Carl Froch: I Am Not Worried About Andre Ward, He Has No Power Whatsoever

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According to a press release from the executive producers of Showtime, The Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic The Super Middleweights Final kicked off its international press tour from London with the two remaining champions in the tournament WBA champion Andre Ward and WBC champion Carl Froch.

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With just 10 weeks away from the final fight of the tournament, both Froch and Ward had plenty to say as they kicked off the press conference.

The following are quotes from both fighters from the press conference.

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Andre Ward
"This is my first time back in England since 2001 when I fought with the U.S. team against the U.K. I get quite a bit of fan mail from here so I know not every Brit is against me.

 

“This is what we, as fighters, dream of. It's what we fight for. This one is for all the marbles.

“When I started in this tournament everyone had questions about me. Everyone had doubts. Now, there are some people that say I'm the favorite, but I don't feel that way. I still have that chip on my shoulder.

“We know why we're here. I expected from the beginning to make it to The Final. And slowly but surely we made believers out of a lot of people that doubted me. But I would not call either one of us ‘great’, Carl nor I. That term is thrown around too loosely today. You have to earn that and that's what I want to do, to earn that name 'great.' This is the kind of fight you have to fight and win in order to be considered ‘great.’”

 

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Carl Froch
“This has been a fantastic tournament by SHOWTIME Sports. Some have said that it has taken too long or that it’s been drawn out. But these fights that were made possible in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, with the six best guys out there, would not have happened had we not had the tournament.

“And The Final is what a top sport is all about; we have the two best fighters facing off for it all. That's what this tournament has delivered.

“I have set myself up for 10 solid weeks of training. I'm solely focused on claiming this hardware and bringing it back to England where it will remain for a long, long time.

“I owe a big thanks to Eddie Hearn. I feel as though there's been a weight lifted from my shoulders. He takes care of all the business and I am free to focus on the fight and prepare for Oct. 29.

“I have not been impressed with Andre and his level of opposition. Look at his record. He's fought good fighters but not at the level where we are now. The only opponent that is up there on his record is Mikkel Kessler. And I watched that fight. I didn't care for it, to be honest. I didn't like that Mikkel had to travel with his title only to have Andre throwing his head around in there, causing the cuts and such.

“On Oct. 29, as long as it’s a clean, fair fight I am not worried about Ward. He has no power whatsoever. And his hand speed, sure it’s fast, but even he'll tell you it’s not as fast as Andre Dirrell’s. And I handled Dirrell quite easily.”

 

Ward responded to these comments saying, “I've been in boxing for a long time, over 15 years; I know what he's doing. He has to do this in his mind, he has to minimize me. Minimize my accomplishments and performances. And that's ok. I understand. I'll just remind him that we have a date set. Oct. 29, that will come soon enough and we'll see.”

 

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Ken Hershman of SHOWTIME Sports
“This is a spectacular setting for what we expect will be a spectacular fight.

“When we began the Super Six World Boxing Classic in 2009, we never could have imagined all the ups and downs that this tournament would produce. We expected a wild ride and what a ride it has been.

“Carl Froch and Andre Ward are the two best boxers in the super middleweight division. Ranked No. 1 and 2, I don't think anyone disputes that; we have the right fighters in The Final.

“Whoever hoists the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup in the end will have accomplished something unprecedented in this sport. We are very proud to be here.”

 

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So from these opening statements made at the first press conference it appears Andre Ward is trying his best to remain humble and focused as the final fight approaches.

Carl Froch on the other hand was criticizing Ward a bit on his level of opposition, claims that he lacks true power and even that Ward is a bit of a dirty fighter.

Ward was also a guest commentator on ESPN's Friday Night Fights season finale where he did quite a decent job calling the fights.

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Tickets for The Final at Boardwalk Hall go on sale THIS FRIDAY, Aug. 26 and are priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50. Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, or by calling Ticketmaster at [phone] or online at ticketmaster.com.

 

Promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Matchroom Sport and Antonio Leonard Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City and sponsored by Corona.

 

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"The Final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic LIVE on SHOWTIME^®, Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from the historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.  "

           KING J is the Bleacher Report's Boxing Community Leader, and a Featured Columnist. All quotes and information were provided directly to him via press release from the executive producers of Showtime.

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