With the Super Six Tournament kicking off Oct. 17th, Inside Fights will be previewing each of the fighters involved. In this profile, we will feature Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell. Dirrell won the bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 2004 Olympics and carries an undefeated professional record.
Born: Flint, Michigan
Age: 27
Height: 6’2″
Reach: 75″
Record: 18-0 (13 KOs)
Strengths: As any boxer with an accomplished amateur background, Dirrell possesses the ability to hit without being hit. He has good speed and a strong left hand. Dirrell is at his best when he is putting his combinations together while using his footwork to stay away from his opponent.
Weaknesses: With only 18 professional fights, Andre Dirrell is the least experienced boxer of the bunch. This is a major step up in class for Dirrell, who has only been in one fight that was scheduled for 12 rounds. There is no telling how well Dirrell can take a punch from a powerful super middleweight and that uncertainty hinders his ability to construct a thorough gameplan.
Why He Will Win: Despite the lack of experience, Dirrell has a few advantages over the rest of the field. Dirrell is the only southpaw in the tournament. He also has the longest reach out of the cast of six fighters. I wouldn’t expect him to score bonus knockout points, but Dirrell has the tools to rack up decision victories. If Dirrell can work his jab effectively and hit without being hit, then he could certainly make some noise in this tournament.
Why He Will Lose: Andre Dirrell has never faced competition of this caliber before. He hasn’t had to fight from behind yet, and he will almost certainly find himself in that role at some point in the tournament. If he gets overwhelmed by the moment then his chances of winning are slim. If it turns out that Dirrell cannot handle the power of fighters such as Froch and Abraham, then those chances are reduced even further.
Best Matchup: Jermain Taylor. Dirrell has the tools to outbox Taylor. As long as Dirrell can overcome the “big fight” experience of Taylor, Dirrell could make a big name for himself by taking out the tournament’s biggest name.
Worst Matchup: Arthur Abraham. Dirrell’s ability to hit without being hit encounters a big test in a potential matchup with Abraham. King Arthur can take a punch and ought to do a good job of cutting off the ring against Dirrell. Abraham would be an unstoppable force against Dirrell.
