Ten years ago today: Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler in his “finest fight”

Ten years ago today: Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler in his “finest fight”

Joe Calzaghe, arguably the finest super-middleweight in history, scored a huge win a decade ago today when he decisioned Danish hero Mikkel Kessler over 12 gripping rounds. Today when looking back, Calzaghe, who of course retired at a perfect 46-0, has a number of fights to look back on and feel very, very proud.

But Joe has one fight as his pick for his finest, his best; the one he is most proud of. It is the win over Kessler that took place in Cardiff in front of around 50,000 fans. Some fans may point to Calzaghe’s great win over Jeff Lacy as his finest showing, some to his win over Bernard Hopkins.

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Froch-Kessler III? In light of Kessler’s comeback, “The Cobra” says maybe – but at light-heavyweight

Froch-Kessler III? In light of Kessler's comeback, “The Cobra” says maybe – but at light-heavyweight

As fans may have read, news broke earlier this week that Danish great Mikkel Kessler, one of the best super-middleweights of the past decade or so, is coming out of retirement after almost four years out. Now aged 38 and last seen losing a great rematch battle with British great Carl Froch, Kessler is coming back at 168 pounds.

This news caused quite a stir all by itself, but Froch could be about to make even bigger news: by agreeing to a third fight with the warrior he is currently 1-1 with. Writing in his column for Sky Sports, “The Cobra” said Kessler’s comeback has “really got me thinking!”

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Mikkel Kessler makes comeback

Mikkel Kessler makes comeback

Danish boxing legend Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KOs) announced his plans to return to the ring at a press conference today at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers Hotel.

The former five-time World Champion, who retired following his May 2013 rematch with Carl Froch at the O2 in London, will make a sensational comeback later this year with a date and opponent to be confirmed.

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Mikkel Kessler Retires: “The Viking Warrior” Sails Off into the Sunset

Mikkel Kessler Retires: "The Viking Warrior" Sails Off into the Sunset

This past weekend, as boxing fans focused their attention yet again upon the question of whether Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would finally meet inside the ring, former super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler took to Facebook to address a question of a different sort. This question concerned Kessler’s future as a competitor, and within the space of a few short paragraphs, “The Viking Warrior” provided his answer:

“I have thought long and hard over the options, which have been made available, but none of these options are enough to get me motivated” stated Kessler. The Danish boxer then added “I am always in training, it is part of my life, but I consider myself in a state of retirement.”

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Kessler: I’m sitting by the phone waiting for Froch to call; I want to fight him in a decider

Kessler: I’m sitting by the phone waiting for Froch to call; I want to fight him in a decider

35-year-old Danish fighter Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KOs) says he’s waiting by the phone to get a call from IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) to be his next opponent on January 31st next year in a fight that would be staged in London. Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn is saying that he’s looking to match the 37-year-old Froch against either Kessler or James DeGale, Froch’s IBF mandatory challenger.

“I am sitting by the phone, hoping something is going to happen soon – I want a decider with Carl,” Kessler said to Ringside.

The problem with matching Froch against Kessler is that it’s a fight that some boxing fans would see as a rip-off considering that Kessler hasn’t fought since May of 2013 when he was beaten by Froch.

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Mikkel Kessler: “I still feel I have something to prove”

Mikkel Kessler: "I still feel I have something to prove"

Following months of speculation, today, former five-time World Champion Mikkel Kessler announced his intentions to continue boxing and fight his way back to the top of the sport he loves.

“I’ve thought a lot about whether I should continue my career,’’ said Kessler. ‘’I became a father and I have a life outside of boxing that I really appreciate. I’ve got a special responsibility. So it was not a decision I took lightly.

‘’But I still feel I have something to prove. I hate to lose! And I lost my last fight against Carl Froch. Many thought that I would quit, but I owe it to myself and my fans to finish on top. My last performance showed that I still belong at the top. And I know that my fans believe in me.’

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Froch Wins and Will Again, but Not Against Ward

froch644Froch dominated Kessler, and will again if they have a third fight. Kessler’s style is too predictable and not busy enough. He lost because he failed to manage distance very well. He failed to take advantage of his hand speed and straighter punches. Ward did not and will not make those mistakes.

Froch got away with his unorthodoxy, because (to use a baseball phrase), Kessler failed to keep his eye on the ball. Froch hardly ever makes that mistake, and Ward never does. He is always focused, and ready to take advantage of miistakes at an instant. Froch gets away with throwing looping shots, because someone like Kessler’s defense is too simple. He either tries to block the punch, and many times unsuccessfully, or duck under it.

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Froch: Ward is ready to be beaten; let him come to the UK to fight me

froch302It looks like if WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KO’s) wants a rematch with IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s), then it’s going to have to be in the UK because Froch is making a big production about wanting the fight to take place there because Froch fought Ward in the United States two years ago in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Froch feels that this was a home fight for Ward, even though he comes from Oakland, California, which is 3000 miles away.

After tonight’s 12 round unanimous decision victory for Froch over WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler in London, UK, Froch said to Sky Sports “He [Ward] is there to be beaten, but not over in America. Let’s get him over here. I went over to America and now let’s get him over to England.”

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