The Super Six World Boxing Classic was a professional boxing tournament organized by the Showtime television network in co-operation with Sauerland Event. The tournament was held from 2009 to 2011, with all fights being contested in the super middleweight division. The winner of the tournament, Andre Ward, unified the WBA (Super title), WBC and The Ring Super Middleweight titles.
The competitors entered into the tournament were then-WBA Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler, then-undefeated WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, former middleweight champions Jermain Taylor and Arthur Abraham, and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell. Taylor and Kessler withdrew during the tournament and were replaced by former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson and super middleweight contender Allan Green.
The first matches took place on October 17, 2009. After three group stages, two semi-final matches were set. Ward defeated Abraham in the first, held on May 14, 2011. Froch defeated Johnson in the second, held on June 4, 2011. After Froch defeated Johnson, he was elevated to the number 2 rating by Ring Magazine. With Ward being rated number 1, the final pitted the number 1 and number 2 fighters against one another. This allowed for the Ring title vacancy to be filled at the tournament final.[1]
WBA Champion Ward beat WBC Champion Froch in the final of the tournament on 17 December 2011 at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States.[2]
- ^ Doug Fischer (8 June 2011). "Ring ratings update: Froch advances to No. 2 super middleweight". Ring TV.
- ^ "Andre Ward-Carl Froch Super Six final rescheduled for Dec. 17". ESPN.com. 27 September 2011.