WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has promised to KO Andre Dirrell en route to victory in the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
'The Cobra' confident he will triumph in round-robin competition
WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has promised to knockout Andre Dirrell en route to victory in the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic.
The Nottingham fighter, 32, will put his world title and unbeaten 25-fight record on the line in an innovative round-robin tournament between six of the best boxers in the 168lb division.
American Dirrell (18-0, 13 KOs) is first up in October, with two points on offer for a victory and a bonus point for a knockout or TKO.
The four points leaders at the end of the three-fight group stage then progress to the semi-finals and Froch has already dismissed Dirrell's hopes of claiming victory in Nottingham.
Vow
"He's got fast hands from what I've seen but I've only ever seen him fight one round," Froch said. "He's a bit of a switch hitter, so I'll find his weak side and bash him up.
"Not only will I get three points in the tournament but I'll also get to defend my WBC title, so it's a great fight for me.
"I usually box, use my long range and my boxing skills but sometimes you get drawn into a fight. I've proven that, if needs be, I'll go into the trenches and take somebody on toe to toe and have a fight with them.
"Dirrell, on the other hand has not been in that position yet, where he's been taken into the trenches and been asked questions by a world champion like I've been asked and answered.
"So you're going to learn a lot about Dirrell in this tournament and I can't see him getting through it. I think he's too naive, too young, too inexperienced and he's going to come unstuck when he fights me in his first fight.
"But that's the great thing about this tournament. You get beat by me and you've still got a chance to fight the next man and get some points in the bank."
Showdown
Indeed, Froch has already got his eye on a final showdown with Denmark's Mikael Kessler, the WBA title-holder, some time in early 2011.
"I'm going to be the last man standing," Froch said. "I'm a world champion and I've worked so hard to get here that I'm not giving my belt up for anyone.
"Kessler's an excellent fighter but I believe I'm the best of the bunch and it's just about going out now and proving that."
Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) will open his campaign against American former Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward (19-0, 12 KOs).
Germany's Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs) relinquished his IBF middleweight crown to take on former undisputed middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs), a final-round stoppage victim of Froch's last time out in April.
