HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 12, 2012) – Challenger Yusaf Mack broke training camp yesterday in his hometown of Philadelphia and departed for England to fight International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch (29-2, 21 KOs), headlining Saturday night’s (Nov. 17) “True Brit” pay-per-view event (in the U.S.), live from Froch’s hometown in Nottingham, England.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

as well as online at:

http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/True_Brit_Froch_vs_Mack/1722.

IBF No.5-ranked Mack (31-4, 17 KOs) has been fighting as a light heavyweight for the past five years. He lost his lone world title shot to IBF 175-pound champion Tavoris Cloud by eighth-round technical knockout in 2006.

“I feel good,” Mack said last week from the famed Shuler Gym in Philly. “Training camp has been going real good with sparring partners like Steve Cunningham. I just want to prove I’m a world champion. I’ve been there before and fell short. I will reach my goal this time to be world champion.

“Froch is a good fighter but he’s never fought anybody like me. Once Froch feels my power, he’ll respect me. He won’t be rushing in fighting a bigger, stronger guy like me. I’m going to out-slick him like (Andre) Ward did. He’s got more to prove than me. He’s fighting for his whole country. I have nothing to prove; he has to beat me.”

World-rated light heavyweight Tony Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) takes on South American champion Roberto Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Championship, which is also an official WBC eliminator to become champion “Bad” Chad Dawson’s mandatory challenger.

Bellew, rated No. 10 by The Ring Magazine, has lost only once as a professional, last year in his only World title challenge fight to undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly in a hotly-contested 12-round majority decision.

Bolonti, who is rated No. 5 by the WBC, as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and IBF, is shooting for his 27th consecutive victory, fighting for the first time outside of his native Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The PPV card, pending time restrictions, will also showcase some of Britain’s top, young fighters, including bantamweight prospect Khalid “Kal” Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 Great Britain Olympian, vs. Pro Antonio Nettunio (7-5), lightweight Scott “Scotty” Cardle (5-0, 1 KO) vs. Joe Elfidh (7-2), former European middleweight champion Kerry Hope (17-4, 1 KO) in a six-round tune-up vs. Nobert Szekeres, lightweight Martin J. Ward (2-0) vs. Dan Carr, middleweight Ryan “Tank” Aston (7-1, 3 KOs) vs. Tyan Booth (11-6-1, 2 KOs), and featherweight Leigh “Leigh-thal” Wood (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Gavin Reid. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 8, 2012) — International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch (29-2, 21 KOs) defends his title Saturday, November 17 against American challenger Yusaf Mack (31-4, 17 KOs),headlining the”True Brit” event, which will air in the United States live from Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, United Kingdom.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

Froch graciously answered a series of questions about Saturday’s fight against Mack:

Q. You’ve made many fans in the states over the past few years. How does it feel to have this fight airing live in the states?

Froch: “It’s always fantastic to be boxing on US TV. I’ve boxed in the States four times and I’ve always enjoyed myself there. My training camp was in Manhattan (New York City) before the Andre Ward fight. It was tough there because it was getting close to Christmas and it was insanely busy, but my morning run was always great, taking in the New York skyline as I was pounding the streets – incredible.

“I’ve always been well received by American boxing fans. They really know their stuff. I think that they appreciate that I am a good, honest fighter who never backs away from a challenge and always wants to fight the best. Too many fighters try to coast through their careers and don’t test themselves, so I’m glad I’ve had those fights in the States and they were great experiences. And there’s a good chance that there’s still a big fight for me over in America before I hang up the gloves.”

Q. You’ve had an unprecedented run against many of the world’s top fighters, starting with Pascal through your last against Bute. Can you remain as “up” fighting Mack who doesn’t have the same credentials as your last 8 opponents, particularly with a Bute rematch already slated?

Froch: “Absolutely. At this level, and as a World champion, there’s no second in a fight that you can let your guard down and you have to be at 100 percent. I have prepared as hard for this fight as I did for the previous eight world title fights, for my British title fights, for my Commonwealth title fights and for my debut back in 2002.

“If I come unstuck in this fight then everything I have achieved over the last few years will go to waste. People ask me about Lucian Bute, Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler fights, so I answer their questions. It’s only natural for them to ask; they are fights people want to see, but believe me, I only have Yusaf Mack on my mind.”

Q. Does Mack remind you of any fighter you’ve already fought? What are his strengths?

Froch: “The best thing about this fight is that Yusaf is like nothing I’ve ever fought before and that’s what sport should be – a fresh challenge every time. He’s a natural light heavyweight who is dropping down, so he’s a puncher but also a nice boxer and a mover, too. You don’t get World title shots for no reason. He can more than handle himself in the ring and I know that I have to be completely focused on the fight as this guy is dangerous and he wants to shock the world of boxing by taking my belt, in my hometown.

“So, I’ve got to give this guy respect and take him very seriously because this is his world title fight, and his big opportunity to come over here and cause an upset. I know that he’s going to be training and running harder than ever for this. Whatever you’ve seen of him before, add 20 percent for this fight. I’ve got to be ready, and I will be.”

Q. He has been fighting as a light heavyweight. Is there any concern on your part about Mack possibly being the stronger man?

Froch: “I am stronger than him, no question. I don’t think there’s a super middleweight out there in better shape than me, and there are some super-fit guys in this division. But I can honestly say I feel in incredible shape, fit as I’ve ever been, and I am convinced that he won’t be able to match me for heart, punch power, desire and skill.

“He’ll be bringing that light heavyweight power down to super middle though, I know that. I have to be watchful of him every second that he’s in there. I have been sparring with Tony Bellew for this fight. He is a great sparring partner and a World champion in the making at light heavyweight. He has a tremendous dig on him and we have some great battles in sparring, so I don’t have any issues with whatever Yusaf Mack is going to bring to the table.”

Q. What type of fight do you expect this to be: war, chess match, etc.?

“I expect him to come at me with everything he’s got as he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. He will have seen what I did to Lucian Bute. He knows that if I get into a rhythm, and get my shots off, it’s goodnight. So, he’ll be at me from the start, wanting to make an impression to get me on the back foot, and I’ll be doing the same. It’s going to be a ferocious pace and great to watch.”

Q. Any prediction?

“I’m not one for picking a round, but I think that it’s going to be a knockout night for me again in front of my home fans. Yusaf Mack has never been in an atmosphere like a sold-out Carl Froch show in Nottingham. The viewers are in for a real treat. When my fans get behind me, my punches are that much harder, and he’ll be in real trouble on the night.”

Carl Froch’s recent media workout (photo by Lawrence Lustig)

Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) faces South American champion Roberto Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver light heavyweight championship and an official WBC eliminator.

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 6, 2012) – Light heavyweight title contender Tony “The Bomber” Bellew wants to set up a clash with World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson, if Bellew beats Roberto Bolonti for the vacant WBC Silver title on the November 17th “True Brit” pay-per-view event, airing live in the United States from Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the U. S. by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

Bellew believes Dawson is the best light heavyweight in the world and a win over Argentine Bolonti, in the “True Brit” chief support bout to International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl Froch’s title defense against Yusaf Mack, should propel Bellew into the WBC top five.

The Liverpool boxer has his sights set on the WBC World title and while he would like to become Dawson’s mandatory challenger, Bellew isn’t ruling out an IBF World title shot against Tavoris Cloud.

“I want to put the pressure on someone like Chad Dawson to face me,” he said. “I am not a lucrative match for people to face and I believe I am maximum risk and minimal reward, so I have to force one of these champions into facing me.

“It might not be a WBC it might be an IBF challenge to Tavoris Cloud, I don’t know which it is going to be but all I want to do is become a mandatory challenger, very similar to the way Kell Brook has done it.

“Roberto Bolonti is another step in the right direction, it is a WBC eliminator and it is for the Silver title. He is number five with the WBC and this should propel one of us into the top three in my opinion, so I am hoping to get fast tracked to the WBC and I have stated for a long time that the WBC is the belt I would like to win. I believe it is the best belt in boxing, so it would be a dream come true.

“I believe Chad Dawson is the best light heavyweight in the world. I know he had the contentious fight with Jean Pascal but I believe he would have stopped Pascal if the fight would have been allowed to carry on, so I think Pascal got really lucky the cut came when it did.

“I do believe that Dawson is the best in the division and aside from him I feel everyone is on a level playing field. Bernard Hopkins, in terms of experience, is up there with Dawson but as an actual fighter I believe Dawson is proven to be the best light heavyweight out there. But I would be happy to fight him. There is now a blueprint to beat Chad Dawson after what Andre Ward did to him, so I would be happy to go in there and carry out what Ward did to him.”

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 30, 2012) — With a rematch against former World champion Lucian Bute still on the cards, as well as potential grudge rematches against Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler in International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra’s” Froch’s future, the 34-year-old British favorite admitted that his November 17th title defense against Yusaf Mack, headlining the “True Brit” pay-per-view event (in the U.S.), could be his last fight at home in Nottingham, England.

“If the Bute fight happens,” Froch explained, “it will be in Canada, and rematches with Ward and Kessler could well happen in America and Denmark, so this could well be my last fight in Nottingham.”

Froch and Mack headline an exciting night of boxing on Nov. 17 with Tony Bellew aiming to seal his second World light heavyweight title shot in a World Boxing Council (WBC) title eliminator against Argentine invader Roberto Bolonti.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

“True Brit” will also be available to view via Fight Now TV, America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel, on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Gold package.

Froch (29-2, 21 KOs), rated by The Ring Magazine as the No. 1 contender in the world, captured the IBF title in his last fight on May 26 with an impressive fifth-round technical knockout of previously undefeated champion Bute (30-1). In the past four years, his last eight fights have been against a Who’s Who of the 168-pound division with victories over Bute, Glen Johnson (DEC12), Arthur Abraham (DEC12), Andre Dirrell (DEC12), Jermain Taylor (TKO12) and Jean Pascal (DEC12). Froch’s only losses were by 12-round decisions to unbeaten World Boxing Council (WBC)/World Boxing Association (WBA) king Ward in the final of the Super Six Tournament, and four-time World champion Kessler during the aforementioned tournament. Seven of his last eight opponents, excluding Dirrell, have been world champion.

IBF No.5-ranked Mack (31-4, 17 KOs) has been fighting as a light heavyweight since 2008. He lost his only world title shot to IBF 175-pound champion Tavoris Cloud by eighth-round technical knockout in 2006.

“I’m in fantastic shape and itching to get in there again,” Froch said. “The Bute fight was special and the best night of my career, but there’s no chance I’ll take my foot off the pedal on November 17. Yusaf is a dangerous customer and he has nothing to lose coming here and everything to gain. Yusaf has fought for a World title at light heavyweight and he is going to be doing everything he can to prove himself at super middleweight.”

Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) and South American champion Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) will fight in the 12-round co-feature, an official WBC eliminator to become champion “Bad” Chad Dawson’s mandatory challenger, with the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver light heavyweight championship on the line.

Bellew, rated No. 10 by The Ring Magazine and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), has lost only once as a professional, last year in his only World title challenge fight to undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly by 12-round majority decision.

Bolonti will be going for his 27th consecutive victory on Nov. 17. Fighting outside of his native Buenos Aires, Argentina for the first time, Bolonti is rated No. 5 by the WBC, No. 10 by the WBA and IBF.

The PPV card, pending time restrictions, will also showcase some of Britain’s top, young fighters, including bantamweight prospect Khalid “Kal” Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 Great Britain Olympian, vs. TBA, lightweight Scott “Scotty” Cardle (5-0, 1 KO) vs. Joe Elfidh (7-2), former European middleweight champion Kerry Hope (17-4, 1 KO) in a six-round tune-up vs. TBA prior to his December 8th showdown with Darren Barker, lightweight Martin J. Ward (2-0) vs. TBA, middleweight Ryan “Tank” Aston (7-1, 3 KOs) vs. Tyan Booth (11-6-1, 2 KOs), and featherweight Leigh “Leigh-thal” Wood (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Gavin Reid (6-16-1, 3 KOs). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW TV launched last year as the first and only 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week combat sports channel in the nation. The network’s mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 12, 2012) — Carl Froch has warned Yusaf Mack that he will be in for a rough night in Nottingham, England when he challenges “The Cobra” for his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight title in Betfair’s ‘True Brit’ on November 17.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

“True Brit” will also be available to view via Fight Now TV, America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel, on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Gold package.

Froch welcomed the American light heavyweight champion into his fortress at the Capital FM Arena as Britain’s No. 1 fighter boxes in his ninth consecutive World title fight.

“The Cobra” met Mack for the first time in a press conference at the Arena where five months ago he ripped the IBF title from unbeaten Lucian Bute with a stunning fifth round stoppage. Froch has vowed to put thoughts of a rematch with the Canadian and a future bout with old foe Mikkel Kessler to one side as he prepares for his 15th contest in the Arena against the Philadelphian.

“After beating Lucian I feel like I’m back on top of the World,” said Froch. “I’m in great shape. I’m running faster than ever. I am breaking records in training and I’m surprising myself, so at 35 I feel like I’m at my peak and that there’s plenty more to come.

“People have been asking me when I plan to hang the gloves up – a year, 18 months – I’m not going to out a time frame on it, as long as I have the desire to keep getting up and doing the hard training which I have, then I’m still going to be going.

“He’s coming over to the lion’s den and there’s only going to be one winner – I’ll do whatever I can to put Yusaf Mack on his back.”

Mack fights for a World title for the second time in his career having challenged Tavoris Cloud for the light heavyweight crown last June and promises to give everything on November 17.

“I’m here to give a champion the fight of his life,” said Mack. “Come fight night, its going down. I’m back at my preferred weight and I’m not coming to England to lay down.”

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 9, 2012) — Integrated Sports Media, the pound-for-pound king of sports distribution in North America, announced today that it will distribute “True Brit” in the United States, featuring International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch defending against challenger Yusaf Mack, on Saturday afternoon, November 17, live from Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, United Kingdom.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

“Carl Froch is one the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world today,” Integrated Sports media president Doug Jacobs said. “He’s also one of the most popular and entertaining boxers who American fans can’t get enough of. His title defense against Yusaf Mack certainly will draw interest from his hometown fans in Philadelphia. The light heavyweight title fight, featuring a pair of world-class fighters, will introduce Britain’s Tony Bellew and Argentina’s Roberto Bolonti to American boxing fans. Integrated Sports is very happy to be delivering ‘True Brit’ in the U.S.”

“I am delighted that ‘True Brit’ will be available in America on pay-per-view and for subscribers of Fight Now TV,” said Froch’s promoter and Matchroom Sport managing director Eddie Hearn. “It’s going to be a fantastic night of boxing in Nottingham, with Froch and Mack leading the way. Carl has a great fan base in the States after some fantastic performances there and his win over Lucian Bute proved he is one of the most exciting sportsmen on the planet. This is a fight not to be missed with a brilliant undercard of young British fighting talent led by Tony Bellew that I know the US fans are going to love to watch.”

Froch (29-2, 21 KOs) captured the IBF title in his last fight, May 26 with a stunning fifth-round technical knockout of previously undefeated champion Lucian Bute (30-1). In his last eight fights, dating back to 2008, Froch has defeated Bute, Glen Johnson (DEC12), Arthur Abraham (DEC12), Andre Dirrell (DEC12), Jermain Taylor (TKO12) and Jean Pascal (DEC12), losing only to unbeaten Andre Ward (DEC12) in the final of the Super Six Tournament and Mikkel Kessler (DEC12). All but Dirrell have been world champion. Froch, who will be fighting in his hometown, is world rated by The Ring Magazine as the No. 1 contender.

Mack (31-4, 17 KOs) has been fighting as a light heavyweight since 2008. He is the reigning United States Boxing Association 175-pound title-holder and rated No. 6 by the IBF. The 32-year-old Mack is a typically tough Philly fighter who lost his only world title shot to IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud by eighth-round technical knockout in 2006. Mack, who was leading on two of three judges’ scorecards after seven rounds (68-65, 67-66, 66-67) against Cloud, has defeated, among the more notables, Omar Sheika, Chris Henry, Daniel Judah. Three of his four career losses have been to world champions – Cloud, Johnson and Alejandro Berrio – and the other to two-time world title challenger Librado Andrade.

UK fan favorite Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) takes on South American champion Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver light heavyweight championship and an official WBC eliminator.

Bellew, rated No. 10 by The Ring Magazine and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is coming off of impressive back-to-back victories over Edison Miranda (TKO9) and Danny McIntosh (TKO5), following Bellew’s only career to undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly last year by 12-round majority decision.

Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) is riding a 26-fight winning streak into his Nov. 17 fight with Bellew. The Argentinean will be fighting outside of his native Buenos Aires, Argentina for the first time. He is rated No. 7 by the WBC, as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and IBF.

The entire PPV card, pending time restrictions, will also showcase some of Britain’s top prospects such as lightweights Scott “Scotty” Cardle (5-0, 1 KO) and Martin J. Ward (2-0), in separate bouts, bantamweight Khalid “Kal” Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs), middleweight Ryan “Tank” Aston (7-1, 3 KOs), and featherweight Leigh “Leigh-thal” Wood (4-0, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW TV launched last year as the first and only 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week combat sports channel in the nation. The network’s mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the globe.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch and the man he beat Lucian Bute will meet in a rematch next year after they each take interim bouts this fall.

Froch stopped Bute in round five on May 26 in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, England and rematch will take place in Bute’s adopted hometown of Montreal.

“Froch versus Bute has already gone down as one of the greatest nights in British boxing history,” said Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “It generated record television audiences and a sold-out arena where fans were treated to what many respected pundits and fighters have described as one of the best atmospheres ever felt in a British fight. Of course, like any fighter, Lucian is keen to avenge this defeat and, as per our agreement, has the opportunity to try to make that happen.

“Both myself and Lucian’s promoter, Jean Bedard (of InterBox) feel that it is in the best interests of both fighters and any future rematch that both fighters will take an interim fight later this year. Froch versus Bute II in Montreal is a massive event and I’m sure that impressive victories for both men later this year will add further fuel to the fire.”

“We will be looking to announce an opponent for Carl in the next few weeks for another big fight in the U.K.,” he said.

“That was not the real Lucian Bute in that Nottingham ring on May 26,” said Bute, who had made nine defenses before being cut down by Froch. “I spent the last few weeks reflecting about what went wrong, what happened, and the only thing that is crystal clear in my mind is that I want my rematch with Carl Froch as soon as possible.”

Said Bedard, “There is no hiding the fact that the result on May 26 was hard on everyone. But even in defeat, in the locker room after the fight and the days following the loss, I still felt Lucian had the fire in his belly to come back stronger and demand his rematch with Froch. Matchroom is a great organization to work with and I have been speaking to Eddie once or twice a week since May 26. I almost know his number by heart.”

Former multiple time world champion Johnny Tapia breaks down Ward – Froch

“I’m very tough, you know,” Carl Froch said Saturday, after he ruined Lucian Bute. “I’m a bit of an animal.”

It was the sort of self-assessment that, when unleavened by criticism, comes off as boorish and predictable sales-speak intended to preclude fisticuffs more than promote them. But from Froch’s mouth, which bears a frank tongue that quickly, and consistently, conceded the man who decisioned him in December, Andre Ward, was, is, the better man, the statement had exactly the right panache. In Froch’s Nottinghamshire, that is, in a place Ward has not been and will not be seen, Froch is the world’s most ferocious 168-pound man.

He proved that by tearing through IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, Saturday, in England’s Capital FM Arena, and stopping the undefeated Romanian-born Canadian southpaw at 1:05 of the fifth round, when American referee Earl Brown, shaken by the sight of Bute’s head nearly touching his shoulder blades, waved-off the fight, restarted the fight, and had his authority usurped entirely (and appropriately).

There is plenty to be said for making fights to please fans, to fill arenas, to ensure future generations’ writers shake their heads at modifiers’ inadequacies as they happen off the fingers. But there’s one other thing to be said for making fights, and it is a thing that is occasionally lost for good reason. Because prizefights weaken their participants – alter their motor skills, shorten their lives, reduce their abilities to associate thoughts that aren’t immediate familiars – it is intuitively advisable to have an athlete make few of them as possible en route to comfortable a retirement as possible, with comfort defined in realms both physical and financial. This is truer the older a fighter gets; who would begrudge Evander Holyfield or Roy Jones Jr. a retirement party now?

But when an athlete is still prime, there’s a different strategy to consider: Fight more because you will fight better. Most arguments for increased volume are made by aficionados for self-interested reasons. We wish to see better spectacles more often while enjoying an ancillary chance at converting laymen to devotees. Nothing wrong with a little self-interest, of course, but in Carl Froch’s case, it misses the point – as Froch reminded us while uttering this clause at the end of a postfight answer, Saturday: “Most importantly, that’s what I want.”

What Froch wants is to be a great prizefighter, an international item, an immortal – a thing over which he has almost no control. Barring that, he wants to be an improving prizefighter, and in a twist that is proper, not ironical, Froch’s activity has brought that very effect. He has matched himself as a prime fighter against other prime fighters, and he is a better fighter right now, this very moment, than he was before he did. All clichés about styles aside, there is a very good chance the Carl Froch who engaged in that aesthetic disaster of a Super Six opener with Andre Dirrell 31 months ago would not have done to Lucian Bute what Froch just did.

The lesson of that fight with Dirrell, that some men who place a premium on trap-setting and reflexes are athletes not fighters and need to be gone-through not abided, changed the way Froch approached his opening minutes with Bute – a man superior in both reflex and athleticism. And the fight that came after Froch-Dirrell, the close decision loss to Mikkel Kessler that put a first blemish on Froch’s record and saw Froch, in its fifth round, land a buckling right hand then do a moment’s showboating with his right glove, taught Froch a hurt man is more interested in his continued consciousness than you are, and must be treated accordingly.

At a fundamental level that stylists often shun, a choice must be made in a prizefight that is otherwise even. It is a calculation of what a man will sacrifice – what percentage of his dignity and health – to undo an opponent. From the opening round, when Froch swam at Bute, throwing the right hook then crossing his feet over and crunching misplaced limbs one against the other, Froch proclaimed: All of it; I will sacrifice all of it in my hometown, right now, in the next instant even.

It has been written of Froch that he badly wants to fight even if sometimes he does not appear to know how. There were moments of that, too, in Saturday’s match. But the hardiness of his offense and the thrill Froch evinced in round 1 when Bute caught him with what Froch might call “something sweet” and both men paused to mark how comparatively little it affected the Brit, those were things for which Bute, whatever his class, was unprepared. Or so he looked – unprepared, uncomfortable, overwhelmed.

We must honor Froch as a bulwark against the rising and increasingly persuasive tide of the hypothetical. Had Froch not swapped blows unsuccessfully with Andre Ward six months ago, right now, on the virtue of what Froch did to Bute – widely considered no worse than the world’s second-best super middleweight – we’d be making a hypothetical Froch-Ward match in which even Ward’s supporters would concede that, if in the unlikely event their man could steal a decision from Froch, Ward would be hurt worse by Froch than any opponent before or after.

Instead we know exactly where we stand. Froch, to his resounding credit, fought both Ward and Bute and stated rather plainly before and after both occasions he was at his very best. Ward is definitively better than Froch, and he will be tomorrow. Froch is definitively better than Bute, and he will be until the men retire.

We do not believe that, or present persuasive arguments about its likelihood – silly rhetorical exercises that disintegrate into ad-hominem suspicions if not attacks – rather, we know it. Bless Carl Froch for providing that knowledge.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will travel to Nottingham, England to defend his crown against former champion Carl Froch on May 26th.

“It’s my goal to fight the best boxers in the super middleweight division,” Bute said Thursday. “Carl Froch belongs in the elite of the super middleweight division and it will be a great fight. I am very confident and it will not faze me fighting in enemy territory.

“Supporters of Carl Froch will live their greatest disappointment. The IBF belt will fly roundtrip Montreal-Nottingham and back.”

“We are delighted to have agreed to terms for what I believe will be the biggest night for British boxing in many years,” said Eddie Hearn, Froch’s promoter. “I have to respect Lucian and his team for agreeing to enter the lion’s den and face Carl in his hometown of Nottingham, but am fully confident that Carl can become a world champion again on this epic night.”

“It’s a dream come true to get this opportunity to become a three-time world champion in my hometown of Nottingham,” Froch said. “The Super Six was an incredible journey for me but I missed fighting in the UK and it was important that Eddie and I made that happen, and for it to be for a world title is the icing on the cake. I’m ready to go to war all over again.

“Andre Ward wants Lucian to fight an A-level fighter. This should happen in May, and after he will have no more excuses to avoid Lucian,” said Jean Bedard of InterBox, Bute’s promoter.

“We really wanted to press forward with this fight. We’ve been insistent, made some concessions, but it was important to realize this is a fight that Lucian, our fans and our partners wanted,” Bedard said. “Also, I am convinced that Lucian will silence the critics. Lucian is showing great courage in agreeing to defend his title in enemy territory.”

“It is great news that Carl has landed this fight as it is one that we have wanted for a long time,” said Rob McCracken, Froch’s trainer. “I have always been confident that Carl will beat Lucian, and I will have him fully prepared and in the best possible shape on May 26.

“Lucian has already fought outside Canada in his professional career,” Larouche said. “This is a great challenge ahead for him on May 26 and Lucian will perform to his fullest as he always does. The style of these two incredible fighters will make for an explosive fight that I am sure boxing fans around the world won’t want to miss.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute and former WBC champ carl Froch are working on a two fight that deal that would see the fighters take on each other in each’s home country.

ute and Froch are negotiating a two-fight deal that would begin with a bout in the spring in Montreal, Bute’s adopted hometown where he is a major star, and be followed by a rematch in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, England, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, Froch’s promoter, told ESPN.com on Monday.

Hearn said he was “having positive discussions with Jean and the team at InterBox” about the deal and that he was “very happy with the idea of working with them.”

“We have penciled two dates — April 14 for Montreal and Aug. 4 in Nottingham — for the ‘home and away’ bouts,” Hearn said. “Don’t see why we can’t get this boxed off in the next week or so.”

“At the end of the day, we need the second fight to be relevant and appealing,” Hearn said. “I’m very sure it will be.

“We are talking,” Hearn said of conversations with Showtime. “They have expressed their desire to keep Carl and I don’t envision any problems either side.”

On a perfect evening in the ring, a night when American Andre Ward and Englishman Carl Froch both were able to make their very best fight, Ward would win. The only circumstance under which Froch could prevail, then, is an off-night for Ward. Froch realized this Saturday, and it razed his spirit. It meant no matter his willfulness or tenacity, he was not the world’s best super middleweight.

Such broken-spiritedness tempered by stubborn professionalism is what Froch showed the waning moments of his match with Ward at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Saturday, in the championship of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Ward prevailed, of course, by unanimous scores of 118-110, 115-113 and 115-113.

My card concurred with the judges’: 117-113. I scored rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 12 for Ward. I scored rounds 5, 9 and 11 for Froch. And I had rounds 7 and 10 even.

Ward won the fight. Nothing said this more eloquently than Froch’s face when the final bell sounded. Froch was a beaten, disappointed, proud man who had been given the opportunity he’d awaited his entire career and learned he was not great as he’d hoped. That two judges had the fight decided by a single round was just, insofar as the round went Ward’s way. Three scores of 115-113 for Ward would have been no problem; a draw or decision for Froch would have been unfortunate.

“I was actually surprised by how slow Froch was,” Ward said after the fight.

There are lots of old sayings in boxing, clichés we call “sayings” to spare their speakers, and one is that you cannot teach speed. But you can teach a fighter to offset another’s speed – as Juan Manuel Marquez thrice proved against Manny Pacquiao – with practice, timing and introspection. Yes, introspection. You cannot teach a fighter to offset another’s speed till he admits the other man is faster.

Such an admission Froch’s camp never drew from their man in training camp. Froch, who calls himself “The Cobra,” did not believe Ward, with his shorter frame, could get his left fist to Froch’s face quickly as Froch could do the same to Ward. It was a miscalculation born of Froch’s hubris, hubris that has taken him much farther in prizefighting than any but his familiars predicted.

That Ward realized he was faster than Froch for every instant of the match’s opening nine minutes cannot be disputed. What Ward chose to do with that advantage, though, is what makes him unique among undefeated American fighters. Ward went inside. Leading 3-0 after the first quarter, Ward went for Froch’s heart. He put himself on Froch’s chest and tried to break the larger man’s body the way he’d already cracked his spirit. It didn’t work – Froch was still there with three rounds to go, and gaining speed too – but it was a hell of a noble idea on Ward’s part.

Did Ward tire late because he lacked conditioning? No. Ward tired in the closing rounds because Steve Smoger did a job that should be shown at referee clinics round the world. Referee Smoger watched Ward and Froch tangle their limbs in the match’s opening seconds and didn’t break them. He stood well back and said resolve your differences like men and prizefighters.

There was something splendid about Smoger’s inactivity. His silence told Ward and Froch that if they were to lunge at one another gracelessly and tie themselves in a knot, he would not be the one to work their ways out of it. The choice then became: Expend energy pulling your arms from between the opponent’s elbow and ribcage, or catch his head and shoulder and free fist in your face.

In the fight’s opening half, Froch was discomfited by Smoger’s inactivity, drooping his arms behind Ward’s back, looking frantically over and round Ward’s bobbing head. In the later rounds, it was Ward, unable to retreat or set traps behind a late-arriving southpaw stance, who wanted Smoger’s help. But Smoger did not intervene, and Ward had to earn his victory by winning the final round. As it should be.

“He was too close,” Froch said about Ward’s attack. “Or he was too far out of range.”

If Froch’s countenance in the moment of the final bell was the fight’s most eloquent commentary, that line above is a close runner-up. It is the very definition of championship prizefighting. Ward made Froch uncomfortable by doing nothing how Froch wanted him to, for 36 minutes, on the largest stage of his career.

Perhaps Ward is not inspiring to an impoverished nation the way Pacquiao is. Certainly Ward is not provocative as Floyd Mayweather. But if the path to greatness is a long and anfractuous one, Ward has yet to step off it. In a moment of quiet contemplation, that is, can you think of a fighter who is likely to have a greater body of work in the next decade than Andre Ward?

Ah, but Boardwalk Hall was damn quiet while your future legend practiced on Froch! Yes, how unfortunate. It allowed cynics to look at Ward-Froch, a consequential fight between highly regarded tacticians in an empty American arena, and see an ironical bookend to a year that began in Pontiac Silverdome. If Ward-Froch deserves a pass, it is because the match was a made-by-television event.

But the Super Six is over, and Showtime, as the super middleweight division’s de facto sanctioning body, needs to set a new course. A venue for Andre Ward versus Canada’s Lucian Bute, a fight the network is now obliged to make, should be chosen thusly: Whoever bids the lowest licensing-fee-to-live-gate ratio. Tie promoters’ compensation to their ability to make live crowds, and see what happens.

Prizefighting is not the Super Bowl. The idea of neutral venues has proved asinine. Ward-Bute must happen in Oakland or Montreal, not Atlantic City or Las Vegas.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Follow all the action LIVE from ringside as Andre Ward and Carl Froch battle for the WBA/WBC/Ring Magazine and Super 6 World Boxing Classic Championships.   The action starts at 9pm eastern/6pm in Oakland and 2 am Sunday Morning in the United Kingdom

12 Rounds–WBA/WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–ANDRE WARD (23-0, 14 KO’S) VS CARL FROCH (28-1, 20 KO’S)

ROUND 1: Ward lands a jab…Froch lands a jab..Trading body shots…Ward jabbing to the chest…10-9 Ward

Round 2 Ward lands a left hook on the inside..double jab..short left hook…Froch lands an uppercut and a jab..Ward lands a left hook…Right lands a lright to the body..Froch 2 body shots…Hard hook from Ward…And another good left hook at the bell 20-18 Ward

Round 3 Ward jabbing to the body..Double left hook..jab to the body..Froch lands a left..Froch lands a right to the body..left hook..Ward lands a jab that back Froch up..nice left hook...30-27 Ward

Round 4 Ward lands an uppercut..Nice right..double right…Ward working the right..Body…40-36 Ward

Round 5 Ward lands a left hook hurts Froch…Right hand/left hook…Froch missing shots…Froch lands a nice jab…2 left hooks by Froch…50-45 Ward

Round 6 Ward jabbing to the body…Double left hook..Froch lands a left…hard left hook on the ropes…counter left hook backs up Froch…60-54 Ward

Round 7 Wardx lands a left uppercut…Straight right..lead left hook..uppercut..lands a right…70-63 Ward

Round 8 Ward lands a big right..Looping right…right…body…Froch lands a right after the bell…80-72 Ward

Round 9 Froch lands a combination..Left hook from ward..Froch lands a jab…..89-82 Ward

Round 10 Ward lands a jab..Froch lands a body shot..Ward lands a lead left hook..Ward shoe shines to the body..left to the head…99-91 Ward

Round 11Good left from Froch…108-101 Ward

Round 12 Froch lands a nice combination…Ward lands a left hook…another left hook..Left hook…118-110 Ward

118-110; 115-113; 115-113 WARD

Former 140 pound world champion Paulie Malignaggi talks Khan – Peterson; Froch-Ward and and a possible title shoy againsy Vyacheslav Sanchenko

There is a conditional clause still in place on the Boxing Writers Association of America’s 2011 ballot for Fighter of the Year. It reads: “Winner Ward-Froch.” That box already has my checkmark. If Andre Ward beats Carl Froch Saturday, he will be the 2011 Fighter of the Year. If Froch prevails, he will win the honor. If there’s a draw, I’ll vote for both of them.

The BWAA does not have a Fighter of the Last Two Years category, but if it did, the winner of Froch-Ward would deserve that honor too.

Whichever man wins Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City – to claim Showtime’s inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic championship – will have done something unprecedented among modern prizefighters at the championship level. He will have spent two years in the same weight class with five equals and outlasted each of them. The winner of Ward-Froch will have accomplished more in the years 2009-2011 than Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather combined.

That is something to consider when the eulogistic throat-clearing grows this week. As every treatment of Saturday’s final begins with “After two years of cancellations and postponements and withdrawals, when the ill-conceived Super Six finally, finally, finally crowns a winner . . .” you’ll be well advised to ignore it. Anyone who watches Saturday already knows the Super Six’s history and is familiar with the misfortunes that visited the tournament. He also knows the two men fighting for its title are original members who’ve outlasted all comers.

It demeans what Froch and Ward have done to dwell on those who made questionable withdrawals from the Super Six. Those three men – the Americans Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell, and the Dane Mikkel Kessler – are all either back in the prizefighting ring or planning a return. Their withdrawals, then, should be treated as simple eliminations.

Since neither of the replacement fighters brought in on short notice made his way to the finals, we needn’t dwell either on Jamaican Glen Johnson or American Allan Green.

That leaves Armenian Arthur Abraham, whose legacy as an indestructible force suffered mightily in his matches with Froch and Ward. For having made it to every match he was assigned, though, Abraham retains the respect of aficionados who appreciate what durability he showed.

Durability, after all, proved to be the tournament’s most important quality. At the beginning of the Super Six, who thought England’s Carl “The Cobra” Froch would be a finalist? And whatever handful of Brits that was got halved after Froch’s odd victory over Dirrell. Yet, here he is – unbowed if still unheralded.

While the more heralded Brit Amir Khan, to choose a timely example, was beating up light-hitting Paulie Malignaggi and running from Marcos Maidana, Froch chased the reluctant Dirrell and made one of the best fights of 2010 with Kessler – a scrap brutal enough to eliminate Kessler from the Super Six. While Khan was blowing through someone named Paul McCloskey and a spent Zab Judah, Froch outboxed Abraham and outworked Johnson. And while Khan was making his tangle-footed retreat from an 8-1 underdog named Lamont Peterson on Saturday, Froch was readying to go chest-to-chest with a fighter every bit special as he is.

For American Andre “S.O.G. (Son of God)” Ward is now a proven-to-be-special entity. Or as Ward recently put it, “I won an Olympic gold medal and am undefeated in 23 fights as a professional, so we must be doing something right.”

Compare that dignity to the brashness young Floyd Mayweather, an Olympic bronze medalist, exhibited in 2000, when he was 23-0. Within that delta, actually, lies part of the charm of Saturday’s fight: It does not play to stereotypes.

Froch, the light-skinned European, is the flamboyant one in Saturday’s match. He is the man likely to drop his hands and show-up an opponent. Froch is the one who does not hesitate to discuss his hypothetical greatness.

Ward, meanwhile, the black American from Oakland, is the soft-spoken, serious man in Saturday’s finals. He cares little how he looks while winning. Ward is the one who employs measured language, comporting himself as a picture of accountability.

This was clearest in Showtime’s recent “Staredown” program. Though unoriginal in a copyright-infringement kind of way, “Staredown” nevertheless proved much better than the recent HBO spectacle of a Puerto Rican speaking English to a Mexican. For being in their native language at least, Froch and Ward offered revelatory tidbits and were much better than cliché-tossing avatars.

Ward surprised Froch by candidly saying he was hurt in his seventh professional fight by Darnell Boone, a man whose name Froch could not recall but Ward quickly did. Froch then surprised Ward by agreeing that having one’s chin compared to granite – as Froch’s now is – is often the result of poor choices.

Then Froch inadvertently predicted the likely outcome of Saturday’s match.

“I’m telling you now, categorically, you cannot render me unconscious,” Froch said. “I can knock you out with either hand.”

Both men believe that. Ward is quite certain Froch can knock him out. He also knows a knockout of Froch is improbable. And that is why Ward will probably win the Super Six championship.

Ward will not relent. He will not come off Froch’s chest. He will not rely on a punch to change the fight’s path but hundreds of punches. He will not be prone to mental lapses – like what Froch suffered after staggering Kessler – and he will not wonder if his attire befits the world’s best super middleweight, the way such considerations seem occasionally to wrap gauze round Froch’s otherwise clear thinking.

There’s no telling how this match will end. Everything everyone has predicted about this tournament has been wrong often enough for every prognosticator to be humbled.

That written, I’ll take Ward, SD-12, and be certain Saturday’s winner is Fighter of the Last Two Years.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

NEW YORK (Sept. 27, 2011) – The Super Six World Boxing Classic Final between super middleweight world champions Andre Ward and Carl Froch has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The SHOWTIME® telecast will air LIVE at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The announcement was made jointly today by Ward’s promoter, Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions, Froch’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, and Ken Hershman of SHOWTIME Sports®.

The fight, originally scheduled for Oct. 29 at Boardwalk Hall, was postponed late last week after Ward sustained a cut above his right eye during a sparring session on Thursday, Sept. 22. (Photos attached by FIGHT CAMP 360)

Tickets for the fight are currently on sale at the Boardwalk Hall box office or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com. All tickets purchased for the original event date will be honored on Dec. 17. If ticket holders are not able to attend on Dec. 17, refunds are available at the point of purchase.

Tickets are priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50 with the non-televised undercard beginning at 6 p.m. ET. The event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Matchroom Sport and Antonio Leonard Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City and sponsored by Corona.

The live Super Six World Boxing Classic Final will lead into the live STRIKEFORCE mixed martial arts (MMA) telecast headlined by STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez defending his title against Jorge Masvidal and the return of Cris Cyborg at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, on SHOWTIME (delayed on the West Coast).

PROGRAMING NOTES: With a new date for the Super Six World Boxing Classic Final, SHOWTIME Sports® has altered the network’s schedule of programing leading up to the highly anticipated match between super middleweight champions Andre Ward and Carl Froch.

– The next episode of FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside the Super Six World Boxing Classic has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®, immediately following Inside the NFL.

– A FIGHT CAMP 360°: Bonus Feature will reveal the drama surrounding the sparring cut that forced Andre Ward to postpone the Final. The short-form program will air on SHOWTIME in the immediate future. Scheduling information will be released in the coming days.

– Staredown: Ward vs. Froch – An intimate confrontation between the Super Six Finalists, moderated by Emmy® Award-winning reporter Jim Gray, has been rescheduled to follow the Dec. 3 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast headlined by Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko II.

# # #

Photo Captions:
Ward Cut – Super Six Finalist Andre Ward suffered a cut above his right eye during a sparring session on Thursday, Sept. 22, postponing the Super Six World Boxing Classic Final scheduled for Oct. 29 on SHOWTIME. After sustaining the cut at his gym in Oakland, Calif., Ward immediately flew to Los Angeles where, pictured here, he awaited medical attention.

Ward Stitched – World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward shortly after receiving seven stitches from leading plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wallace in Los Angeles to close a cut above his right eye.

Ward Bloody Towel – Trainer Virgil Hunter applies pressure to the bloodied eye of 168-pound champion Andre Ward who suffered a cut during a sparring session at his Bay Area gym on Thursday, Sept. 22.

ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC

The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semifinals. The winners of the Semifinal bouts will advance to the Final and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

NEW YORK (Sept. 23, 2011) – Andre Ward, the WBA Super Middleweight World Champion and Super Six finalist, sustained a cut above his right eye during a sparring session on Thursday, Sept. 22. As a result, the Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament Final and world title unification fight with fellow Finalist and WBC World Champion Carl Froch has been postponed. The announcement was made jointly today by Ward’s promoter, Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions, Froch’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, and Ken Hershman of SHOWTIME Sports®.

The Final was scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29 in Atlantic City, NJ. The promoters and Hershman are working together to identify a new date for the significant matchup.

The SHOWTIME Sports documentary film crew FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic was filming for the next episodes of the acclaimed series at the time of the incident at Ward’s gym in Oakland, Calif. The camera crew joined Ward on an impromptu flight from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, where Ward received seven stitches from leading plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wallace to close the cut. Ward was informed by Wallace that he would be unable to fight as scheduled on October 29 and that he will remove the stitches next Thursday, Sept. 29. The next episode of FIGHT CAMP 360° is scheduled for Oct. 8, 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®.

Ward said: “I’m extremely disappointed about this cut. We used every precaution, including headgear with a face bar and it was just a fluke situation. My sparring partner and I were involved in an exchange inside and the next thing I knew, I was bleeding. That is the most frustrating thing about this—I don’t have an explanation for how it happened.

“This is very frustrating for my camp and I, and I knew that if the shoe was on the other foot and Froch suffered an injury, I would be extremely disappointed.

“We were in full camp and counting down the days until October 29. At this point, I’m looking forward to healing up and getting a new date to finish what I started and become the Super Six Champion.”

Ward continued, “I’d like to express my apologies to SHOWTIME, the fans and the Froch camp, but this is part of boxing. Ward and Froch will still get it on but, unfortunately, the date just has to be pushed back.”

“This is absurd and unprofessional. Ward needs to get his act together,” said Froch shortly after hearing the news. “Of course, you’ve got to take the medical advice seriously, but for a cut to put you out of a fight a full five weeks before the event is ludicrous. If it were two weeks out from the fight, maybe I’d understand. But he’s got 35 days to deal with it. To me, he’s showing his weakness. Nothing changes for me. I’ll be ready if and when he shows up.”

“Not much you can say,” said Goossen. “Andre was cut, he got stitched up, and he’ll be back as soon as possible.”

“Injuries in boxing are inevitable at this, the highest level of competition,” said Hershman, the man behind the groundbreaking tournament. “As we’ve done since this tournament’s inception, we’ll forge ahead. We are seeking available dates at this time and hope to have an announcement shortly. Rest assured, we will deliver this dramatic final tournament bout, one that is surely the biggest fight in this division’s history.”

Said Hearn, “Obviously it is frustrating. Carl’s camp has gone perfectly and we were ready to unify the titles on October 29. Carl is in the shape of his life but he is a true professional and will take this in his stride and be ready for victory on a date given in 2011.”

# # #

ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC

The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semifinals. The winners of the Semifinal bouts will advance to the Final and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was on hand in New York City to capture the images at the press conference to announce the much anticipated fights of the year between WBA Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward and WBC champ Carl Froch which will be the finals of the Showtime Super 6 tournament on October 29th in Atlantic City

WBA Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward talks about his October 29 Super 6 Final showdown with WBC Champ Carl Froch

WBC Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch discusses his Super 6 final Unification bout with WBA champion Andre Ward on October 29

Promoter Dan Goossen talks about the October 29 showdown between Andre Ward and Carl Froch plus updates Eddie Chambers, Tony Thompson and Chris Arreola

Andre Ward and Carl Froch meet the media in New York City to discuss their October 29th Super 6 Final fight that will take place in Atlantic City

NEW YORK (July 18, 2011) – The stakes couldn’t be higher, the drama more intense. On Saturday, Oct. 29, two confident reigning world champions–one from America, the other from Europe–will collide in the eagerly awaited Super Six World Boxing Classic Final, a World Championship Unification, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

When the Super Six began, neither undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Andre Ward (24-0, 13 KOs), of Oakland, Calif., nor his World Boxing Council (WBC) counterpart, Carl Froch (28-1, 20 KOs), of Nottingham, England, were among the favorites.

But through career-defining fights and remarkable drama both in and out of the ring, Ward and Froch have persevered and emerged as prominent members of boxing’s exclusive Pound-for-Pound list and are now poised for global stardom.

The Super Six World Boxing Classic was conceived by Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, to match the best fighters in a deep, talent-laden division in a series of fights to see who would come out on top. Now, Ward and Froch are just one victory away from earning the distinction of being the undisputed No. 1 super middleweight in the world.

“I can’t think of two more deserving men than Andre and Carl to represent this tournament in the Final with a chance for one of them to hoist high the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup,” said Hershman. “The two survived the gauntlet – fighting one elite athlete after another – and rightfully deserve the division’s top billing.

“The Super Six was created to determine the No. 1 super middleweight in the world through an arduous run of championship level fights, but more importantly, to sustain conversation and piqued interest in these boxers before, during and between fights. It is clear that we have delivered that and much more.”

The winner of the 12-rounder will claim super middleweight supremacy, both world championship belts, The Ring magazine championship and the coveted Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.

“Going into a fight of this magnitude, I expect the toughest fight of my career,” said Ward.

Froch echoed Ward’s comments regarding the enormity of the Super Six Final. “Not only is it for two world titles, but it’s for the tournament trophy and The Ring belt is also on the line,” said the WBC champion. “It makes this the biggest and the most prestigious fight to happen for as far back as I can remember.

“This has been a fantastic tournament. It has produced some amazing fights in our division, fights that certainly would not have happened otherwise. For the Final, we have a great fight between two superior athletes.”

Ward said, “The Super Six has given me the opportunity to fight the best and, so far, I’ve been fortunate to beat the best. It’s also given me the chance to do what I’ve always wanted to do and that’s become undisputed champion. This fight brings me closer.

“I salute SHOWTIME and everyone involved for allowing me into this tournament. We’ve all put our nose to the ground, and we’re still standing and heading to a grand finale. I’m excited to be part of it.”

The last boxer from the United States to capture an Olympic Games gold medal, the six-foot one, 27-year-old Ward won the WBA belt by upsetting Super Six co-favorite Mikkel Kessler with an impressive 11th-round technical decision in Group Stage 1. Ward retained the crown with lopsided 12-round unanimous decisions over Allan Green, Sakio Bika and, most recently, Arthur Abraham (last May 14) in a Super Six Semifinal. Ward will be making his fourth defense against Froch.

Coming into the tournament off a 12th-round TKO over Jermain Taylor, Froch took a 12-round split decision over Andre Dirrell in Group Stage 1. The 33-year-old Froch then lost the WBC belt on a close decision to Kessler in a thrilling Fight of the Year candidate in Group Stage 2, but regained it in his subsequent Super Six start when, after an eye injury sidelined Kessler and forced him to relinquish the belt, he masterfully outclassed a determined Abraham en route to a unanimous decision. Froch defended his strap and secured a berth in the Final with a convincing, hard-fought decision over Glen Johnson last June 4.

In what will be an intense, highly charged affair, Froch fully expects his power to be the difference.

“Ward is a boxer and mover who can be messy up close,’’ Froch said. “I can box when I need to and I have proven time and again that I can fight with the best of them. I have my natural fitness, a big heart, experience at the top level and the ability to take a punch.

“My punching power is far superior to Ward’s. This will prove to be the deciding factor.”

Style-wise, Froch compares Ward to an earlier Super Six victim, Dirrell. “They are similar,’’ Froch said. “Both can’t punch and both are frightened of getting hit hard.’’

It wouldn’t be a major fight involving Andre Ward without an upcoming opponent questioning his ability or legitimacy. Ward is accustomed to it. In some ways, he almost expects it and, up to now, thrives on it.

“I don’t think Froch gets the attention he deserves in his country so he tries to get it in the United States,’’ Ward said. “Fine, if it sells a few tickets. He’s certainly not the first to speak out against me and he won’t be the last. I think Froch likes to hear himself talk – except he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

“My thoughts going into this fight are plain and simple: I want to retain the WBA belt, win the WBC belt and The Ring belt and bring home that Super Six hardware. I’m a pro and locked in on that and being one of the best in the world. Froch can dominate through his tabloids; all I want is to dominate the night of the fight. What he must understand is it looks totally different on the inside of those ropes than the way it looks on the outside.

“But Froch is absolutely right (about my elusive style),” said Ward. “I don’t get paid to get hit. It’s not my job. I was taught right away not to get hit or take unnecessary punishment. I’m not in it to be Fight of the Year; I’m in it to be Fighter of the Year.”

The event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Antonio Leonard Productions and Matchroom Sport in association with Caesars Atlantic City.

Dan Goossen, of Goossen Tutor stated, “Words alone don’t do justice to describe the talent, inside and outside the ring, of Andre Ward. Outside, he is someone you want to hug and admire because of his gentleman like qualities. Inside the ropes it’s a completely different story. He is an ornery man you don’t want to mess with; a real fighter.”

“As for the SHOWTIME tournament format, it is one of the best things to happen in boxing for many, many years,” Goossen continued. “When you have the best fighting the best in every fight, it’s great for the fans and our sport. Believe me, nothing will stop Ward from beating Froch and capturing the inaugural Super Six Cup and catapulting himself to that next level.”

From Eddie Hearn, Managing Director, Matchroom Sport, ”Carl Froch epitomizes everything that is great about this sport. He puts everything on the line every time he enters the ring, in short he is the ultimate warrior. Beyond the steel determination is a sharp and bright mind who when linking up with his trainer Rob McCracken, can devise game plans to overcome anyone in this division. This is a huge fight. It’s the kind of fight that determines your legacy, a fight that you have worked your whole life towards. The Super Six Cup, two prestigious World title belts and The Ring magazine belt – Carl Froch will be Andre Ward’s worst nightmare on Oct. 29 and will NOT be denied.

“The Super Six has been a breath of fresh air in the sport of boxing. It’s almost like how boxing used to be – the best fight the best, forget the politics. It’s given us great fights, great drama and you couldn’t have a more fitting Final.”

“The history of boxing in Atlantic City is rich,” said Don Marrandino, President of Caesars AC. “Some of the greatest of all time have fought here including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and, of course, Arturo Gatti. Our intent is to bring the biggest and the best boxing events back to our revitalized city. Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch in the Super Six World Boxing Classic Final is just that. I can’t wait for Oct. 29.”

Future announcements regarding the press tour, travel and ticket packages and tickets on sale date will be made shortly.

For more information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic including exclusive photos, fight highlights and interviews, plus to view all episodes of the acclaimed documentary series FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at www.WorldBoxingClassic.com.

ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC

The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semifinals. The winners of the Semifinal bouts will advance to the Final and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Channel™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

“The most consistent launching pad for future champions for a full decade” ShoBox: The New Generation celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary with a live match between top prospects Diego Magdaleno and Alejandro Perez. Watch highlights from today’s boxing stars who made their bones on ShoBox including Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Kermit Cintron, Joan Guzman, Victor Ortiz, Paul Williams, Timothy Bradley, Carl Froch, Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward, and more.