From the time it was announced in July 2009 until the final bout just before Halloween 2011, the super middleweight tournament went on for about 800 days. Froch was due to face Ward in Atlantic City on October 29 in the final of the Super Six, but Ward's injury required the rescheduling of the bout to December 17, 2011. The fight was promoted by
Matchroom Sport (promoted Froch) and Goossen Tutor Promotions (promoted Ward)
Ward Ward advanced to the final by winning his tournament bouts. He won his title against Kessler in his opening bout, scoring a dominant 11th-round technical decision. Ward beat
Allan Green in his second bout. Ward's Group Stage 3 bout called off when Dirrell, his 2004 U.S. Olympic teammate, dropped out of the tournament. Ward instead faced contender
Sakio Bika outside of the tournament and won a decision. In his May semifinal fight, Ward defeated Abraham to advance to the final.{
Froch Froch defeated Dirrell on a split decision in England in his opening-round bout. Then Froch lost a decision (and his title) to Denmark's Kessler in Denmark in Group Stage 2. However, after Kessler dropped out, Froch met Abraham for the vacant belt in Group Stage 3 and won a decision to claim his title. Froch advanced to the final in June by scoring a majority decision against Johnson. ==The fight==