Due to an undisclosed injury, Andre Dirrell has been forced to pull out of his Super Six tournament bout against former Olympic teammate and friend Andre Ward. The bout, already scheduled to take place on November 27, will go on, but Ward will face an opponent that has yet to be determined. A decision on whether or not Ward's bout will actually be a part of the tournament will be made in the near future.
Since its inception, the Super Six has been cursed with a number of fighters having to withdraw due to injuries. Jermain Taylor was the first to leave the tournament, retiring from the sport of boxing after family and friends became concerned with his health after suffering a devastating knockout loss to Arthur Abraham. Taylor would later be replaced by Allan Green, who subsequently put on one of the worst performances in a title challenge when WBA champion Andre Ward beat him from pillar to post with ease.
Mikkel Kessler was the next to exit the tournament after doctors recommended he take a long hiatus from the sport due to an eye injury. After weeks of searching for a suitable replacement, the decision was made to bring in former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson, who hasn't fought at 168-pounds in nearly 10 years. Just last week, it was announced that Johnson's bout with Allan Green would indeed be included in the second stage of the tournament.
Now, with Andre Dirrell's departure, it leaves only Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch as the only remaining original participants in the six-man tournament. While Glen Johnson and Allan Green with now have an opportunity to advance to semi-finals, one has to wonder if either one can truly be considered the best super middleweight in the world should they somehow win the tournament.
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