Ward Secures Super Six Semifinals Birth by Shutting Out Allan Green
Andre Ward retained his World Boxing Association (WBA) 168-pound championship and undefeated record by way of unanimous decision over Allan Green in his second straight commanding performance in the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
In front of his hometown crowd of 8,797 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) secured a place in the Super Six semi-finals by dominating a visibly weak Green (29-2, 20 KOs), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, throughout the entire twelve round bout. All three judges scored the fight 120 to 108.
Ward vs. Green Results Photo Gallery
Known for his speed and fast hands, Ward continued to flesh out his repertoire of sweet science strengths by fighting inside and smothering Green against the ropes for most of the night.
“I did expect a little tougher fight,” Ward admitted after Green’s ring performance was in direct opposition to his usual hard punching and tough talking persona. Ward threw nearly 200 more punches than Green and outlanded his combos by a margin of 42 to six. At one point, SHOWTIME play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson exclaimed, “The bully is being bullied.” Green went to the hospital after the bout as a precautionary measure.
After the fight, Green responded, “Andre Ward fought a hell of a fight. I weighed in at 166. By the time I got in the ring, I felt dead.” Despite his feeling’s tonight, Green’s Super Six chances are still very much alive. He could still earn a semi-final berth with a win in Group Stage 3 over WBC world champion Mikkel Kessler.
Aside from clinching a spot in the Super Six semi-finals with a tournament-leading four points, Ward’s win marks the first time a Super Six fighter has won a second fight in the tournament. Arthur Abraham, Kessler, Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell all have one win with Green trailing at 0-1.
Dirrell was in attendance to witness the impressive win from Ward, his former Olympic teammate and next opponent. When ringside reporter Jim Gray asked him what he’ll need to do to defeat Ward, Dirrell responded, “I’ve got to get to him first,” referring to Ward’s ability to dictate the direction of tonight’s bout round after round.
The Ward vs. Dirrell fight is just one of the exciting and meaningful contests in Group Stage 3 as all fighters still have a chance to advance to the Super Six semi-finals and keep the dream alive to emerge victorious from the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
