The Super Six semifinal between Arthur Abraham and Andre Ward on May 14 is in jeopardy because of a dispute over officials.
The 31-year-old, Armenian-born Abraham, who fights out of Germany, has not left for the United States because his promoter is unhappy about the local referee and a local judge chosen for the fight in Carson, California.
"Contrary to what has been agreed by all parties, the Californian Commission insists on appointing a Californian referee and a Californian judge," Abraham's promoter Wilfried Sauerland, said in Berlin on Friday, April 29.
"It is a shame that the completion of a high-profile sporting event such as the Super Six tournament is being jeopardized by a promoter and his ridiculous attempts to protect his fighter."
Sauerland said Abraham would not travel to the U.S. until the matter was resolved. "This issue needs to be sorted out, that’s the bottom line. It's ridiculous. Ward is the favorite and he is fighting at home. But maybe it has occurred to them that Arthur has the power to knock Ward out with one single punch," said Sauerland, Super Sport reported.
The WBA super-middleweight title is on the line and the winner will face Carl Froch or Glen Johnson in the final. Froch, from the UK, and the American meet on June 4.
Froch beat Abraham last November to regain his WBC super-middleweight title.
Ward is unbeaten and has won 13 of his 23 fights by knockout. Abraham has lost twice and won 26 of his 32 bouts by knockout.
