Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch: 15 Things You Need to Know About This Matchup

This weekend finally marks the ending of Showtime's Super Six Boxing Classic.  The event hasn't exactly turned out as it was supposed to, but fans got to see some incredible matches and whoever wins this fight is going to lay claim to being the best super middleweight in the world.

And why else do fans watch but to have that question answered?

The best part is that it is on Showtime, which means fans don't have to shell out money for a pay-per-view. That may not mean much to fans who don't have the money to even pay for a subscription fee, but for some, it's an early Christmas gift.

Of course, this is how boxing should always be, but with the sport in the condition it's in boxing diehards will have to take what they can get.

And on Saturday, it doesn't get much better.

The fight is the culmination of years of hard work by the fighters, Showtime, and the fighters' promoters.  

As fans gear up for one of the best and most important fights of 2011, it's worth looking at the different angles in assessing the fight and everything surrounding it.

Starting with...

The Fight Is Taking Place in New Jersey, Which Is Hometown to Neither Fighter

Why this fight ended up in New Jersey is a mystery.  At least Las Vegas has a big fight atmosphere most times.  Plus it is a lot closer to Ward's home state of California.

Instead, the fight is taking place on the other coast.

The fight could even have taken place in the UK though it would be unlikely, as Ward was able to have all of his other fights during the series in his backyard.  For some reason, Showtime showed him a little favoritism and that hasn't stopped even during the finals.

It seems a little weak that one of boxing's most anticipated fights won't be anywhere near a fanbase that has supported either fighter during this tournament.  Unfortunately, it is the way boxing seems to be.

Since it won't be in either fighter's corner of the globe, don't expect as much of a reaction for either man when they step through the ropes.  Plenty of fans will be there, and it will still be electric, but it could have been so much more.

Whoever Wins This Fight Will Be No. 1 in the Division

No matter what rankings some sites or belt organizations have, the fans know who the best in each weight class is, and whoever wins this fight will have that distinction.

Froch and Ward have simply beaten almost everyone there is to beat in the division.  Now they have to face each other to find out who can lay claim to being the best at 168 pounds.  It will let the winner have bragging rights as being king of the mountain, which is a major reason why boxers put on the gloves.

It will also net them bigger money fights and give them a bump in salary, which is the main reason fighters get into the ring.

No matter what fighters say about being warriors the main reason they step in through the ropes is a paycheck.  There is a reason the term prizefighter was first coined for boxers.

They are willing to withstand serious punishment because it might lead to money and, if they win enough, an amount that could let them retire.

Whatever fights are left for the winner of this match, they will be on the A side of the promotion and will allow him to take a majority of the pot.

Whoever Wins This Fight Will Face Lucian Bute

Bute has been fighting on Showtime because he signed a contract with them.  There was only one reason why they would sign a fighter to such a contract, and it was so they could match him with the winner of this fight.

And its easy to see why.  Whoever wins this fight will immediately have the second biggest fight of their career when they square off with Bute.  It also means a lot of subscribers will stay in on whatever Saturday it lands on to watch the fight.

Bute has run through a slew of great fighters. The winner of this tournament will have done the same and that means that its the only other fight that would interest fans with either one in it.

And the best part is that it looks like it will happen.

Both Men Have Great Chins

Andre Ward has never lost.

Froch has lost once and it wasn't by knockout.

Ward has been wobbled when he was a younger fighter, but both men can handle serious leather being thrown their way.  The proof comes from the opposition they have faced and the fact that not only have they walked out of the ring on their own accord, but also as the winners.

No matter what happens in this fight, it is probably going the distance.  That is unless somebody makes a mistake or just gets caught.

Judging by how both men have conducted themselves thus far, that isn't going to happen.

The fight should be spectacular; just don't expect a spectacular finish.

Ward Is the Much Younger Man

Andre Ward is a few months away from his 28th birthday.

Froch just turned 34 a few months ago, which might be hard to believe considering how good he looks every time he steps into the ring.

But time is against every fighter, and it is a matter of time before Froch puts his mouthguard in and moves forward only to find that the reflexes that once saved him have frayed or vanished completely.

With the run that he has been on recently, it is a minute possibility, but boxing is full of minute possibilities occurring.  It just may happen that Froch turns old overnight.

If that happens against Ward, it would be rotten luck, but it would also mean a long night.

Froch Has a Bigger Reach

Ward has a reach of 71" while Froch has a reach of 75".

Four inches might not seem like much, but in boxing, that distance can mean the difference between landing a thudding right and hearing a thud as you crash to the canvas.

If Froch can use that reach to keep Ward away from him, the fight will be much easier to manage.  Of course, that means that he would have to outbox Ward and not let himself fall into a brawl.  

It might be hard for the Englishman to resist, considering some of his last fights.  Then again not resisting the urge could cost him the chance to be heralded as one of the best boxers in the world.

He may just want to swallow his pride and let the fight go to a boring decision if it means he picks up the win.

Both Have Fought Mikkel Kessler with Mixed Results

In boxing, styles make fights.  It doesn't matter if Boxer A beat Boxer B and Boxer B beat Boxer C.

In pugilism, that doesn't mean that Boxer A beats Boxer C.  It could in fact mean that Boxer C beats the stuffing out of Boxer A.

In this case, Boxer A is Andre Ward and Boxer C is Carl Froch.  Of course that leaves Boxer B as Mikkel Kessler, who lost a decision to Ward, but was able to get the victory over Froch in his native Denmark.

Still, it doesn't hurt Ward's chances that he was able to best the only man to give Froch a loss.  It could even mean that he will be able to use it as a mental edge over his rival.

That is the only thing a victory over Kessler will do for him in this fight.  The rest is up to him and how he lets the fight play out.

Both Had Successful Amateur Careers

Just because Ward got farther in the unpaid leagues as a youth than Froch doesn't mean that he has a lot more experience.

Froch actually began boxing at a young age as well and won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Amateur Championships.  He has a lot of years under his belt just like Ward, and that means he has seen the same things his opponent has.

Just because they have almost the same number of fights and a large difference in age doesn't mean that Ward is more experienced.  Froch actually started his pro boxing career before Ward.

Ward may be able to change things up on a technical level, but that doesn't mean that Froch can't follow up.

Still...

Ward Is an Olympic Gold Medalist

Just because they have a similar amount of time spent on the amateur circuit doesn't mean that they were on the same level.  

While Froch was toiling away in the ring as a pro, Ward was standing on a podium receiving the highest award available to an amateur boxer.  When someone reaches the top of a sport, even if it is different in some aspects than the professional ranks, it is worth remembering.

They have been at the top of the mountain.  They have had a taste of being the best and they know how to get there.

If Ward can remember how he felt winning that gold medal and the dedication and effort it took to get him on that pedestal, he might just be able to find a way to win.

Neither Man Has Shown Power at the Top Level

Both Ward and Froch may have a lot of knockouts, but Ward's last knockout was in 2009 against Shelly Pudwill.  Froch's was in 2009 as well against Jermain Taylor.

That should be impressive, but this was a Taylor who was obviously damaged and Froch needed all the way up to the 12th round to do it.

This doesn't diminish the strength of either fighter, but it proves that they don't have real knockout power.

It is another indicator, along with their chins, that this fight will go the distance. Fans who are betting that either one wins by knockout are most likely living in a fantasy or just couldn't resist the odds.

Both Fighters Have Gotten on Each Other's Nerves

Neither man probably hates the other one, but both are in the way of what the other one wants.  

This is something that each man has spent years dreaming about having, and now there is someone in their way not only stopping them, but telling them that all of their preparations were pointless.  It is something that has made both men become less than thrilled with each other.

It also should make for fireworks in the ring.

Fighters can say all they want that when they face a friend or someone they genuinely like that it doesn't effect their performance in the ring, but that just isn't true.  Many times it takes a little bit of the wind out of the sails of a great matchup and stops both fighters from pushing that last little bit.

Fans won't have to worry about that in this matchup.

Neither man may hate the other, but there is no love lost, either.

The Undercard Isn't Stacked, so Fight Fans Will Be Coming for the Main Event

There isn't one other fight on the card that fans are clamoring to see.  That means that fans who buy tickets are coming to see one match and only that match.

It is indicative of what is one of the many things wrong with boxing, but it also shows just how important this fight is and how much the promoters believe that it will draw people.  Its hard to argue with that when fans look back and see just how well the Super Six has done.

It remains to be seen how well this fight draws.  If it draws well, especially because of the location it's in, it shows that both fighters have turned into real draws.  If it fails to do so, then it means that boxing is in worse shape than fans might have thought.

Because if a fight like this doesn't draw a crowd, almost nothing will.

Fighting in America Again Won't Phase Froch

This isn't Froch's first time stepping into his opponent's home nation.

He did it when he faced Jermain Taylor and again when he went toe-to-toe with Mikkel Kessler in Denmark.  Considering he will be facing Ward on the East Coast far from Oakland he should be all right.  

Unlike other fighters who might be rattled by facing their opponents in hostile crowds, it is par for the course with Froch.

It remains to be seen how many British fans will come over to see Froch fight, but unless he has somehow channeled Ricky Hatton, it probably isn't going to be enough to count as the majority of the crowd come fight night.

With a Win, Neither Is Still a Pay-Per-View Attraction

When either fighter wins, they will elevate their status.

Unfortunately, it will extend to only the boxing community.  Outside of boxing, nobody is going to focus on their achievements and ESPN's SportsCenter probably won't cover the match.

For that to happen, a fighter needs to be constantly put out for the media to keep them in the news and in casual fans' minds.  That means HBO.

For all of the impressive work Showtime has done, they still aren't capable of the marketing appeal that boxing's biggest platform is.

So even with a win over their opponent, the Froch-Ward winner will still have to settle for premium cable.

Even with All of the Adjustments, the Tournament Turned out Well

There have been countless mishaps throughout the start of this tournament.  

In no particular order, here are the fighters who have dropped out:

Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell and Mikkel Kessler.

That is exactly half of the original participants and it should have crippled the format of the Super Six.

Showtime was able to roll with the punches though and ended up making great fights that left fans with little doubt who were the two best super middleweights on the planet.  The fight on Saturday is set up perfectly to help finish off the question that was started back in 2009.

Who is the best in the world?

And on Saturday, fans get to see Showtime finally end that question for one of boxing's best divisions.