Skysports.com looks at how Carl Froch and Andre Ward made it to the Super Six showpiece in New Jersey.
Froch and Ward's journeys to the New Jersey showdown
Carl Froch and Andre Ward will go head-to-head in Atlantic City next Saturday in the Super Six final.
Froch's WBC super-middleweight strap and Ward's WBA equivalent will be on the line as both boxers try to prove they are the dominant force in their division.
Ahead of the clash at the historic Boardwalk Hall,
skysports.com examines how each man has made it to the winner-takes-all encounter...
CARL FROCH
Froch v Dirrell
Froch started the tournament with a messy split decision win over Andre Dirrell in his hometown of Nottingham. Dirrell used his slippery southpaw skills to make Froch miss in the early rounds, but he then resorted to constant holding when the Englishman began to find his range.
The American was finally docked a point in the 10th round, and this punishment appeared to spark him into life as he caught Froch with crisp left hands in this round and the next.
But the Michigan man had left his charge too late and two judges gave it to Froch with scores of 115-112, while a third scored it 114-113 to Dirrell. Dirrell disputed the decision but Froch's sustained aggression appeared to see him through an ugly contest.
Froch v Kessler
Froch suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Mikkel Kessler, who took a points win following a thrilling clash in Denmark. The Nottingham man was not happy about fighting on Kessler's turf and he made a subdued start, which saw him repeatedly tagged by his opponent's jab.
A ticking off from trainer Robert McCracken livened up Froch in the fourth round and he had Kessler on the canvas in the next, but referee Michael Griffin ruled it as a slip. Kessler weathered the storm and continued to tattoo Froch with jabs and hurtful rights, although The Cobra did open up a nasty cut over the Dane's eye in the ninth round.
Both men swopped heavy punches in a brutal conclusion to the contest and it was Kessler who took the verdict and Froch's WBC belt, with two scores of 115-112, while a third scored it 114-113 to the Brit.
Froch v Abraham
Froch swiftly regained the WBC belt with a dominant points win over Arthur Abraham. The Notts man displayed his underrated boxing skills and repeatedly speared Abraham with his jab.
Abraham had earned a reputation as a big puncher, but he struggled to land any significant shots on a fired-up Froch, who trapped his bewildered opponent in the corner in the seventh round.
There was little respite for Abraham and he looked ready to wilt in the 11th round, but he survived to hear the bell and even hurt Froch with a desperate onslaught in the last round. That was a rare moment of concern for the Brit, who took the win with two shutout scores of 120-108 and one score of 119-109.
Froch v Johnson
Froch was not at his best but still managed to reach the Super Six final with a majority decision over Glen Johnson in Atlantic City. Johnson had been drafted in as a replacement for Andre Dirrell and the veteran seemed determined to seize his chance, catching Froch with a clubbing right in the third round.
Froch's defence was worryingly leaky but there was nothing wrong with his offensive skills as he landed crunching combinations in the middle rounds. His disregard for defence almost proved costly in the eighth as a big right rocked him, but he quickly regained his composure and fired back defiantly.
Johnson's best chance had gone and Froch finished strongly to take the win with scores of 117-111, 116-112, while a third judge scored it a draw.
ANDRE WARD
Ward v Kessler
Ward started his path to the final with an upset technical decision win over Kessler in Oakland. The Dane had been considered one of the favourites to win the tournament, but he struggled to cope with Ward's handspeed and was caught by short left hooks in the early stages.
A big right rocked Kessler in the fifth round and the Dane's problems increased as accidental head clashes left him with nasty cuts on his eyebrows.
Ward's spiteful combinations appeared to take their toll on his injured opponent, who was spared further punishment when the ringside physician halted the fight in the 11th round due to his cuts. This premature end merely quickened the inevitable as Ward took Kessler's WBA title with two scores of 98-92 and a tally of 97-93.
Ward v Green
Ward continued his smooth progress with a one-sided points win over replacement Allan Green.
Jermain Taylor's withdrawal had opened the door for Green, but he was given a harsh welcome to the tournament as Ward landed a stiff right in the third round. Green repeatedly retreated to the ropes as Ward bullied his way forward and the fight began to drift away from the outgunned Oklahoman.
A flurry of punches appeared to hurt Green in the seventh round and the referee checked on his condition, but he grimly held on until the final bell. Ward's dominance was reflected on the cards as the judges handed him three shutout scores of 120-108 in Oakland.
Ward v Bika
Ward displayed his grit during a rough points win over the rugged Sakio Bika. The American was pitted against a replacement for the second fight running, but Bika would offer far more resistance than Green and an ugly exchange left Ward with a cut in the third round.
Ward refused to be roughed up by Bika and a crisp left hook seemed to stun the challenger in the fourth round. The Scorpion was again stung by a barrage from Ward in the ninth round and he also had a cut to contend with after an accidental clash of heads.
But the Cameroon-born fighter came out swinging in the final round and Ward had to maintain his tight defence until the final bell. Ward had proved a class above his game opponent and got the nod with two scores of 118-110 and a perfect tally of 120-108.
Ward v Abraham
Ward reached the Super Six final in style with an impressive points win over Arthur Abraham. The American was a heavy favourite to beat Abraham, who had lost two of his previous three fights, but King Arthur landed a big right hand in the third round which forced Ward to ride out a storm.
Ward responded like a champion in the next round as he peppered Abraham with jabs and classy combinations.This proved a pivotal moment in the fight and Abraham was slowly being picked apart until Ward really piled on the punishment in a one-sided 10th round.
The ruthless Ward landed a big overhand right in the last round but he could not find a punch to finish off his dazed opponent. It mattered not as he advanced to the final after taking the verdict with scores of 120-108 118-110 and 118-111.
Make sure you watch the Super Six final, live on Saturday December 17 from midnight on Sky Sports HD1.
