 7:30 PM.
Special holiday gift of discounted Jimmy Lange Boxing tickets available courtesy of Jeff Valcourt
Save 25% Off Tickets to Feb. 11 Jimmy Lange Boxing Show Now Through Christmas Eve
Fairfax, VA (December 9, 2011) – Christmas comes early to boxing fans everywhere through a special holiday discount ticket offer courtesy of Jeff Valcourt of Valcourt Building Services, title sponsor of Jimmy Lange Boxing. In his role as Santa, Mr. Valcourt would like to offer a gift of a 25% discount on tickets to the next world-class Jimmy Lange Boxing event scheduled for Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Patriot Center. Through December 24, 2011, fans can purchase $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 tickets (offer does not apply to $35 and $50 tickets) at 25% off when buying in person at the Patriot Center Box Office or going online to Ticketmaster’s website (http://tinyurl.com/bq24arx).
Featuring the former “Contender” star, Jimmy Lange Boxing cards have drawn national attention for their world-class fights and strong drawing power. The February 11 event will feature three world title fights, headlined by Lange’s World Boxing Union (WBU) junior middleweight title defense and top local female boxer, Tori Nelson, fighting for the World International Boxing Association (WIBA) middleweight championship. An exciting co-main event for a world title will also be added to the lineup with an announcement forthcoming.
The card will also feature rising local junior welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson. The previously announced Zain “Tiger” Shah vs. Tony “No Better” Jeter bout has fallen out. All bouts are subject to change.