Ward vs. Green on June 19 in Oakland
When Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs), faces Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) on Saturday, June 19th for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title during Group Stage 2 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic on SHOWTIME® he certainly won’t lack in confidence. Green, 30, from Tulsa, Okla., has won six consecutive fights thanks to power in both fists, and says he wants to send a message to everyone in the tournament, starting with Ward.
“I respect Andre as a fighter,” Green said. “He’s very clever with good boxing skills and I’ve complimented his victory over Mikkel Kessler, but it’s not in his DNA to go deep in the waters and do battle like a real warrior. I’ve studied Andre’s fights long before I knew I was going to fight him in the tournament because he’s in my weight division. If you really watch his fights, he never goes blow-to-blow with another fighter. He will fight for 15-20 seconds with the jab, then he will grab, hold and push away. That’s the way he fights, and you can forget about him trying to do any inside fighting. He has a weak chin; I know it, he knows it, and everybody else knows it.”
Green, known as “Sweetness”, is glad for the opportunity to participate in the SHOWTIME Sports® Super Six World Boxing Classic because it’s important for his career. He also feels that while fighting Ward in his hometown, Oakland, Calif., for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title is a challenge, it is a challenge worth facing.
“I don’t have a problem fighting Andre in his hometown which will be a challenge for me, but I want the WBA belt,” said Green. “Andre will need the Oakland Fire Department in his corner the night of the fight because I’m bringing a lot of fire, smoke and heat with me in the ring on June 19th, and I don’t think he will be able to put the fire out.”
Veteran trainer John David Jackson, who’s training Green in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, likes the way his fighter is approaching his first world title fight. “I’m very please with the way Allan is approaching this fight. It’s his first opportunity for a world title and that’s been his dream since he started boxing,” said Jackson. “He’s more dedicated, focused and training with a lot more intensity. We know exactly what to expect from Andre Ward and we will be prepared to make any adjustments during the fight. I have a very hungry fighter. Give me a hungry fighter who is dedicated, prepared and motivated and I will show you a winner.”
The SHOWTIME Sports® Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament features the best super middleweights in the division and Allan Green wants to send a message to everyone in the tournament. “You have six very talented and skilled fighters who want to compete against each other,” Green said. “I like the competition but, pound-for-pound, I just don’t see anyone who can beat me. Nobody.”
Promoter Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, is also very confident of how well Allan Green will perform in his first title fight against Ward. “Allan Green has the hammer of Thor tattooed on him,” DiBella said. “While Andre Ward is a great young champ, the hammer of Thor is a great equalizer. Allan’s punching power makes him the scariest man in the Super Six, and Andre Ward will find that out on June 19.”
Green is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Tarvis Simms on Oct. 2, 2009 and is currently ranked No. 3 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No.4 in the World Boxing Council (WBC), No. 5 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 7 in the World Boxing Association (WBA).
The Super Six World Boxing Classic group stage 2 matchup featuring Andre Ward vs. Allan Green is being co-promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and will air live on SHOWTIME® Saturday, June 19 at 10:00 pm ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Tickets for the June 19 Super Six World Boxing Classic are priced at $300, $150, $65 and $35 and are available at the Oracle Arena Box Office by calling (510) 569-2121 or online through Ticketmaster www.Ticketmaster.com.
