Part of the beauty of boxing is that thousands of people can watch the same fight and still develop different opinions on what they’re witnessing. Both infuriating and satisfying at different times, the subjective nature of the sport can often matter more than what the fighters actually bring to the ring. One needs look no further than the first match-up between Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham for such an example.

Whether or not justice was served in the sixth round stoppage back in October 2011 that cost then-champion Cunningham the IBF Cruiserweight title can be debated. But, that match now potentially becomes but a mere footnote thanks to one of the greatest elements of the sport boxing: the rematch.

Credit: Team Sauerland

In some instances, the first match is so enthralling (and profitable) that the scenario absolutely begs for a return engagement between the two combatants.  A rematch is not only good for the fighters but great for the fans and the sport, in the best scenarios.  In other situations, however, the rematch may simply be a matter of correcting the inequities—real or perceived—of the past.  In Cunningham-Hernandez II, the fans are getting a little bit of both, which should make for a very intriguing fight.

• When: February 4, 2012
• Where: Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
• Undercard: Co-main event Enad Licina (21-3, 11 KOs) vs. Alexander Alexeev (22-2, 20 KOs) for vacant European Cruiserweight championship; European Light Heavyweight champion Eduard Gutknecht (22-1, 9 KOs) defends against Viacheslav Uzelkov (25-1, 16 KOs)

The Pugs and The Prize

IBF Cruiserweight Champion - Yoan Pablo Hernandez (25-1, 13 KOs)

• Height: 6’4”
• Nationality: Cuban
• Age: 27
• Fighting out of: Halle an der Saale, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
• Stance: Southpaw

Challenger - Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham (24-3, 12 KOs)

• Height: 6’3”
• Age: 35
• Nationality: U.S.A.
• Fighting out of: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Stance: Orthodox

---> Take a look at where Cunningham ranks amongst the all-time best cruiserweights in boxing history

On the line will be Hernandez’s IBF Cruiserweight title, as well as the vacant Ring magazine Cruiserweight championship.  The latter strap was added following former champion Marco Huck’s move up to the heavyweight ranks and his mandatory relinquishment of the title.

Hernandez vs. Cunningham II Preview

October 1, 2011, Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany: Hernandez won a technical decision when the first fight was stopped in the sixth round.  The determination was made jointly by referee Mickey Vann and ringside doctor Walter Wagner that the cuts suffered by Hernandez—attributed to accidental head butts earlier in the bout—posed the potential of bleeding into his eye and dangerously obscuring his vision.  At the time, however, it appeared that the cuts had been managed successfully and were not actively impeding Hernandez’s sight.  Regardless, the fight was stopped, the referee went to the scorecards and Hernandez walked away as IBF Cruiserweight champion.

Controversy soon arose when Cunningham openly questioned the legitimacy of the decisions of the referee and ringside physician.  A semblance of legitimacy was given to Cunningham’s claims when the IBF quickly ordered a rematch only eleven days after the original bout.  The determination by the sanctioning body, as conveyed by its president, Darryl Peoples, was that an “improper stoppage of the title fight” occurred.

The Analysis

Hernandez has had his pride insulted and the legitimacy of his title win called into question, which hasn’t settled well with the southpaw.  It was a fortuitously placed left hook to the rear quarter of the skull coming out of an inside scrum that fell Cunningham in the first bout, and the champ would be wise to look for similar openings again. Cunningham is going to keep his hands up throughout the fight and force Hernandez to beat him, again, on the cards.

Look for Hernandez to find a way to force Cunningham’s hands down, likely working on the inside and focusing on more bodyshots than the first bout and, perhaps, an errant low blow or two.  Hernandez will need to once again get off to a quick start, utilize his hook from the left side and initiate the offense.

At 35, Cunningham is a challenger motivated by both drive to regain a title he believes was stolen from him, as well as the unforgiving nature of time.  Still, he doesn’t seem concerned with currying any favor with the IBF, as evidenced by his public criticisms of the officiating and medical staff.  Unfazed by how this could impact his chances were the rematch to once again be left in the hands of the officials, Cunningham is simply focused on proving he’s the better fighter and that the first match setback was less about skill than it was a comity of errors.

To those ends, Cunningham will have to temper his approach to this second fight and stick with what got him there in the first place.  At times, he was overly patient in the first bout, but that’s very likely attributed to being knocked down early and barely answering the ten-count.  Cunningham’s jab will once again be his best punch and the lynchpin of his attack. Look for him to exploit the southpaw’s zealousness from the left side and land a couple of heavy hooks or straight rights to the champ’s chin.

Hernandez vs. Cunningham II Prediction

The sad truth for Cunningham is that the fight probably not only shouldn’t have been stopped the first time around, but a strong argument can be made that he possibly should’ve been ahead on the cards.  Recovering from the round one drop, Cunningham was precise and defensive the remainder of the first bout, while Hernandez seemed to be losing steam as the night wore on.

Overall, the rematch should be a very closely contested fight, with both men attacking more from a defensive position of not wanting to make an exposable mistake rather than looking for the knockout. If that’s the case, the bout should play right into Cunningham’s corner. His experience and patience in the ring should allow him to dictate the flow of the fight, assuming he can stay off the canvas early.

Hernandez may not be capable of pacing himself to the point of matching Cunningham’s meticulous nature, and that will cost him in the later rounds.  This time, victory will quite literally be in the cards for “U.S.S.”.  Look for Cunningham to capture the Ring strap that eluded him in 2008 and regain the IBF belt heading into the mandated defense, and another rematch, against ProBoxing-fans.com’s eighth-ranked Cruiserweight in the world, Troy Ross, later this year.

Prediction: Steve Cunningham via split decision.

For his part, the champion is widely derided as only having gone right to the WBC's green strap because of his famous name, pointedly avoiding top opposition along the way. Marco Antonio Rubio was not well-regarded until April 2011, when he shocked the sport by upsetting and stopping undefeated David Lemieux. Now ranked #6 and #5 respectively, Chavez and Rubio are finally getting their due, and whoever wins February 4th can surely expect to be taken much seriously in the future.

Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5-1, 46 KOs)
5'10", 70" reach, 31 years old
Mexican
Former Mexican Light Middleweight and Middleweight Champion

Rubio is a rugged Mexican boxer-puncher who can crack with both hands. Against the highly-touted Lemieux (Rubio was an 8-1 underdog in that fight), "El Veneo" used good defense and a stiff jab to keep the Canadian banger at bay and look for opportunities to safely retaliate. In addition to good power and good skills, Rubio also has a solid chin. He slugged with Kelly Pavlik, and while his corner threw in the towel in the 9th, Rubio was still on his feet at the end of the night. Rubio absorbed Lemieux's onslaught as well.

Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KOs)
6'0", 73" reach, 25 years old
Mexican
Current (fake)* WBC Middleweight Champion

Credit: Rafael Soto/Top Rank

Chavez proved himself as a well-rounded, solid boxer-puncher last year. He has gone from feasting on John Duddy to knocking out Peter Manfredo, Jr. and eeking out a decision over Sebastian Zbik. He has a busy, come-forward style aimed at maximizing his strength and hitting power, and marked by good footwork.

Although his defense isn't the best, Chavez has shown a durable chin thus far. He gets hit, but not with anything that has shaken him to the ankles yet. The Zbik fight in particular proved that good boxers won't stall him (at least not from the stand-up Continental school).

Chavez Jr. vs. Rubio Preview & Analysis

Chavez is the younger, quicker man in this match-up, and I think he is also the more confident and even slightly more experienced than Rubio. After all, while El Veneo is riding a wave right now, JCC, Jr. is undefeated and solidifying his place in the division. Although Rubio has fought more names, he has lost to all of them except Lemieux, while Chavez remains undefeated. Rubio and Chavez are about equal in the power department.

The only area where Rubio has a clear cut advantage over Chavez is durability and chin. Chavez hasn't been phased by anything thrown at him so far, but the hardest banger he has fought was John Duddy, who frankly isn't a big puncher. Rubio has eaten punches from Kelly Pavlik and David Lemieux, and both of those men hit harder than Chavez (in Pavlik's case, much harder). I therefore doubt Chavez has anything that will phase Rubio.

Chavez Jr. vs. Rubio Prediction

In a battle between two boxers, you pick the slicker guy. In a battle between two punchers, you pick the best catcher. What about a battle between two boxer-punchers?

The smart play for Chavez is to use his superior movement to stay away from Rubio, and pot shot from a distance. Despite his defensive deficits, Chavez has the speed and mobility to outbox Rubio, who can't simply bowl in there due to Chavez's power. However, Chavez doesn't have macht to stop Rubio from following him around, and the older Mexican has a good jab of his own and solid point defense. I expect Rubio to start catching Chavez and opening up on him after a couple of rounds, and sooner or later one of two things will happen: either Chavez will go from sticking and moving to getting on his bicycle and running, or a brawl will break out.

Who wins this fight depends entirely on when that brawl starts and how long it lasts. If the two Mexicans go to war in the center-ring early, or if Chavez isn't able to take control of the fight back, Rubio will exploit Chavez's porous defense to win rounds and possibly even win by knockout. If Chavez can stymie Rubio for most of the fight, or can take back control of the action after losing it, he can box his way into winning most of the rounds.

It's a close fight to call, but I favor Chavez by a nose.

Prediction: Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. SD12 Marco Antonio Rubio

* Chavez, Jr.'s reign as WBC Middleweight Champion will remain open to question until he meets and defeats the man his title was stolen from, Sergio Martinez.

Credit: Miika Forsstrom

Dereck Chisora (15-2, 9 KOs)
6'1 1/2" tall, 74" reach, 244 lbs, 27 years old
British
Former British and Commonwealth Champion

Dereck Chisora was once a hot, rising prospect in the British heavyweight boxing picture, but I think he can be safely categorized as a fringe contender for the time being. If you count his close, Split Decision loss to Robert Helenius as a win (and many do), he is 1-1 in fights with other prospects, due to his clean loss to Tyson Fury. "Del Boy" is a busy, capable fighter, but not top tier contender material.

Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KOs)
6'7 1/2" tall, 80" reach, 247 lbs, 40 years old
Ukrainian
Two-time and current WBC Heavyweight Champion

Credit: www.k-mg.com

Dr. Ironfist needs little introduction. His second reign as WBC champ started in 2008, and Klitschko the Elder has dominated every opponent put in the ring with him since. He fights in the stand-up, linear Continental style, but brings an uncommon fluidity and savagery to it. It certainly helps that Klitschko is one of the biggest, strongest and hardest hitting boxers on the planet. Most of his fights boil down to watching big brother Klitschko sticking a punishing jab from a distance and firing an anti-tank missile of a straight right from way down-range, and then coming forward to put the hurt down the moment the opponent shows the slightest vulnerability.

Klitschko vs. Chisora Preview and Analysis

Chisora has one hope, and one hope alone. Vitali Klitschko has always been injury-prone, and he is now 40 years old. There is the very real possibility if Chisora can make Klitschko work hard enough in finding him and putting leather on him, Klitschko will hurt himself in the process. I don't have much expectation of that happening, however.

Chisora is a reasonably big guy, but not big enough to stand in with Dr. Ironfist. "Del Boy" also isn't anywhere near the skilled, gritty boxer that Tomasz Adamek is, so it's not like Klitschko will have a hard time finding the mark for his lance-like jab.

In the end, I expect Vitali Klitschko will do what he has been doing his whole career (sans the Lennox Lewis and Chris Byrd losses).

Klitschko vs. Chisora Prediction: Vitali Klitschko TKO10

Danny Garcia (22-0, 14 KOs)
5'9" tall, 69" reach, 23 years old
American

Danny "Swift" Garcia is a man to watch. Coming from the Philadelphia school and a solid amateur background, Garcia has 120 fights and a 2006 US national championship under his belt. He is quick and has good fundamentals, and unlike a lot of young fighters today, Garcia is comfortable fighting on his back heel. He's a legitimate top 10 junior welterweight fighter.

Credit: UStream Coverage

Erik Morales (52-7, 36 KOs)
5'8" tall, 72" reach, 35 years old
Mexican
Current (and dubious) WBC Light Welterweight Champion; former super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight champion

At this stage of his career, Erik Morales is reminiscent of the 175-pound and 190-pound version of Tommy Hearns. His opponents are too big to be phased by El Terrible's power now, so the Mexican gladiator must instead fall back on his considerable skill and talent as a boxer. Morales also remains as durable at 140 lbs as he was at 126 lbs, as evidenced by his fight with Marcos Maidana.

The main problem for Morales is that he has yet to win a big fight at light welterweight. His much-lauded fight with Maidana was a loss, and he captured his current crown over the body of a tomato can, and only after it had been stripped away from Timothy Bradley on the flimsiest of pretenses.

Morales vs. Garcia Preview

Morales is the favorite of conventional wisdom for two reasons in this fight: Danny Garcia isn't well-known outside of diehard fight fans and has yet to tackle anything beyond the gatekeeper level, and the natural presumption is that Morales wouldn't fight him if Garcia weren't there to be taken. When Garcia beat Holt, he became the WBC's #2 contender, not their #1 and mandatory challenger, so this fight is one of Morales's choosing.

However, the conventional wisdom is wrong, and Garcia has serious upset potential. Maidana vs. Morales was very close, but Morales got his eye smashed and swollen shut in Round 2, and it was only a minor miracle that the Mexican wasn't busted open like an overripe tomato. If Garcia isn't as powerful or experienced as Maidana, he has a better technical base and is much hungrier.

Credit: Team Garcia

If Garcia were a better body puncher, I would give him better than even odds of pulling out a win. As it is, he has the novice's tendency to headhunt too much, and that will hurt him in this match-up.

Morales vs. Garcia Prediction & Analysis

I expect Garcia will come on and force the action, but in a methodical rather than furious style. Morales will use his reach and skill to blunt that assault, sharpshooting and counter-punching from medium range. El Terrible is obviously no stranger to warfare, so having a young lion in his face won't fluster him in the slightest. He will ably sting Garcia and bag rounds with his cleaner, more accurate punching.

However, I don't expect Morales to seize and keep the momentum. If Garcia finds himself losing an exchange or badly stung, I expect him to back off. If Morales follows, he'll eat a stiff jab in the face, and too many of those will close an eye or open a cut. Basically, I see Morales putting the punctuation mark on most exchanges of the fight, but I don't see him capitalizing on them.

If Garcia were more of a combination puncher or had a better body attack, he could break down Morales over the long haul. Even a man of Morales's fortitude will falter in the face of a sustained body snatching mounted by an energetic 23 year old with the right stuff, good power and quick hands. However, Garcia hasn't shown us the right tools for that, so Morales ought to out-finesse him. If Garcia wins, it will be on cuts.

Prediction: Erik Morales SD12

On January 21, 2012, the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, PA will be the site of the first segment of NBC Sports Network Fight Night which will feature a ten round heavyweight bout between “Fast” Eddie Chambers and former WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich in the main event.

This fight features “Fast” Eddie, who uses his elusive boxing skills to jab and counterpunch his way to most of his victories, while the other guy, Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich, is a straight-forward boxer puncher who likes to give as good as he takes. However, after an extended break from the sport and a loss in his return, some feel that Liakhovich’s all-action boxing style has left him past his best.

Both of these fighters definitely need a win in this fight to stay relevant near the top of the division, so will elusiveness or aggressiveness win the day on January 21, 2012?

Tale of the Tape

“Fast” Eddie Chambers is 29 years old with a great professional boxing record consisting of 35 wins, 2 losses, and 18 of his victories came by way of knockout.  He stands at 6 feet 1 inch tall, with a 75 inch reach, fighting out of the orthodox stance.

Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich is 35 years old with a decent professional boxing record consisting of 25 wins, 4 losses, and 16 of his victories came by way of knockout.  He stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall, with a 74 and one half inch reach, and he also fights out of the orthodox stance.

Eddie Chambers vs. Sergei Liakhovich Preview

Photo credit: Craig Bennett/Goossen Tutor Promotions

“Fast” Eddie Chambers represents the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, PA.  Chambers is known for having fast hands and good footwork, along with solid counterpunching and defensive skills.

“Fast” Eddie started his professional boxing career in 2000 at the age of 18, and gradually rose to the top of the division, becoming one of the premiere American heavyweight hopes to win back a major heavyweight title.

Early in Chambers’ professional boxing career, he was able to cruise to a lot of his victories simply because he had unbelievable speed for a heavyweight and he just made heavyweights look like they were punching in slow motion. As his career progressed, Chambers started to take on top competition and once again his fast hands proved to be a decisive tool in his favor, as he went on to wins over good fighters such as Derric Rossi (twice), Dominick Guinn, Calvin Brock, and “the Nigerian Nightmare” Samuel Peter.

Chambers suffered his first professional loss in 2008 against Russian Alexander Povetkin, with the winner getting a shot at heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, although Povetkin turned down his opportunity. Chambers began that fight strongly, but Povetkin took over in the second half of the contest.

Chambers would eventually get his shot against Klitschko in March of 2010, and he was viciously knocked out in the final round of that fight.

Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich is the former WBO heavyweight champion.  Born in Vitebsk, Belarus, Liakhovich is known for being a blood and guts fighter who produces great fights for boxing fans whenever he steps into the ring.

Credit: Richard Powell - FIGHTSAGA.COM

Liakhovich had an excellent amateur boxing career as he had 160 amateur fights and he won 145 of them.  Sergei represented his country of Belarus in the 1996 Olympics and won bronze at the 1997 World Championships.

After his amateur career, Liakhovich turned professional in 1998 and he won his first sixteen professional fights before losing his first match to a B fighter in American heavyweight contender Maurice Harris via ninth round knockout back in June of 2002.

Liakhovich's best win is over Lamon Brewster in a fight where he got up off of the canvas to win the WBO heavyweight title back in April of 2006. The fight against Brewster was one of the most crowd-pleasing fights of the 2000’s, and one of the best heavyweight fights in recent memory.

Liakhovich's other losses have come against Shannon Briggs, Nikolay Valuev, and in his last fight, Robert Helenius, where he was stopped by Helenius in the ninth round.

Now the roads of Chambers and Liakhovich meet and only one will emerge that much closer to another chance at heavyweight glory.

Chambers vs. Liakhovich Prediction

Liakhovich is coming off a ninth round stoppage in his last fight in August of this year and “Fast” Eddie has not fought in almost a year.

This fight, however, is easy to break down as Chambers is a great boxer and he will use the whole ring to box by using his good jab, and taking advantage of counter-punching and combination opportunities on Liakhovich.  Liakhovich will try and pressure Chambers into a brawl which could make for a great TV fight, and I hope that a fight does break out, and Chambers rallies behind his hometown crowd.

I feel Liakhovich will be scrambling the whole night as Chambers will stack up round after round in his favor. The match is only scheduled for ten rounds, so my gut feeling is that Chambers will have enough in the tank to play it safe and stay behind his jab, keeping Liakhovich and his attack at bay.

In conclusion, I feel that “Fast” Eddie cruises to an easy victory over a fighter in Liakhovich who has plenty of heart but may be past his best.

Prediction:  Eddie Chambers by unanimous decision victory.

Of the recently polled crop of 168-pounders, only Mikkel Kessler feels Froch (28-1, 20 KOs) has what it takes to hand Ward his first career loss.

Kessler and Abraham are the only boxers who have faced both Super Six finalists.

---> Check out the ProBoxing-Fans.com official Ward vs. Froch staff predictions, too!

Credit: Tom Casino / Showtime

Dirrell, who served as Ward’s Olympic teammate in 2004 and suffered a tough split-decision loss to Froch early in the Super Six, feels Ward will not be influenced by Froch’s past fights and will stick to a carefully laid-out game plan.

“Ward will make his own assessments from the fights that Froch has had,” Dirrell said. “I believe that Froch has gotten better since he fought me. I believe he’s grown with each fight so it will be a different fight. You could take the game plan that I had and use it against Froch. But Andre Ward is pretty set with his own game plan.”

Dirrell plans to see if his assessments are correct in person. He and his younger brother Anthony – also an aspiring super middleweight contender – will be ringside for The Final. Also expected in attendance are Bute and Kessler.

Here’s what a host of top super middleweights had to say about Saturday night’s fight, along with their individual results facing the Super Six finalists:

ANDRE DIRRELL:

Super Six Result: Lost split-decision to Froch (Oct. 17, 2009);

“My sense is going toward Ward. I believe Ward will win it – not just because he is a smart fighter but because when it’s time to battle, he knows how to battle. But ultimately, his smarts come into play. He knows how to handle these fighters. It’s almost like he dissects them. He’s pretty in tune to this sport. In every fight he’s had in the Super Six, he’s switched up his game plan and they worked to perfection. He has a game plan for Froch as well. It won’t be easy. I honestly believe there will be a cut in the fight. Andre Ward has his tactics and Froch has his tactics so it’s going to be a rough fight, maybe a few bumps and bruises. But overall, I see Andre Ward winning it.

“This tournament right here, this Final right here, both fighters will be put up on the pedestal win or lose. The greatest fighters in this division were in this tournament. Both Ward and Froch have proven themselves very well. Regardless if they win or lose, they’ll both have big things to come after the tournament. I hope for the best for both of them, honestly. “

ARTHUR ABRAHAM:

Super Six Result: Lost unanimous decision to Froch (Nov. 27, 2010) and Ward (May 14, 2011).

“I think Andre Ward is going to win on points. He is tactically better and his style is hard to fight against. I don’t think many fans like his style, though.

“Winning the Super Six tournament will be huge for the winner.

“To be considered the top of the division, the winner should fight Kessler.”

MIKKEL KESSLER:

Super Six Result: Lost technical decision to Ward (Nov. 21, 2009); Won unanimous decision over Froch (April 24, 2010).

“If he does his homework, I think Carl Froch is going to win. He is very strong and he wants to fight. Ward is good and fast, too, but I think Froch will win. He will have learned from the mistakes I did against Ward. So many things went wrong for me that night. Another advantage for Froch is the tournament history – he had some very tough fights that made him even stronger. So my pick is Froch.

“Winning the Super Six tournament will be as good as it gets. That is what we all have been fighting for. The winner will be one of the bests – not the best because he still has to fight me to prove he is the ultimate champion.”

GLEN JOHNSON:

Super Six Result: Lost a majority decision to Froch (June 4, 2011)

“The event means everything to the division.  It gave the super middleweight division the most attention – it’s everything.  It’s a launching pad, a stage where the best can fight the best and stars are made.  There’s no way the division would get this much attention without the tournament and these fights would never have happened.  It’s been a wonderful thing for not just the super middleweight division but also for boxing.

“I have to go with Ward in The Final. He’s the only guy who’s undefeated in the tournament and he’s found a way to win. You’ve got to give him the biggest chance because of all the guys that fought the top fighters, he’s the only one who stayed undefeated at that level.

“Froch has a puncher’s chance, that’s the only chance I can give him. I don’t think he can win on points – he’s not a fast guy and he doesn’t throw a lot of combinations.  Ward has a tough style and Froch is going to have to land some big punches to change the opinion of the crowd.  And even though they are both champions, he’s going to have to beat the champ to win.  You’ll have to beat Ward to get that credit, and I just don’t see that happening.

“I don’t think Froch is fast enough to keep up with Ward’s combos.  There are some people who think Ward has a soft chin, but I don’t think it’s necessarily true.  Early on in his career Ward hadn’t adjusted with how to get hit without headgear, but now he has and Froch will only have a puncher’s chance to capture the Super Six Cup.”

LUCIAN BUTE, Current Undefeated IBF Super Middleweight World Champion:

“In my opinion, I think Andre Ward will be the winner of the Super Six. He is a smart fighter with good skills and he will avoid the power punch of Carl Froch. The fight on Dec. 17 is huge for the 168-pound division. I want to face the champion of this classic and really reign over the super middleweight division. I'm ready to fight Ward or Froch anywhere, anytime.”

Credit: Tom Casino / Showtime

Benn told BBC Sport "I fancy Ward to win it. He's very slippery, a very good fighter. Don't get me wrong, Carl's a good fighter, a strong guy, and it will be a close fight, but Ward will edge it." Benn is a former 160 lbs and 168 lbs world champion, and is best remembered for his rivalry with Chris Eubank and his tragic, savage encounter with Gerald McClellan.

Benn's expectations mirror those of most experts, including myself and the rest of the staff at ProBoxing-Fans. The consensus opinion is that Ward has the stuff to outbox Froch. Furthermore, many experts believe that if Froch should make the fight into a phone booth war, he won't have it all his own way in the exchanges, as Ward has shown himself to be a capable infighter.

British fight fans also seem to recognize how the circumstances stack up for Saturday night's Super Six Tournament closer in Atlantic City, as Andre Ward is a 2-1 favorite with British bookmakers. Betting Britons are talking with their money, and they say Ward will win.

Regardless of what British fans seem to expect, however, I doubt they will stay quiet if Ward pulls out a win on Saturday. Froch used dirty, rough housing tactics to fluster a hesitant Andre Dirrell in their 2009 clash. The result was, in the eyes of everyone except the British, a close, ugly and controversial fight. Froch obviously got the win that night because he was in his literal hometown of Nottingham and he didn't lose any points for his illegal rough housing, two points most British fans (and even experts) flatly deny.

Froch won't enjoy the first advantage at all in Atlantic City, and odds are good (although not certain) that the refereeing will be stricter as well. In my book, the only thing with better odds than Andre Ward carrying Saturday's fight by decision is that British boxing forums will be full of accusations of biased refereeing and hometown judging come Sunday morning.

After years of build-up, waiting and intriguing showdowns, it's time to take a look at our official Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch picks and predictions for the Super Six Finals match-up. Ward and Froch will battle it out for their championship belts, Super Six and super middleweight supremacy and the payoff to years of hard work on Saturday night. So how does the ProBoxing-Fans.com team think it will play out?

----> Check out our Super Six Tournament homepage which recaps all of the previous stages and standings, has pictures from every fight, and more

Ward vs. Froch Predictions

Credit: Tom Casino / Showtime

Rich Thomas: The results from Froch's past which are most indicative of this match-up are the close, controversial win over Andre Dirrell, and the close-but-uncontroversial loss to Mikkel Kessler. Kessler is technically more sound than Ward, and Dirrell is almost certainly quicker than Ward. Styles make fights and those two facts point to Froch using rough-house tactics to walk down and thump Ward.

However, Ward always finds a way to best apply his strengths, and often makes doing so look easy. With the right game plan (or two), Ward has all the physical attributes and tools to defuse Froch, and ring generalship is Andre Ward's forte.

I give Ward 3 chances out of 4 of scoring a clean points win over Froch, but Froch still has that 1 in 4 chance of pulling out a big knockout win.

Prediction: Ward UD12

View Rich's full Ward-Froch preview & prediction

Scott Levinson: Froch is a fine fighter, as shown by his big wins at this weight, which are numerous. But in a sport where styles mean so much, he might be at a disadvantage against Ward. Froch showed in his bouts with Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell that he can be outboxed, or is at least slightly less effective with tall movers who can box at long range.

In this bout, he will be facing a supreme boxer who has a prudent approach. Ward is less interested in thrilling fans as he is in getting the "W." Ward possesses an advanced vision of his bouts, eschewing temptation in lieu of the tactics he know will give him the best chance to win. He will be pushed and be forced to navigate his way out of some tough spots. At the end, however, Ward will bag about 8-9 rounds to win a comfortable decision. Ward wins by unanimous decision.

Prediction: Ward by Unanimous Decision

Jake Emen: Carl Froch would seem to have the ideal set of attributes for going after and upsetting a guy with the credentials of Andre Ward, an Olympic gold medal winner. Rough him up, make this fight as dirty as you can, and hurt him with your power punching.

The problem with this is that few high-level boxers are as willing to get dirty and rough in the trenches like Andre Ward is. It is what makes him so versatile and flexible. He can smoothly box you for 12 rounds and keep his distance while piling up points, or he can step inside and win an ugly fight. Ultimately, Ward excels at taking away the biggest threat or best feature of his opponent. With quicker hands, superior technical skills, enough power to keep Froch honest and enough of a chin to withstand a few close calls, Ward will win a competitive fight and wrap up the Super Six tournament.

Prediction: Ward by Unanimous Decision

Dana Miller: The fight between Andre Ward and Carl Froch will be another one of those bouts in which the outcome will be based on skill versus will.  Can Andre Ward deal with the relentless pressure that Carl Froch will bring to him this Saturday night?

I expect Ward to keep the fight in the middle of the ring, given that he has the greater boxing abilities which. Again, this fight will answer the question as to whether or not Andre Ward can deal with effective pressure, period.  If he can, he will win the fight, but if not, then I expect Froch to win the fight by taking Ward out of his element.

At the end of the day, this fight is simply not about Carl Froch. He is the underdog going into the fight and rightfully so.  Froch’s job is to simply test the Ward to see what the undefeated champion is made of and I just feel that Ward will pass that test and shine on Saturday night, thus taking his place as the 168 pound king.

Prediction: Ward by Unanimous Decision

Brandon Taylor: This is definitely going to be a tough fight. Froch is a tough guy, and Ward isn’t afraid to get dirty, so there’s probably going to be some fouls in this fight. Ward is the better boxer, even though Froch’s boxing ability is underrated. Despite Ward lacking the power to take advantage of Froch’s defensive shortcomings and stop him, he will win because of his speed and superior technical ability.

Froch’s best chance in the fight is to frustrate Ward and make it a brawl. The problem is, Ward doesn’t mind fighting on the inside, and Froch is so slow that Ward’s going to counter him effectively and get out of harm’s way. Froch has no advantages over Ward. Ward wins by unanimous decision.

Prediction: Ward by Unanimous Decision

Ward vs. Froch Predictions - Final Tally

• Ward: 5 - all by Unanimous Decision
• Froch: 0

So far everyone here is choosing the undefeated WBA champion Andre Ward to take home Froch's WBC belt and the Super Six championship as well. It's interesting, because this is a close match, and Froch has one of the best recent track records in the sport. But everyone is still picking Ward to find a way to get the job done nonetheless.

Thanks for checking out our roundup of Ward vs. Froch predictions for the Super Six Tournament finale. On fight night, be sure to check back with ProBoxing-Fans.com for live results and coverage from ringside.

Will it be the younger, quicker Mares (22-0-1, 13 KOs) who won a disputed 12-round majority decision over Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) in a smashing yet controversial slugfest last Aug. 13 on SHOWTIME?

Credit: Esther Lin/ SHOWTIME

Or will it be Agbeko, a gritty, determined veteran who came on strongly in the second half of the controversial first bout despite getting smacked several times with apparent low blows that were never called?

Those who participated in a SHOWTIME Media Prediction Poll gave a clear edge to Mares, who was tabbed to triumph on 33 of the 46 predictions.

Two picked Mares to win by knockout; however, almost all the others expect to see another competitive and thrilling match.  Major sports books and wagering websites agree with the media as Mares (-165) is a slight favorite.

Expert Mares vs. Agbeko II Predictions

Bob Velin, USA Today, (Mares): “I see Mares being the stronger and quicker fighter, who will be going to the head this time instead of the body to avoid the low blows.  While Agbeko will block more of Mares' punches, Mares will take a punch to give two.  I believe Mares will outwork the Ghanaian and win by unanimous decision.  Mares has been training for a year to fight Agbeko and he's ready to move on with the bantamweight title and up to 122 pounds.’’

Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times, (Mares): “I thought Mares clearly exhibited stronger skills in the first bout.  With a strong hometown advantage, the younger fighter should be able to reaffirm what happened in August…. Mares wins by decision, 116-112.’’

Tim Smith, New York Daily News, (Agbeko): “If Agbeko's protective cup is strong enough…he should be able to bang out a unanimous decision against a game Mares.  It’s a good fight either way.’’

Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News/LANG Newspapers, (Mares): “I expect this to be a hotly contested bout, but I also expect Mares to win a unanimous decision.  His youth and overall ability will serve him well in this one.  He wasn't able to enjoy his first major world title because of the low-blow controversy, and he's aching to enjoy his first defense without any lingering questions.’’

Kevin Iole, Yahoo, (Mares): “I think Mares will have learned from the first fight.  He will continue to go to the body but will eliminate the fouls.  The fouls impacted Mares’ game as much as Agbeko’s in their first fight.  If Mares can avoid getting into that kind of trouble again he will control the fight and win a unanimous decision.’’

Eric Raskin, Grantland.com/ESPN.com/TheSweetScience.com/Ring Theory Podcast, (Agbeko): “I expect another close fight, but am a firm believer that Agbeko was outmaneuvering Mares the first time and deserved to win on points.  I’m going with Agbeko by unanimous decision this time around.’’

Mark Whicker, Orange County Register, (Mares): “Mares wins a decision, as long as he stays north of the Rio Grande.’’

Marcus Henry, New York Newsday, (Mares): “The low blows notwithstanding, Mares is still the better fighter.  But whether he will try to take it to Agbeko early depends on his mind set. If Mares is weary of losing a point for a low blow, he'll probably tread lightly early on, which should give Agbeko an advantage in the first few rounds.  The question is, will Agbeko take advantage of it?  If Agbeko gets overzealous and careless in his attack, Mares will use that against him.  Mares takes a decision, 115-113.’’

Tim Starks, The Queensberry Rules, http://queensberry-rules.com, (Agbeko): “Overlooked in all the controversy over Mares' below-the-belt barnstorming is that Agbeko pretty well figured out Mares late in the fight, and unlike in the past when that happened to him, Mares couldn't counteract it.  This fight boils down to whether Agbeko can take that winning stratagem and make it work for him from the start (at his advanced age, it's a fair question whether he can) and whether Mares can work up some new solution to what Agbeko showed him in the second half of the first fight (at his young age, it's a tantalizing possibility).  Give me Agbeko by close decision this time in a taut thriller.’’

Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com, (Mares): “In another closely contested fight, I think Mares will utilize a bit more movement to defeat Agbeko in a 12 round decision that will be hotly debated.  And yes, I think Mares will still dig to the body in an effort to slow down King Kong.”

David Avila, Riverside Press-Enterprise, (Mares): “Mares is younger, has a good plan of attack and is undefeated.  He’ll win a unanimous decision.’’

Lyle Fitzsimmons, SportsNetwork.com, (Mares): “Mares’ frenetic body work, legal or otherwise, will once again be the deciding factor in a competitive fight, with a clearer result.  Mares wins a unanimous decision.’’

Damian Calhoun, Orange County Register, (Mares): “If the second fight between these two is anything like the first, the fans are in for a treat.  Mares will be out to prove that he's not a dirty fighter.  Agbeko will be out for revenge and that makes for what should be an entertaining clash.  In the end, I expect Mares to keep his punches up, affording him to pull out a close victory.’’

Leighton Ginn, Desert-Sun, (Agbeko): “Agbeko is the better fighter above the belt.  If the rules are enforced, Agbeko wins a decision.’’

Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN.com/Reuters, (Mares): “Take out the controversy, and the first fight was a closely fought, high-class contest.  But it may have been Agbeko's last, best chance.  This time the more versatile Mares does enough, including working the legal parts of Agbeko's body, to take a unanimous decision that will be close again, but nonetheless clear.’’

Doug Fischer, RingTV.com, (Mares): “I think the young titleholder has a better handle on fighting the dangerous veteran and will do just enough to narrowly outpoint Agbeko on all three scorecards and win unanimously.’’

Don Stewart, ESPN The Magazine, (Mares): “I picked Agbeko to win the first fight, but this time it's about which guy will be better than the first fight.  Mares has had three tough fights in a row and is accustomed to this level now, while Agbeko has likely peaked.  I can see Mares unanimously winning by 116-112.”

Michael Woods, ESPN.com, TheSweetScience.com, (Mares): “He's (Mares) the faster, fresher younger guy.  Expect Mares’ work rate to outdo Agbeko's.  He doesn't need to go low to get it done.  He'll take a unanimous decision this time out by staying stay above the belt and not blitzing Agbeko (below the belt).’’

Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com, (Mares): “Mares is smarter, more versatile than Agbeko.  The focus on low blows might make Mares cautious in the early going, but he'll figure it out and score with a mix of skill in the later rounds and win a unanimous decision.’’

Anson Wainwright, MaxBoxing.com, (Mares): “I think Mares will win another close decision, though without the controversy of the first fight.’’

Rick Folstad, TheSweetScience.com, (Agbeko): “Despite the low blows Agbeko took for most of the first fight, he was still in it to the very end.  If there are no stray punches this time and if he survives the early rounds, he'll win by decision.’’

Scott Christ, Bad Left Hook, (Mares): “I like Mares by unanimous decision in a very competitive fight.  He's a younger and fresher fighter, and though Agbeko still looked very good in their first meeting, I believe Abner will be the man who can better adapt from the struggles of that encounter, where all in all it came out pretty close to even.  It's a fantastic matchup and a credit to both that they're settling the score in the ring.’’

Robert Johnson, Santa Barbara News-Press, (Mares):  “Mares will win with a fifth-round knockout.  He’s shown that he can hurt Agbeko and their last fight may not have been so close had Mares not been cut.’’

Jake Donovan, BoxingScene.com, (Mares): “A pick ‘em fight if there ever was one.  Both have shown ability to bounce back from adversity -- Agbeko coming stronger in past rematches, Mares overcoming cuts and punishment to remain unbeaten.  With all things being equal, I lean ever so slightly toward youth once again being served.  In a fight that's foul-free -- and hopefully also free of controversy -- I see Mares reversing the pace of the first fight, coming on strong down the stretch and getting a unanimous decision win that Agbeko disputes as a robbery but most others see as close but clear for the Mexican.’’

Salvador Rodriguez, Record, Mexico, (Mares): “The Mexican fighter has learned enough to defeat Agbeko, and this time it is going to be on a clear unanimous decision.’’

Robert Ecksel, Boxing.com, (Agbeko): “After the dreadful first fight, the rematch between Mares and Agbeko is payback.  Mares looks like he's got the right stuff to win it, but Agbeko is tough (the first fight proved that).  Let's see if Mares can keep his punches up….. If it's clean, Agbeko wins by decision.’’

Robert Hough, Fightnews.com (Mares): “Can't overstate how much I respect Agbeko's skill, determination and professionalism, but Mares, who will be five years younger when they fight, strikes me as being a little too quick for the admirable man from Ghana.  Mares wins a fairly close unanimous decision.’’

Francis W. Walker, Black Athlete, (Mares): “I believe Mares will box his way to a 12-round decision.  Mares has the speed and combination punching to outwork Agbeko.  Agbeko's jab proved very strong and surprised Mares in the first fight, but Mares will be better prepared for it. Hopefully there will be no low blows or point deductions to take away from what will be a splendid night at the fights.’’

Jake Emen, ProBoxing-Fans.com, (Mares): “After all the controversy, the lost factor of their first encounter is that Agbeko looked completely out of his element for nearly two thirds of the fight.  Mares is younger and fresher, and having that belt around his waist should only make him better.  He'll keep it cleaner this time around and rely on his superior speed and technical skills to win a unanimous decision.’’

Michael Swann, Freelance, (Agbeko): “I like Agbeko to win a close but unanimous decision, at least if there's any justice in the world.  In their previous skirmish, Mares drew five warnings for low blows, yet was credited with a knockdown with an obvious south-of-the-border shot in round 11, and took a majority decision. This time the breaks even out and a highly motivated Agbeko evens the score.’’

Ralph Gonzalez, TheSweetScience.com, (Mares): “Mares has tremendous pressure to prove that he’s a legitimate world champion after his controversial win.  Agbeko feels his title was taken away unjustly.  This will be another highly competitive, exciting clash with Mares getting the decision by another close margin.  I wouldn’t be surprised if another SHOWTIME trilogy developed.’’
Ramon Aranda, 3MoreRounds.com, (Mares): “Despite the low blows, Mares showed us he could outbox Agbeko, using his speed and combinations.  Though Agbeko came on late, while Mares slowed down, Mares should come better prepared to maintain his conditioning into the later rounds, and his title.  Abner wins by majority decision.’’

Marc Lichtenfeld, Ring Announcer, (Agbeko): “In the last bout, Mares' constant low blows and the referee’s continuous warnings to Agbeko changed the whole flow of the fight.  Without those disruptions this time, Agbeko grinds out a close but deserved decision. ‘

Rich Mancuso, Boxinginsider.com, (Mares): “It will be another good fight and (will) go the distance.  Both will slug it out and will not disappoint boxing fans as a good end-of-the-year championship fight.  Mares takes a decision.’’

John J. Raspanti, Doghouseboxing.com, (Mares): In what should be another super fight, Mares wins by a late stoppage or unanimous decision.’’

Luis Sandoval, BoxingScene.com, (Mares): “I think we’re in for another close, hotly contested bout.  Both fighters will have their moments but I think Mares closes the show a lot stronger this time around and minus the controversy.  Agbeko will try to pour it on late but I think Mares will respond with an onslaught of his own in an exciting fight he will win by split decision.’’

Howard Reed, The Square Ring, (Agbeko): “Predicting the outcome of a fight is always dangerous business especially where Mares is involved.  Mares and Agbeko met this summer with Mares escaping with a majority nod. The tide turned in the 11^th when Agbeko went down from a low blow, giving Mares a 10-8 round.  Toss that out and it was a draw.  This one will swing to King Kong. Agbeko lost to Yonnhy Perez big (117-110 twice and 116-111) but reversed it in the rematch.  Slam-bang fight with Agbeko getting a unanimous decision.’’

David Duenez, Leave-it-in-the-ring.com, (Mares): “The first time around I thought Mares’ work rate and ring smarts overwhelmed Agbeko, and that Mares fought the perfect fight (outside of the low blows).  This time around Agbeko needs to start early and pick up where he left off in the second half of their first fight.  For Mares, how much will the low-blow controversy play on his mind?  In a much more technical fight, Mares wins by unanimous decision.’’

Bert Navales, KnockOutDigest.com, (Agbeko): “Agbeko wins a decision in the rematch. He has more experience in this kind of fight. In the first fight, Agbeko was able to solve Mares’ pressure in the second half of the fight even with Mares’ multiple low blows.’’

Albert Alvarez, DiamondBoxing.com, (Mares): “No low blows about it -- Mares vs. Agbeko is going to be a spectacular fight from start to finish.  Agbeko will come out very aggressively and would be wise to rough Mares up and turn it into a dog fight.  But Mares will be able to catch and shoot shots, take it inside and touch Agbeko downstairs, minus the low blows this time. In a tough, hard-fought fight that will be tough to score with a lot of close rounds, Mares wins a shootout by split decision.’’

Jim Wyatt, SportofBoxing.com, (Agbeko): “Out of sense of fairness, I would hope everyone will be rooting for Agbeko in the rematch. He is a man of honor….This time, Agbeko wins a unanimous decision.’’

William Trillo, www.Pound4Pound.com, (Agbeko): “On paper this looks like it should be Abner's fight. With youth on his side as well as an undefeated record, he should be the big favorite.  That said, Agbeko has proven with his win over Yohnny Perez that he can be a terror the second time around. Agbeko wins a close split decision that will set up a super trilogy.’’

John Navarro, Knockout TV, (Mares): “Agbeko has the heart of a lion, but Mares’ ability to punish the body will be the difference as he wins by knockout inside six rounds.’’

Dave Wilcox, www.mp8.ph.com, Manny Pacquaio's official website, (Agbeko): “I feel Agbeko will make the necessary adjustments and force the action.  His strength and aggression will take him to a split decision victory in the rematch against the talented Mares.’’

Carlos Avilas, Fox Deportes, (Mares): “Mares is on his way up and this fight with Agbeko is a great opportunity to show all his talents. Abner by decision.’’

Martin Wade, Braggingrightscorner.com, (Mares): “I predict Mares will be more familiar with Agbeko’s awkward intensity and win by majority decision in a much more cautious effort.’’

Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KOs)

• 6’6’’ tall, 79’’ reach, 27 years old
• Finnish
• WBO and WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion

Credit: Photo Wende & Winfried Mausolf

The rising Heavyweight contender has looked impressive in his most recent outings.  In August, he turned out a remarkable victory over contender Sergei Liakhovich (25-4) via a 9^th round TKO stoppage.  Liakhovich had turned down an opportunity with one of the Klitschko’s to take on Helenius and legitimize his standing in the division with a win, but Helenius had different thoughts.   Prior to that fight, Helenius KO’d Samuel Peter (34-5), a long time top tier heavyweight.

Though he has only had 16 professional fights, the 27 year old is passing every test given to him, each time showcasing his power and ability to put punches together.  With a thin pool of great talent in the Heavyweight division, Helenius is fighting the best that the division has to offer, and a decisive victory over Chisora will solidify him as a top contender in the division.

Derek Chisora (15-1, 10 KOs)

• 6’1’’ tall, 74’’ reach, 27 years old
• British
• Former British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion

Chisora has boasted a record very similar to that of Helenius.  He has worked his way up the ranks, fighting what little competition the division has to offer.  Last year, a fight with Wladimir Klitscho was scheduled until a bigger draw in David Haye became available for Klitscho.   He has looked good in most of his bouts, putting away the likes of Danny Williams (44-10-0-1) and Sam Sexton (14-2) both by knockout.

Last July, he put forth an unimpressive performance against Tyson Fury (17-0) in a fight in which he started out well, but was not strong enough to put Fury away.  Chisora’s camp insists that he was out of shape for the fight and that he won’t make the same mistake twice.  In Helenius, he will have a tough test ahead of him and will need to be at his very best in order to get the job done.

Helenius vs. Chisora Preview & Analysis

Helenius has very good power and welcomes exchanges from willing opponents.  His style is such that he is not hard to find and he often takes as much as he gives.  So far, he has been able to take the best shots that his opponents have had to offer and has proven that his power is superior.  If he plans to continue in this way, he will need to tighten up his defense and work behind his jab, as he has a considerable reach and height advantage over Chisora.

Chisora has some pretty good power if he is able to get inside and let his hands go.  We saw this against Danny Williams as he was able to finish him via TKO in the second round.  He will need to be prepared to go into deep waters against a very tough and game Helenius, which means his conditioning cannot be in question.  His strength lies in his ability to get inside of his opponents and provide pressure.  He will need to do this the entire fight in order to break down Helenius.  If a future fight with a Klitscho is what he really wants, there is no better test for him right now than the tall, long, and heavy handed Helenius.

Helenius vs. Chisora Prediction

“The Nordic Nightmare" looks to be the one of the best prospects in the division.  So far, his only weakness is that he may be too available for aggressive punchers.  His size and reach give him a considerable advantage over Chisora and it will be interesting to see whether or not he is willing to use this to his benefit.  He throws good combinations and seems to have power in both hands.  His ability to land well placed shots has been the key to victory in most of his fights.  Against Chisora, he will need to be very careful and perhaps take “Del Boy” into deep waters and break him down from there.

Chisora seems to be hungry.  He is confident in his ability and will likely go right after Helenius early.  Hopefully for his sake, he is not overly confident, as carelessness will surely get him knocked out against a sharp power puncher like Helenius.  He will need to get inside of Helenius but not throw caution to the wind with wild punches.  He will have to take calculated and measured steps to wear Helenius down by smothering him and taking away the reach advantage.

With that said, I haven’t seen enough from Chisora thus far to believe that he has what it will take to put away a very strong and very skilled power puncher like Helenius.

Prediction Helenius via KO in the 10th