Andre Dirrell prepares for the opportunity of his career

By Brett Okamoto

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 | 10:22 p.m.

When Andre Dirrell made the decision to train for the upcoming Super Six World Boxing Classic in Big Bear, Calif., he knew it would challenge him mentally and physically unlike any location before.

But what the former U.S. Olympic medalist didn’t expect was how much training at 6,700 feet would prepare him spiritually.

“I never thought about it affecting me spiritually until about four days ago,” said Dirrell over a teleconference Wednesday. “I came to the end of a run and I was literally standing on top of the world. I could see everything below me. There were no houses, no roads — it was just like God first created it.

“Subliminally, it showed me where I belong. I’m ready. I’m supposed to be here.”

Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO) is quickly closing in on the biggest opportunity of his professional career.

The Super Six World Boxing Classic, announced by Showtime Sports in July, will pit arguably the six best boxers of the super middleweight division in a winner-take-all format that will conclude with a final bout in early 2011.

For Dirrell, the journey toward becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world will begin on Oct. 17 with a scheduled 12-round contest with WBC champion Carl Froch (25-0, 20 KO). In addition to tournament points, Froch’s belt will be on the line.

It will be Dirrell’s first world title fight — one that isn’t coming without a few twists.

Not only will his first round bout take place in his opponent’s hometown of Nottingham, England, it is scheduled to start at 2 a.m. in order to be televised live to American audiences.

According to Dirrell, it doesn’t matter where and when the fight happens as long as there is a world title within his grasp.

“I will do anything for the world title. I’ll go wherever I have to go and fight whoever I have to fight,” Dirrell said. “My mental game is sick right now and I’m just ready to do anything for that title. If that means I have to go to Nottingham to pick it up, then that’s where I’m going.”

The seriousness with which the 26-year-old fighter is viewing this opportunity is evident in the decision to abandon his usual training facilities in Las Vegas and Texas for the higher altitudes of Big Bear.

Immediately upon arriving there weeks ago, Dirrell said, he realized it was going to push him even farther than he expected.

“I actually thought I was going to come up here in pretty good shape. I was wrong,” Dirrell said. “I was running 8.5 miles just preparing for Big Bear, and I didn’t know what a shock I was in for. The first week I fought through, but it took me about 2.5 weeks to get used to the altitude.

“But my mind game is strong; it always has been. I have a mean work ethic. I know how to stay focused, and I know that I won’t let nothing get in my way. Altitude wasn’t going to stop me.”

According to Dirrell’s promoter, Gary Shaw, Dirrell's development as a fighter from the extreme training conditions has been immediately visible.

“When a fighter can break through up there, first physically then mentally, it changes everything,” Shaw said.

News of his opponent’s training camp has done little to lower Froch’s confidence entering the first round of this tournament.

Froch is coming off the gutsiest performance of his professional career — a TKO win over Jermain Taylor earlier this year in which he battled back after being knocked down in the third round.

“I was actually having success in round three and I became too big and open against a top-level fighter,” Froch said. “But in the late rounds I showed what I’m about.

“It installed me with more confidence because, for the first time ever in my career, I was down on the canvas. I wasn’t hurt, I got up and did the business. I did what I needed to do and it made for a fantastic fight.”

Although stationed a world apart, Dirrell and Froch interrupted and verbally egged each other throughout the hourlong teleconference Wednesday.

They’ll get the chance to settle their dispute in the ring in October, a date Shaw is looking forward to along with the rest of the multi-year tournament.

“I know that I have the youngest, fastest, most athletic guy in the tournament,” Shaw said. “I know that when it’s over, the last person standing will be Andre Dirrell.”

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.