For some reason there is little to no hype in the U.S. surrounding a rematch between Danish slugger Mikkel Kessler and Englishmen Carl Froch. There first fight during the Super Six tournament was very good, which makes it even more curious as to why their rematch isn't being viewed as a big deal. But one can be sure that in Denmark and England this fight is a very, very big deal. Both men are just outside of the top 10 p4p rankings and although a win wouldn't catapult either one into the top 10 it would have the winner banging loudly on the door. Froch wants his revenge, and Kessler wants to prove he still has it.
Froch is a good fighter who only has two losses in his career, the first loss coming at the hands of Kessler. That fight was pretty close on the scorecards which is surprising because it took place in Kessler's home country of Denmark. Their rematch will take place in Froch's home country of England which means the crowd will be loud, drunk, and chanting nonstop. If the fight is close expect Froch to get the hometown decision. Froch's only other loss came against the number two ranked p4p fighter in the world, Andre Ward. Froch has a career record of 30-2 with 22 knockouts. In his two fights since losing to Ward, Froch has scored two knockouts in the 5th and 3rd rounds respectively. One thing that stands out about Froch is his fighting style which is very reminiscent of a Klitschko. Froch fights with his right hand about shoulder high and his left hand hanging below his waist until he snaps it up into a strong jab. But he also has a tendency to overthrow with his left hand, wildly throwing it from a distance and leaving his feet. If Froch wants to win he will need to control Kessler with his jab and do a better job of keeping his hands up. Something he failed to do in their first fight when Kessler nearly dropped him in the 8th round with a huge right hand.
Kessler is the more physically imposing man and he will need to use that to wear Froch down. He will also need to shows fans that he is still a top talent and his inactivity in recent years hasn't hurt his skills. Kessler, like Froch only has two career losses. The first loss came against future hall of fame fighter Joe Calzaghe and the second came against Andre Ward. Since losing to Ward in 2009 Kessler has fought four times winning all four fights. But he only fought once in 2010, and once in 2011. His first fight with Froch was the fight in 2010 and since that win his opponents haven't been very impressive. Even though Kessler's opponents aren't the best in the sport, Kessler did what he needed to. He scored three knockouts in the 6th, 4th, and 3rd rounds. Kessler has a career record of 46-2 with a very impressive 35 knockouts. If Kessler wants to get win number 47 against Froch he will need to dominate the entire fight or get a knockout because if the fight is close Froch is sure to get the decision victory. Kessler needs to wear Froch down early and take him out late.
If big time boxing fans in the U.S. don't want to miss what could be a fight of the year candidate they better tune in to HBO on May 25th. The fight will be televised live at 6 pm and will be replayed at 10 pm, both on HBO. What makes this fight so exciting is how evenly matched both fighters are. Neither man is a slick boxer and neither has elite defensive talent, which makes for a helluva fight. Froch may play it safer than he did in Denmark because in England anything close will go his way. Kessler on the other hand will need to constantly press the action and never give Froch any room to work his jab. This will be a great fight made even better by the fact that it takes place in England a place where the fans are louder than anywhere else. The only other fans that can rival the rowdiness of English fans are Mexican and Puerto Rican fans. So big time boxing fans, enjoy the fight and the atmosphere.
PREDICTION: Mikkel Kessler looks more impressive than Froch and gets a split decision victory. For the record I think it will be a very close fight and Kessler could get robbed because of the "hometown decision."
Froch is a good fighter who only has two losses in his career, the first loss coming at the hands of Kessler. That fight was pretty close on the scorecards which is surprising because it took place in Kessler's home country of Denmark. Their rematch will take place in Froch's home country of England which means the crowd will be loud, drunk, and chanting nonstop. If the fight is close expect Froch to get the hometown decision. Froch's only other loss came against the number two ranked p4p fighter in the world, Andre Ward. Froch has a career record of 30-2 with 22 knockouts. In his two fights since losing to Ward, Froch has scored two knockouts in the 5th and 3rd rounds respectively. One thing that stands out about Froch is his fighting style which is very reminiscent of a Klitschko. Froch fights with his right hand about shoulder high and his left hand hanging below his waist until he snaps it up into a strong jab. But he also has a tendency to overthrow with his left hand, wildly throwing it from a distance and leaving his feet. If Froch wants to win he will need to control Kessler with his jab and do a better job of keeping his hands up. Something he failed to do in their first fight when Kessler nearly dropped him in the 8th round with a huge right hand.
Kessler is the more physically imposing man and he will need to use that to wear Froch down. He will also need to shows fans that he is still a top talent and his inactivity in recent years hasn't hurt his skills. Kessler, like Froch only has two career losses. The first loss came against future hall of fame fighter Joe Calzaghe and the second came against Andre Ward. Since losing to Ward in 2009 Kessler has fought four times winning all four fights. But he only fought once in 2010, and once in 2011. His first fight with Froch was the fight in 2010 and since that win his opponents haven't been very impressive. Even though Kessler's opponents aren't the best in the sport, Kessler did what he needed to. He scored three knockouts in the 6th, 4th, and 3rd rounds. Kessler has a career record of 46-2 with a very impressive 35 knockouts. If Kessler wants to get win number 47 against Froch he will need to dominate the entire fight or get a knockout because if the fight is close Froch is sure to get the decision victory. Kessler needs to wear Froch down early and take him out late.
If big time boxing fans in the U.S. don't want to miss what could be a fight of the year candidate they better tune in to HBO on May 25th. The fight will be televised live at 6 pm and will be replayed at 10 pm, both on HBO. What makes this fight so exciting is how evenly matched both fighters are. Neither man is a slick boxer and neither has elite defensive talent, which makes for a helluva fight. Froch may play it safer than he did in Denmark because in England anything close will go his way. Kessler on the other hand will need to constantly press the action and never give Froch any room to work his jab. This will be a great fight made even better by the fact that it takes place in England a place where the fans are louder than anywhere else. The only other fans that can rival the rowdiness of English fans are Mexican and Puerto Rican fans. So big time boxing fans, enjoy the fight and the atmosphere.
PREDICTION: Mikkel Kessler looks more impressive than Froch and gets a split decision victory. For the record I think it will be a very close fight and Kessler could get robbed because of the "hometown decision."
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