(BIG BEAR, CALIF.) – Super middleweight Andre Dirrell (Flint, Mich.) is currently completing his stateside preparations for his first world title fight at Camp Dirrell in Big Bear, Calif. He and his team will depart for England on Saturday before he steps into the ring with WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Carl Froch (Nottingham, England) at the Trent FM Arena in his hometown of Nottingham on October 17.
Dirrell knows that he will be representing not only himself, but his country on October 17, and is dedicating the fight to the United States troops who fight for American citizens like himself every day.
“The American troops overseas keep all of us safe and I support them 100 percent,” Dirrell said. “I do nothing but pray for them because they do that for our country and everyone in it.”
Dirrell is accustomed to competing for the red, white and blue, having boxed for Team USA in numerous events as an amateur, including the 2004 Olympic Games, where he won a bronze medal.
The 26-year-old Olympic medalist has completed nearly two months of training camp in Big Bear, and is positive that he will claim his first world championship in his nineteenth professional fight in Nottingham. “I’m feeling really confident right now and I’m ready to make it happen,” Dirrell said.
He will complete sparring on Friday before leaving for England on Saturday morning. Dirrell will be joined by several family members in Nottingham, including his brother, Anthony, and uncle and grandfather, Leon Lawson, Jr., and Leon Lawson, Sr., who also serve as his trainers.
Fans can get an inside look at Dirrell’s training camp and preparations for his first world title fight in the opening episode of Showtime’s – FIGHT CAMP 360 this Saturday at 10:30 EST/PST.
For live updates on Andre Dirrell throughout fight week, follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/andredirrell.