~ Fight Analysis of Kessler - Calzaghe ~

[MrMagic]

My analysis of the Mikkel - Joe fight.
I do believe that this fight has multiple outcomes. Reason is quite simple, neither Joe or Mikkel has lost a fight as professional fighters. Joe will look to use his speed and move in & out, perhaps even tying up Mikkel and drawing him in a dog fight, where Kessler has never been before. And Kessler will try to move around Joe, pumping that jab and right hand behind like missiles to Joes face, and doing so for the full time if thats the case. Both guys are tough, both guys are undefeated and neither man wants to lose, obviously.. but I have to give the edge to Kessler, basically because he's at this very moment faster, stronger and younger than Calzaghe. The only way I see Joe winning is by drawing Mikkel in a close dog fight and winning by pretty close margin or perhaps even tiring out Mikkel and knocking him out in the late rounds (highly doubt its possible though).
Everybody is talking about Joe's speed and Kessler's power, I do believe that at first, there will be a jabbing contest for the first two-three rounds, and I do believe that Mikkel will get the best out of those rounds.
But I don't think we should underestimate Joe's jab, it's world-class and he's just as fast as any SMW out there today. Mikkel looks to be the stronger of the two, but I have never seen Kessler pushed to the limit against a boxer with a wide volume of punches, and Calzaghe brings that to the table, he punches in bunches and he can hurt Kessler to the body and tire him for a late round TKO.
Joe has fast hands and pretty damn fast feet, he moves in with not one or two punches, but three, four or even five punches at the same time, which makes it hard to fend him off and get your possition. Mikkel on the other hand probably has the best basic skillset in the world today, a poleaxing fast jab, a pulverizing right hand and is probably head to head with Joe in speed.

If it's a late fight, ofcourse it will be a battle of the fittest, but if it does go twelve rounds, I do believe we will see both men swinging wildly for the full twelve rounds, both guys are in top shape, obviously two of the fittest fighters alive today.

My prediction is as followed:

Kessler will come out and win a close jabbing contest, putting a few right hands in there looking good, connecting at a high rate, and then Calzaghe will try to move in on him to "take him to a dark place (dog fight)", but will not be successful, since even though the ring may be one of the smaller sizes, Mikkel will move out of the way and pop that one-two in his face for a couple of more rounds, there will be a contest, but Mikkel will have the obvious edge and TKO him somewhere around round 8-11.
He may have a hard time setting his feet to the ground and letting his hands go in the first few rounds, because Joe is a world class fighter with high work rate.

Kessler TKO (Mid-late)


If anyone gets T/KO'd they will go down swinging, and this will be a beautiful contest all the way, I haven't been this hyped for a fight for a very very long time.

[DanePugilist]

Well written - and pretty much what it all boils down to - good job. I agree with it.

[Astola]

Very, very good post.

I actually made this prediction in april - when we where still talking about it as a dream fight.

I remember i called it a tko9 for Kessler because he would win the inside/outside contest.

Excactly as I see it - but I think that Joe is too proud to loose on Tko. UD or maybe even SD for Kessler is my prediction

[DanePugilist]

Very, very good post.

I actually made this prediction in april - when we where still talking about it as a dream fight.

I remember i called it a tko9 for Kessler because he would win the inside/outside contest.

Excactly as I see it - but I think that Joe is too proud to loose on Tko. UD or maybe even SD for Kessler is my predictionPride will only make you come up for more punishment:lol:

[DanePugilist]

Sorry, MrMagic that my response was so few in words - I hope I can make up for it in the morrow.

[Astola]

Pride will only make you come up for more punishment:lol:

Yeah - but Joe is a tricky little one who adapts perfectly. If Kessler is succeding from round 3 to 6 Joe may very well just totally spoil the fight and make it difficult for the refs to score. Who knows.

Im dead serious. Joe wont loose on KO. He is going to be KD two times in this fight. Round 4 and 8. ehhh.

I guess I cant wait. And DaneP. Good luck in Cardiff! :good

[DanePugilist]

Yeah - but Joe is a tricky little one who adapts perfectly. If Kessler is succeding from round 3 to 6 Joe may very well just totally spoil the fight and make it difficult for the refs to score. Who knows.

Im dead serious. Joe wont loose on KO. He is going to be KD two times in this fight. Round 4 and 8. ehhh.

I guess I cant wait. And DaneP. Good luck in Cardiff! :goodThanks mate - I hope the welsh are not sore losers - else I might feel like "the warriors" on their way back to Coney Island.:rofl

[MrMagic]

No worries DaneP :good

I went through some of Joe's fights today, and wow..... everyone that calls him a slapper should watch Sheika and Eubank fight, Joe can punch!

[China_hand_Joe]

The Kessler fans alway come out with these predictions.

They start of solid with balanced views and something like this happens half way through:

"Although Calzaghe is fast, skilled, evasive and has a highwork rate Mikkel will punch him in the head in the 8th round with his 3rd arm and score a TKO."


Kessler can win for some of the reasons mentioned, but a stoppage seems unlikely, he can definitely win on points though. That seems likely and I wouldn't rule it out.

[MrMagic]

The Kessler fans alway come out with these predictions.

They start of solid with balanced views and something like this happens half way through:

"Although Calzaghe is fast, skilled, evasive and has a highwork rate Mikkel will punch him in the head in the 8th round with his 3rd arm and score a TKO."

We'll see CHJ, I may underrate Calzaghe because of his latest performance... he says himself that he performs when the real opponents are put in front of him, lets hope so.. the best Joe is a great great fighter.

[China_hand_Joe]

The first 3 rounds you describe could turn into 9 -11 rounds.

[MrMagic]

Bottom line is, Joe is not nearly as weak of a puncher as some make him out to be, and I hope that Mikkel doesn't underestimate his punching power, because damn.. when Joe sets his feet, he can punch hard as hell

[DanePugilist]

The Kessler fans alway come out with these predictions.

They start of solid with balanced views and something like this happens half way through:

"Although Calzaghe is fast, skilled, evasive and has a highwork rate Mikkel will punch him in the head in the 8th round with his 3rd arm and score a TKO."


Kessler can win for some of the reasons mentioned, but a stoppage seems unlikely, he can definitely win on points though. That seems likely and I wouldn't rule it out.Maybe because Kessler is likewise, fast, skilled, evasive and has high workrate. He fights with less risk, and hits with more power.

[DanePugilist]

Bottom line is, Joe is not nearly as weak of a puncher as some make him out to be, and I hope that Mikkel doesn't underestimate his punching power, because damn.. when Joe sets his feet, he can punch hard as hellI bet you just watched the Mitchell fight.

You have to remember that once a sportsman hits a certain age, every year deterioates him greatly. Joe has maintained his speed, at the expense of power. Still it would hurt to be hit by his flurries.

[MrMagic]

I bet you just watched the Mitchell fight.

You have to remember that once a sportsman hits a certain age, every year deterioates him greatly. Joe has maintained his speed, at the expense of power. Still it would hurt to be hit by his flurries.
Yeah, well... as Joe himself said, he isn't motivated for guys like Manfredo, but Jeff Lacy, Eubank and all those guys motivate him to be at his best, so does Mikkel. We'll just have to wait and see, but if Joe turns up in great shape and sits down on his punches, we'll see some fireworks, that's for sure.

[DanePugilist]

Yeah, well... as Joe himself said, he isn't motivated for guys like Manfredo, but Jeff Lacy, Eubank and all those guys motivate him to be at his best, so does Mikkel. We'll just have to wait and see, but if Joe turns up in great shape and sits down on his punches, we'll see some fireworks, that's for sure.I think it does bring out the best in him. However, at a certain age, the mind says one thing, the body another.

Still, I am not saying it is so, but the possibility is definately there.

[MrMagic]

Both men looked ready at the press conference, having a little scruff with eachother, looked tense.
Calzaghe knew what's coming, so does Kessler.. it's gonna be a WAR. :yep:bbb

[PrideOfWales]

The Joe Calzaghe in the Lacy fight never set his feet to land power punches, he never had to. Joe was so wary of Lacy's power that he never allowed himself the time to plant his feet and land hard until the last 2 rounds. By that stage, he must have been pretty exhausted and the power wouldn't be there so much as in the earlier rounds.

The Joe Calzaghe in the Byron Mitchell & Sheika fights (amongst others) planted his feet and put everything into his digs. This was no time for pitty patty stuff. What happened to Mitchell in round 2, happened because power was what was needed.

If Joe's winning a fight and is on top, we see the movement, the quick snaps, moving in and out so quickly. This is what we've seen mostly from Calzaghe because he's been so dominent. If we see this on the weekend, we see Joe cleverly outboxing Kessler, using the ring smartly. If we see Joe setting his feet in this fight then he's in trouble and it's desperation. It's not such a bad last resort as he has got a lot of power... certainly enough to make most SMW's hit the deck if he lands flush. But that's definately what I don't want to see as Kessler will win that particular battle.

[Bodysnatcher]

If Kessler outpoints Calzaghe I will officially know nothing about boxing, because I just cannot see it happening in a hundred years.

Can anyone who predicts this explain their reasoning?

I've put my money on Kessler stopping him.

[PrideOfWales]

If Kessler outpoints Calzaghe I will officially know nothing about boxing, because I just cannot see it happening in a hundred years.

Can anyone who predicts this explain their reasoning?

I've put my money on Kessler stopping him.

I can only see Kessler winning this over the distance if age has caught up with Joe, which it hasn't. There's too much work, stamina, fitness, agility, punch output from Calzaghe. To outpoint Joe, Kessler has got to nail him every time JC threatens to open up his 3-4 punch flurries. I just can't see Mikkel consistantly being able to stop these.

[ChuckYoungblood]

Both fighters are masters of imposing their rhythm and dominating their fights. This will be a clash of styles and it will be a very interesting chess match until Calzaghe starts taking chances and goes to war.

Then we will see what Kessler really is made of - I think his speed and precision will be enough to get him a UD.

Both are very intelligent fighters who are able to up the pace and retaliate when hit. Both are very good at making the most of the opponents errors.
I can't wait to see how this will turn out!

[ChuckYoungblood]

If Kessler outpoints Calzaghe I will officially know nothing about boxing, because I just cannot see it happening in a hundred years.

Can anyone who predicts this explain their reasoning?

I've put my money on Kessler stopping him.

If he lands the clearer and harder punches, it will stop Joe's flurries, and joe wont be able to look so impressive. Kessler is also never gunning for a KO, but always acting calm and cautious.

I don't see this endning in a KO, but I think it's reaaly hard to make a prediction as they both win their fights by imposing their will on the other boxers and control the fight. It could also end in a draw or spilt decision to Joe, because of his workrate.:think

[MrMagic]

27-28 hours from now, we will crown an Undisputed Super Middleweight champion. :happy