Sakio Bika to replace Andre Dirrell on November 27 against Andre Ward
It looks like Sakio Bika will be replacing Andre Dirrell in an upcoming Super Six tournament bout with WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward on November 27.
Dirrell recently withdrew from the Showtime sponsored tournament due to neurological problems following his last fight against Arthur Abraham. He is the third original participant to drop out of the tournament due to unforeseeable injuries or complications.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who co-promotes Bika, said, “We're working on that. Bika is definitely interested in doing the fight. It's not done, but it's being worked on."
Ward and Dirrell were originally supposed to meet for Group Stage Three of the tournament. The two were 2004 U.S. Olympic teammates and are noted friends. Dirrell’s withdrawal has inspired opinions of all degrees, ranging from those who accept the legitimacy
of his injury, and those who speculate that the injury is a cover-up to avoid a fight with friend Ward.
Sources indicated that the Ward-Bika fight would likely be held at the Oracle Arena in Ward’s hometown of Oakland.
Dan Goossen, who promotes Ward, declined to comment.
Ironically, Bika was disqualified in his last fight after the first round for hitting Jean Paul Mendy after he fell to one knee in a title elimination bout. Dirrell, who is allegedly exiting the tournament due to a dirty punch which resulted in disqualification,
will be replaced by another fighter involved in a similar situation his last bout.
Had Bika not have been disqualified against Mendy, he would have earned a shot against the winner of the Lucian Bute-Jesse Brinkley bout this Friday for the IBF super middleweight title.
This isn’t the first time promoters and organizers have turned Bika’s way due to Super Six complications. With Mikkel Kessler’s exit last August, Bika was wooed to participate against Allan Green in the Group Stage Three. Bika declined, as he was then grieving
the death of his father.
Now, with an offer to take on a champion like Ward (and with more money on the table), Bika is finally interested.
Tags: