Froch Confident With Power, Dirrell Banks on Boxing

[Dynamite Kid]

I have a feeling it's gonna be like Paul Williams.

I started a thread about P-Will way back before he fought Walter Matthyse about how he looked like a solid prospect and I don't think I got a single reply.
Within 6 months everyone and their mom was Paul's #1 fan and I didn't even want to root for him anymore.

Here I am, the original Dirrell fan ( I met him years ago, he is good friend with m my college suitemate Chris Wilson who now plays football for the Redskins) facing the same scenario...

Froch does not impress me at all but i have not been overly impressed with Dirrell either tbh, both have mediocre defences, only Dirrell has never faced anyone with heart a beat besides Hanshaw or Stevens you could argue, his last opponent Findley was a joke.

At least Ward has fought a Miranda.

Dirrell will win this fight easily if he keeps Froch in the middle of the ring, if he does not he could wind up losing, his fight is not near the ropes its in the centre where he can dictate with his superior speed.

[Hitman932]

Dirrell will win this fight easily if he keeps Froch in the middle of the ring, if he does not he could wind up losing, his fight is not near the ropes its in the centre where he can dictate with his superior speed.

Part of the reason I am picking Dirrell is that I really believe he is a guy who fights down to the level of his opposition if he doesn't feel challenged.

Against Froch I really think we will see him focused and determined to fight a good all around find from beginning to end. You aren't gonna see the reckless Dirrell who threw 8 straight uppercuts against Findlay or the guy who laid on the ropes playing games with Anthony Hanshaw.

Also, one thing people aren't giving him credit for is Dirrell is a brutal finisher. If he hurts somebody he attacks like a wild animal. He doesn't let the other guy tie him up, he will shove them off and nail them upside the head all in one motion. If he hurts Froch there will be none of the hesitation that we saw from Jermain Taylor.

[D-MiZe]

Wait, Froch has power?

[Dave Rado]

He was down against Taylor, the same Taylor who couldn't knock down 154 pounders in his middleweight days.

Taylor has a big punch when it lands cleanly. Didn't you see the first Pavlik fight? And Dirrell is hardly a huge puncher.

He can be stopped, and it would'nt surprise me if he was. He is gonna take so many flush shots from Dirrell and so many combinations it's gonna start taking it's toll after 5 rounds when Dirrell has outlanded him 200 to 50.

Froch has a lot more boxing skills than you give him credit for. He's a clever counter-puncher, and punches from awkward angles. His timing was out in the first few rounds against Taylor - which he put down to nerves, due to it being his first big fight outside the UK; but in the second half of the Pascal fight and the last five rounds of the Taylor fight, his timing was very good, his judgement of distance and space was excellent, and he dominated with his jab. His combinations were economical and accurate. In the combination that ended the fight, every single punch was on target.

[Dynamite Kid]

Part of the reason I am picking Dirrell is that I really believe he is a guy who fights down to the level of his opposition if he doesn't feel challenged.

Against Froch I really think we will see him focused and determined to fight a good all around find from beginning to end. You aren't gonna see the reckless Dirrell who threw 8 straight uppercuts against Findlay or the guy who laid on the ropes playing games with Anthony Hanshaw.

Also, one thing people aren't giving him credit for is Dirrell is a brutal finisher. If he hurts somebody he attacks like a wild animal. He doesn't let the other guy tie him up, he will shove them off and nail them upside the head all in one motion. If he hurts Froch there will be none of the hesitation that we saw from Jermain Taylor.

That needs to be the case here because if he has defensive lapses the way he did against Rocha, Paschall he will get nailed.

I think that can be a hinderence for him aswell as a positive, he tends to get a bit wild and leaves himself open when he goes for the kill. He went to town on Oganov with his attack but did you see any regard for defence while he was unloading ? because i did not. Dirrell needs to realize that as fast as he is the other guy is allowed to punch back.

He will beat Froch if he can keep Froch busy, whether thats from resetting Froch or just keeping playing defence with his quick raids, but i think the moment he takes his foot of the gas and poses, his poor defence and possible chin might show up.

[Hitman932]

Froch has a lot more boxing skills than you give him credit for. He's a clever counter-puncher, and punches from awkward angles. His timing was out in the first few rounds against Taylor - which he put down to nerves, due to it being his first big fight outside the UK; but in the second half of the Pascal fight and the last five rounds of the Taylor fight, his timing was very good, his judgement of distance and space was excellent, and he dominated with his jab. His combinations were economical and accurate. In the combination that ended the fight, every single punch was on target.

I don't doubt he has skills. I just don't see them being used effectively enough to win a decision. If he knocks Dirrell out he wins, if it goes to the cards the chances that Froch wins more than 3-4 rounds against a superior boxer are as slim as Dirrell's chances of stopping Froch.

[Shadows]

He will beat Froch if he can keep Froch busy, whether thats from resetting Froch or just keeping playing defence with his quick raids, but i think the moment he takes his foot of the gas and poses, his poor defence and possible chin might show up.

This is where the fight will be won or lost for Dirrell. If Dirrell steps off to the side after he throws, he'll keep Froch of balance and won't allow him to load up and throw a straight right. If he starts backing up in straight lines like he does against lesser fighters, he might get chin checked.

He needs to keep in the center, because like I've said all along, it'll probably be a small ring.

I know Dirrell will switch, but I'd like to see him fight more as a southpaw. Froch is footwork isn't anything to write home about, and I want to see how he deals with a quick, athletic southpaw.

[Dynamite Kid]

This is where the fight will be won or lost for Dirrell. If Dirrell steps off to the side after he throws, he'll keep Froch of balance and won't allow him to load up and throw a straight right. If he starts backing up in straight lines like he does against lesser fighters, he might get chin checked.

He needs to keep in the center, because like I've said all along, it'll probably be a small ring.

I know Dirrell will switch, but I'd like to see him fight more as a southpaw. Froch is footwork isn't anything to write home about, and I want to see how he deals with a quick, athletic southpaw.

Spot on, i can tell you really know your Boxing. Karma if i can.

[Hitman932]

One thing I find very interesting that I think is worth mentioning.

Despite the fact that Froch is world champ, more experienced and fighting at home he is still only a narrow favorite at the sportsbook.

In the time the betting line has been open it has not moved one inch in Froch's favor.

This tells me 2 things.

1) The people that handicap fights for a living have little confidence in Froch and actually favor Dirrell to win. Froch is installed as a favorite because he is at home and quite simply should attract more wagers (cause its legal everywhere for Brits) whereas Dirrell is relatively unknown and wont attract the attention of the American Betting public.

2) Since it has not moved it implies that the people who support Froch are not willing to put their money where their mouths are. If all the things people believe about Froch are true, ie superhuman chin, tireless aggression, uncanny boxing angles etc etc then it should be a free for all to get to the bookie to place their bets on Carl.


Instead it seemd that the informed fas betting on Dirrell have kept the line at a stalemate for 4 weeks as the Froch fans try to decide if they really believe the things they are saying.

[Shadows]

Spot on, i can tell you really know your Boxing. Karma if i can.

Thanks man, I appreciate it.

Green K sent in return.