Andre Ward Dominates Allan Green In Super Six

Oakland, CA, United States (AHN) – Andre Ward became the first fighter to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the Super Six boxing tournament with a dominating unanimous decision win over Allan Green Saturday night in Oakland.

Ward overwhelmed Green throughout the bout, out punching his opponent by a large margin. Green could do little in the way of offense and ended up losing every round unanimously.

All three judges scored the bout 120-108 in Ward’s favor.

Green was reported to have a strength advantage, but Ward was able to pin him against the ropes and had the up close advantage.

“I did expect a little tougher fight,” Ward said after the bout.

Green replied, “Andre Ward fought a hell of a fight. By the time I got in the ring, I felt dead.”

Ward became the first fighter in the Super Six 168-pound tournament to win a second bout. In the first round of pool play,

Ward defeated Mikkel Kessler by technical decision when a head butt opened a cut over Kessler’s eye in the tenth round.

The victory over Kessler earned Ward the WBA Super Middleweight title, which he defended successfully for the first time against Green.

Both of Ward’s victories came in his hometown of Oakland. With the completion of the first two rounds of Super Six pool play, hometown fighters are still undefeated in the tournament.

Green was fighting for the first time in the tournament. He replaced Jermain Taylor, who withdrew from the tournament after being knocked out by Arthur Abraham in the first round of pool play.

Despite his showing Saturday night, Green could still earn a spot in the semifinals. Ward earned two points for each of his victories and leads the fighter standings with four points.

Abraham, who earned three points for the knockout of Taylor, is in second place. Kessler, Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch are all tied with two points apiece.

The scoreless Green is in sixth. Other than Green and Ward, all fighters have a 1-1 record.

Ward will fight Dirrell in the final round of pool play, then continue on to the single-elimination semifinals.

Both fighters were on the 2004 US Olympic team. Ward won a gold medal, and Dirrell brought home bronze.

Dirrell was ringside for the fight Saturday night and said he was impressed with Ward’s performance.

“I’ve got to get to him first,” he said when asked about his game plan.

Green will face Kessler in the final round of pool play. He will need a win in order to have any hope of advancing in the tournament.

Froch and Abraham will battle in the other Round Three match up with the winner earning a spot in the semifinals and the loser needing help in order to advance.

Ward served notice to the rest of the field with his performance Saturday night, however.

Ward moved to 22-0 with the victory. Sixteen of his fights have been in his home state of California. He is 7-0 when fighting in the Bay Area.

Green had a six-fight win streak snapped and dropped to 29-2.

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