Ward outpoints Green in easy shut-out victory
Andre Ward advanced to the semi-finals of the Super Six and retained his WBA super-middleweight title by beating Allan Green by unanimous decision on Saturday.
Ward completely controlled his first defense of the WBA super middleweight title and advanced to the final four of the modified round-robin tournament with one round to go. He won all twelve-rounds from the three judges in front of his hometown crowd in Oakland.
Green lost in his first fight since replacing Jermain Taylor in the tournament. He still can advance to the semi-finals by winning in the third round against Mikkel Kessler. Ward won the title when he beat Kessler in the first round of the tournament last November.
The Super Six was designed by U.S. cable network Showtime to feature six of the best super middleweights in the world, with each guaranteed three fights and earning points based on their outcome. The four participants with the most points would advance to seeded semi-finals, with a championship bout scheduled for next year.
After a feeling out process in the first round when both fighters went long stretches without even attempting a punch, Ward took over with a few strong left hands. Ward backed Green into the ropes early in the third round. That is where the fighters spent much of the rest of the fight, with Green backed into the ropes and Ward delivering punches from close range.
Green was upset that he wasn't included in the original field of the tournament and questioned Ward for postponing the fight earlier this spring because of a right knee injury. But he couldn't back up his bold prefight talk once he got into the ring. He connected on few punches and at times appeared to be just holding onto Ward to stand up. Ward delivered a couple of big blows in the seventh round at the ropes and the referee asked Green if he was OK after the round.
Green lasted all 12 rounds, but needing a knockout to win late he had little left. The fight ended with Ward connecting again near the ropes. Green had won six straight fights, with his only career loss coming three years ago against Edison Miranda in a middleweight fight. Ward beat Miranda by a unanimous decision last year.
"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.
Ward's final fight in the round-robin stage of the tournament will come against Andre Dirrell. Ward is assured of a spot in next year's semi-finals but can clinch the top seed with a win.