Froch-Kessler OFF? Stevenson to take place

[Jack B]

http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/1/3/383 ... oxing-news

Looking like Stevenson will be getting his mandatory shot.

This is a decent fight, but I can't help but feel that it's a little anti-climatic after all the talk of a Kessler rematch.

Thoughts on a postcard please.....

[Datsue]

http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/1/3/383 ... oxing-news

Looking like Stevenson will be getting his mandatory shot.

This is a decent fight, but I can't help but feel that it's a little anti-climatic after all the talk of a Kessler rematch.

Thoughts on a postcard please.....

Hrm. Kessler vs Frochy at Nottingham is a megabucks build-it-up-for-three-months event, & Kessler fought the other day & likes to have breaks between fights.

Stevenson can hit but isn't much, frankly, so yeah. What's the worry? S'a tuneup, right?

& I've got confused: I thought Frochy was going to Canada to paste Bute again...?

[big lennox]

I have never seen Stevenson fight, so can't really comment. Is he any good, or does he have absolutely no chance? I just wonder weather Froch - Kessler is going to be hard to make because both enjoy fighting at home, which is fair enough - they pack out Nottingham and Herning Arena's whoever they box.

[SteveDow]

I'd have thought Froch v Kessler was always more likely to be a summer fight in June or July than a spring one as I'd have thought they'd be looking at potentially holding it at Notts Forest's ground rather than Nottingham Arena.

I've also never seen Stevenson fight so can't comment on his chances but if all he has is a punch and little else I can't see him beating Froch as his punch is highly likely to be nullified by Froch's iron chin.

[JLP]

It's a decent match. People will mention Stevenson's loss to Darnell Boone but, to be fair, it was probably the best shot Boone has ever and will ever launch and Stevenson's chin was in the wrong place at the right time. Stevenson is game and a decent body puncher, the fight will be exciting for as long as it lasts. I have to admit I didn't see this one coming, though.

[Jack B]

I'd have thought Froch v Kessler was always more likely to be a summer fight in June or July than a spring one as I'd have thought they'd be looking at potentially holding it at Notts Forest's ground rather than Nottingham Arena.

I agree, it makes more sense, but logistically I don't think it's going to be feasible. I originally thought Froch's 2013 would be Bute/Stevenson in March, followed by Kessler in July (stadium fight), then in a dream world Ward rematch in November.

Problem is, the Stevenson fight (according to the report) won't be until April at the earliest - and given the fact that McCracken likes Froch to have good breaks between fights - I think a summer stadium fight is a no go.

[SteveDow]

I'd have thought Froch v Kessler was always more likely to be a summer fight in June or July than a spring one as I'd have thought they'd be looking at potentially holding it at Notts Forest's ground rather than Nottingham Arena.

I agree, it makes more sense, but logistically I don't think it's going to be feasible. I originally thought Froch's 2013 would be Bute/Stevenson in March, followed by Kessler in July (stadium fight), then in a dream world Ward rematch in November.

Problem is, the Stevenson fight (according to the report) won't be until April at the earliest - and given the fact that McCracken likes Froch to have good breaks between fights - I think a summer stadium fight is a no go.

If that's the case I wonder if they could just pay Stevenson some step aside money and promise him a shot after the Kessler fight. That way they could set Kessler up for mid to late May, fight Stevenson in September and Ward in early 2014.

[Final round]

Bute's camp wants the rematch in the Autumn
Kessler fight is a summer job and now Stevenson in the spring. Perfect.

[mickey1975]

I don't think they have the cash to bring Kessler over AND make money from the show.

[Camcas]

Poor fight, not what the fans or fighter wanted at all. Stevenson has basically no chance in this fight

[big lennox]

I don't think they have the cash to bring Kessler over AND make money from the show.

If it is in a football stadium, that should bring in plenty of extra money. Maybe both camps are playing hard ball because everytime they fight there is a fortune to be made.

[Final round]

Poor fight, not what the fans or fighter wanted at all. Stevenson has basically no chance in this fight

I would've preferred Pavlik as Wards dropped away from that one and Carl could've got to him first. but Stevenson is the mandatory, the IBF were willing to delay not sure for how long. That is Carl's bargaining chip in the Kessler rematch and possible Ward rematch in future.

[mickey1975]

Been the mandatory cant start meaning anything on here just because its Froch who s doing it...

[youngrell]

Simple answer is, Froch just drops the IBF to fight Kessler for the money. He's so confident of winning so by the time he's done he'll have the WBA belt anyway, so he's not really losing out.

This is ironically similar to Froch being mandatory for Calzaghe and Calzaghe having a money fight elsewhere to take. I wonder if Froch will take a slating if he side-steps the up-and-comer?? ;;-)

[Jack B]

Bute's camp wants the rematch in the Autumn
Kessler fight is a summer job and now Stevenson in the spring. Perfect.

In a perfect world yes - in reality not going to happen - I cannot see Froch fighting 3 times in a year, especially if the first fight is not until April.

[Camcas]

Poor fight, not what the fans or fighter wanted at all. Stevenson has basically no chance in this fight

I would've preferred Pavlik as Wards dropped away from that one and Carl could've got to him first. but Stevenson is the mandatory, the IBF were willing to delay not sure for how long. That is Carl's bargaining chip in the Kessler rematch and possible Ward rematch in future.

The IBF said they would waive Stevenson if the Kessler match took place so there is no excuse on that part. I don't really see why the Kessler fight isn't happening the fans want it, the fighters want it and it would make good money for Hearn

[Final round]

Been the mandatory cant start meaning anything on here just because its Froch who s doing it...

True ..

[Final round]

Poor fight, not what the fans or fighter wanted at all. Stevenson has basically no chance in this fight

I would've preferred Pavlik as Wards dropped away from that one and Carl could've got to him first. but Stevenson is the mandatory, the IBF were willing to delay not sure for how long. That is Carl's bargaining chip in the Kessler rematch and possible Ward rematch in future.

The IBF said they would waive Stevenson if the Kessler match took place so there is no excuse on that part. I don't really see why the Kessler fight isn't happening the fans want it, the fighters want it and it would make good money for Hearn

They did? Well the Kessler fight has been put on ice in a game of brinkmanship..Bute aint happening yet so what other excuse can they give not to fight Stevenson

[dookus]

Goddamnit

[SteveDow]

I'd rather Froch keep busy than not fight until the summer so if Kessler or Bute can't be made then they may as well get Stevenson out of the way as they'd have to fight him sooner or later anyway if he's mandatory unless they wanna just give up the belt. Can't see it being a big seller but I guess it'll make Froch a few quid and keep him active.

[JLP]

Like I said above, I don't mind the fight. People certainly shouldn't dismiss Stevenson. Having had an hour two to digest the news, though, it is a little anti-climatic given that all the background noise has pointed towards a Kessler rematch. I'd like to know a few more details as to exactly why the two camps couldn't reach an agreement. One side is almost always more to blame than the other.

[jtourettes]

I don't think they have the cash to bring Kessler over AND make money from the show.

If it is in a football stadium, that should bring in plenty of extra money. Maybe both camps are playing hard ball because everytime they fight there is a fortune to be made.

Only if it sells out. I like Froch but is he a legit big draw yet?

[Newport Daz]

I'm not surprised at this to be honest. While everyone was getting excited about the fight, I always had the sneaky suspicion that Kessler wanted more more money than matchroom could afford. Eddie Hearn has said matches like Froch Vs Kessler and Khan Vs Brook have PPV written all over them. In a recent interview in either BN or BM can't remember which, Adam Smith said there are no plans for PPV with boxing and without that matchroom can't afford Kessler's fee.

[Newport Daz]

I'm not surprised at this to be honest. While everyone was getting excited about the fight, I always had the sneaky suspicion that Kessler wanted more more money than matchroom could afford. Eddie Hearn has said matches like Froch Vs Kessler and Khan Vs Brook have PPV written all over them. In a recent interview in either BN or BM can't remember which, Adam Smith said there are no plans for PPV with boxing and without that matchroom can't afford Kessler's fee.

I don't think Frochh-Kessler would sell that well on PPV.

Me neither, but this would have been one of the few fights of late that I would happily shelled out for.

[mickey1975]

I'm not surprised at this to be honest. While everyone was getting excited about the fight, I always had the sneaky suspicion that Kessler wanted more more money than matchroom could afford. Eddie Hearn has said matches like Froch Vs Kessler and Khan Vs Brook have PPV written all over them. In a recent interview in either BN or BM can't remember which, Adam Smith said there are no plans for PPV with boxing and without that matchroom can't afford Kessler's fee.

Kessler, quite correctly, would want silly money for coming here. He has already beaten Carl and is a bigger draw in Denmark than Carl is here. When he came over for Calzaghe, he had a lot to gain and the fight was live on US television. It looks impossible without PPV which would contradict everything Adam Smith has said over the last 18 months. As said, its been proved Froch is no PPV fighter, either. Remember, Kostya wanted £3.5m to come over for Ricky...