***Froch-Dirrell Final Picks***

[Hagler2002]

Froch all the way for me, after dropping a few early rnds I can see him catching up with Dirrell and stopping him around about the 7th but I wouldn't be surprised if the KO came earlier after Dirrell tastes world level power for the first time.

Right, quick bath, breakfast at spoons and off to Nottingham to smash poodlepoo to bits for a chicken dinner.

[sweetscience]

Froch in the 11th

[Wrists]

Froch inside 6

Hagler - well fkkin jealous of you twats, spoons, beer and Hooters then the fight

I on the other hand am shopping at B + Q and painting the bastard house

[Hagler2002]

Froch inside 6

Hagler - well fkkin jealous of you twats, spoons, beer and Hooters then the fight

I on the other hand am shopping at B + Q and painting the bastard house

Unlucky ;;-)

[Rixxy]

froch in the 8th. I think, he will fall behind a little, but stop then stop dirrel.
Im going to drop the baby of at her nans and then drive down with diggler. Cant wait......COME ON FROCH!!

[Deserter]

Hagler - well fkkin jealous of you twats, spoons, beer and Hooters then the fight

x2 - I went to the Pascal fight by myself as no-one else on the forum was going or was up for meeting up, and now I'm stuck over in the Middle East it looks like I'm going to miss out on a brilliant all-dayer and a night of amazing action... I'm not even going to be able to watch it live. Gutted doesn't come close to explaining how I'm feeling

As for the fight itself, I've been favouring Froch in the build-up, but as mentioned elsewhere, I've got a horrible feeling that Dirrell's style is just going to be the worst kind for him to deal with and I can see Dirrell hitting and moving, and managing to stay out of trouble long enough to take a unan points decision. Please God let me be completely wrong

[Deserter]

I should add that for Froch to pull this off it's VITAL that he steps on Dirrell early... if he lets the Yank get into a rhythm, that's when he'll be in all sorts of trouble. I know Carl has started slow on occasion in the past but he needs to be all over Dirrell like a rash from the get-go, even if he's hitting shoulders, arms etc.... just denying him space to work and generally roughing him up is going to be essential, iMO.

[Spud]

I should add that for Froch to pull this off it's VITAL that he steps on Dirrell early... if he lets the Yank get into a rhythm, that's when he'll be in all sorts of trouble. I know Carl has started slow on occasion in the past but he needs to be all over Dirrell like a rash from the get-go, even if he's hitting shoulders, arms etc.... just denying him space to work and generally roughing him up is going to be essential, iMO.

I reckon you got the summing up correct!!! - carl needs to jump on him.!!!

Thing is Carl gets nervous and sometimes thats where the slow starts come from.

[tonyevs]

I kinda agree with graham Houstons prediction.
Dirrel just seems to confident without it looking like anything like wishfull thinking.

I`m just kinda reminded of when Tim Bradley, Breidis Prescott and Gregorio vargas came over. Their confidence looked absolute.
For me - when I saw Vargas nonchalantly draping his arms over the ropes, squating up and down in the corner .. you could just feel his confidence

[Chambers2]

Froch KO8

[Bomber 1]

Sorry guys but I think this Dirrell is gonna cause the upset!!

I hope he doesn't cos it'll be a disaster for British boxing if he does!!

Start fast Frochy and don't let him breathe!!!

[housesecond]

Not many going for Dirrell? If Froch boxes his normal hands down style he'll get found out in this one.

[alexpaterson]

Dirrell UD too fast

[sendo]

Froch KO2.

Think he catches Dirrell cold early. Wasn't impressed by how Dirrell has started some of his fights and this is going to be a huge pressure occasion for him. The weight issue won't help either.

[thepocketrocket]

Dirrel cant fight on the inside but if Froch lets him settle Dirrell will pick him apart!!

Whay do I feel the stench of the decision floating all the way up to Chester???

[SteveDow]

I'm amazed so many people fancy Dirrell for this fight. I think Froch wins this by late stoppage and my reasons for this are four fold:

1. Dirrell, despite his speed, is very easy to hit. If anyone is in any doubt about this they should watch his fight with Anthony Hanshaw where he was caught cleanly at least 5 times in the first 2 rounds, one of which was a clear knock down but was not ruled so by the referee. This will be crucial in this fight since Froch is a big puncher who will capitalise on this deficiency and eventually knock Dirrell out for it. I don't believe Dirrell will be able to avoid being caught cleanly by Froch and doubt he has the punch resistence to not be affected by this.

2. Dirrell himself is not a big puncher and Froch has a granite chin. Although he has knocked out 13 of 18, Dirrell has fought at a low level and does not have the concussive power to trouble Froch with single shots. This means that Froch will be able to walk through Dirrell and capitalise later in the fight when Dirrell gets tired.

3. Dirrell has never fought 12 rounds before in his career. In my opinion he will almost certainly have to do this to beat Froch as I just do not see him stopping Carl. Carl has proven in his last 2 fights against world class opposition that he has the stamina, heart and desire to fight as fiercely in the 12th round as he does in the 1st. Dirrell has not proved this.

4. Dirrell is inexperienced at professional level and is fighting against a proven world champion away from home. This in itself brings its own mental pressures since Dirrell will never have experienced having a crowd of just under 10,000 all wanting his opponent to win and also has never boxed outside the USA as a professional. Experience tends to count for a lot in big fights and, to me, Dirrell has already been showing signs of nerves and less than ideal preparation in the build up to the fight culminating with him coming in over the weight yesterday. I think the occasion will get to him.

[chesh]

Froch KO 10.

[Spiker]

Froch in round 8 catches up with Dirrell after being behind on the cards.
I would put money on it im that sure. But i wont

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Dirrell UD, Dirrell will beat Froch to the punch and beat him up while Froch is trying to load up on punches with his hands down. Then again I can equally see Dirrell dancing around the ring leaning back and getting blasted for his poor technical defense and chin/strength. But I'll stick my neck out and say he comes through with a UD (assuming judging is fair)

[whiskey]

I think Froch will missile him inside 9 rounds.

I expect Dirrell to expend most of his energy inside the first 3 rounds before Froch starts backing him up.

[Asterix]

Froch KO 10.

Dirrell had problems with Hanshaw and Rocha, both guys over 6 foot tall. Dirrell's last 2 opponents were very short for super middleweight (5' 9" and 5' 6"!). I think Dirrell has problems with taller guys, guys who have decent reach, because they are able to land on him. Which brings me to my next point, that Dirrell is not hard to hit.

If Dirrell had a great defence and concentration then I'd favour him, but journeyman have landed relatively easily on him and he is prone to mental lapses. So I think Dirrell will do very well initially, but at some point will lapse and Froch will make him very uncomfortable.

[dazzler]

Froch KO 10.

Dirrell had problems with Hanshaw and Rocha, both guys over 6 foot tall. Dirrell's last 2 opponents were very short for super middleweight (5' 9" and 5' 6"!). I think Dirrell has problems with taller guys, guys who have decent reach, because they are able to land on him. Which brings me to my next point, that Dirrell is not hard to hit.

If Dirrell had a great defence and concentration then I'd favour him, but journeyman have landed relatively easily on him and he is prone to mental lapses. So I think Dirrell will do very well initially, but at some point will lapse and Froch will make him very uncomfortable.

You know I thought something was odd about Dirrell's last couple of opponents but had not realised how short they were. Your observation about their height just confirmed to me that Dirrel is a totally unproven fighter, all we know is that he can box and that journeymen can land on him and hurt him. I am going for an early Froch KO, although I wouldn't exclude Carl mentally torturing us with some extreme bonkers scenario like a double knockdown in the 12th with Froch getting up at 9 and Dirrell staying down for the count

[Datsue]

Carl mentally torturing us with some extreme bonkers scenario like a double knockdown in the 12th with Froch getting up at 9 and Dirrell staying down for the count

Something along those lines, methinks.

Maybe I think too much of Dirrell, but I think this is going to be a crazy affair, whichever way it goes.

[stevieb_8006]

All i seem to hear about is Dirrells speed. Taylor and Pascal were both fast and Froch handled it.

its like every1 has no faith and think hes an accident waiting to happen.

Carl 7th!!!!!

(seriously, british boxing needs this win)!

[iwz678]

agreed that British Boxing needs a win but in terms of telly we need a good fight as well.

Cobra stops The Matrix in 10