BoxRec

Kessler wins UD.

Carl mugged himself off in this fight. All that posing with his hands down, ultimately the posing and posturing was just a gross waste of time. Carl looked pretty limited in there tonight and really has only himself to blame. His corner were right as well, Kessler was there for the taking.

The right man won the fight. What a war, easily the fight of the year so far if my memory is not betraying me. They both showed great chins and big balls. A battle like this might take something out of both of them though.

Granted Froch has an iron chin, but we've always known this. What frustrates me about this fight is also what makes it a contender for "fight of the year", two blokes just throwing wild bombs. It needn't have been like that if Carl had just kept it all a bit tighter and more focussed. All respect to Kessler, but Carl lost that fight for Carl, he wasn't 'soundly' beaten per se, just really let himself down. But saying that, maybe that is just what Carl is all about. Shoulda, woulda couldas aside, perhaps a result like this has been waiting for Carl for a while.

crusader wrote:The right man won the fight. What a war, easily the fight of the year so far if my memory is not betraying me. They both showed great chins and big balls. A battle like this might take something out of both of them though.

I completely agree - the right man won the fight but it doesnt stop me from being trult gutted.

jeej wrote:Granted Froch has an iron chin, but we've always known this. What frustrates me about this fight is also what makes it a contender for "fight of the year", two blokes just throwing wild bombs. It needn't have been like that if Carl had just kept it all a bit tighter and more focussed. All respect to Kessler, but Carl lost that fight for Carl, he wasn't 'soundly' beaten per se, just really let himself down. But saying that, maybe that is just what Carl is all about. Shoulda, woulda couldas aside, perhaps a result like this has been waiting for Carl for a while.

Froch has never had a tight defense though. What we saw tonight was a typical Carl Froch.

Brilliant last round, Kessler stood up to some shots that would have knocked down walls in that fight, he deserved the win, and Carl Froch showed what a warrior he is, yet again. Great fight all round.

Abraham v Froch will be one helluva fight too.

ArtOfWar wrote:

jeej wrote:Granted Froch has an iron chin, but we've always known this. What frustrates me about this fight is also what makes it a contender for "fight of the year", two blokes just throwing wild bombs. It needn't have been like that if Carl had just kept it all a bit tighter and more focussed. All respect to Kessler, but Carl lost that fight for Carl, he wasn't 'soundly' beaten per se, just really let himself down. But saying that, maybe that is just what Carl is all about. Shoulda, woulda couldas aside, perhaps a result like this has been waiting for Carl for a while.

Froch has never had a tight defense though. What we saw tonight was a typical Carl Froch.

Yeah, that's true. Just frustrating when you can see that he's only half a step away from beating the guy. Interesting, the post fight interview with Froch, saying that in England the decision would have gone his way - he really didn't need to let it end up being so close. But... that's the way it went and no doubt Carl will be more disappointed than any of us. Hopefully he can go away and work on things, although I suspect we'll never see any radical changes to his style. He is who he is.

On a side-note, seeing that Kessler cut in his post-fight interview... looks like he has a vagina on his face...

I had it for Carl close but could have gone either way. Mid rounds were the key. The only thing worse than the 117-111 was Duke McKenzie's commentary. Terrible.

jeej wrote:On a side-note, seeing that Kessler cut in his post-fight interview... looks like he has a vagina on his face...

Not as big as the vagina Vitali had on his face after fighting Lewis.

Matt W wrote:I had it for Carl close but could have gone either way. Mid rounds were the key. The only thing worse than the 117-111 was Duke McKenzie's commentary. Terrible.

Yeah 117-111 was a bit much! Wonder if that was the guy who reffed Ottke VS Reid?!

Matt W wrote:I had it for Carl close but could have gone either way. Mid rounds were the key. The only thing worse than the 117-111 was Duke McKenzie's commentary. Terrible.

I was watching with the sound off, but it seems alot of people have complaining about that. Why was it so bad?

jeej wrote:

ArtOfWar wrote:

jeej wrote:Granted Froch has an iron chin, but we've always known this. What frustrates me about this fight is also what makes it a contender for "fight of the year", two blokes just throwing wild bombs. It needn't have been like that if Carl had just kept it all a bit tighter and more focussed. All respect to Kessler, but Carl lost that fight for Carl, he wasn't 'soundly' beaten per se, just really let himself down. But saying that, maybe that is just what Carl is all about. Shoulda, woulda couldas aside, perhaps a result like this has been waiting for Carl for a while.

Froch has never had a tight defense though. What we saw tonight was a typical Carl Froch.

Yeah, that's true. Just frustrating when you can see that he's only half a step away from beating the guy. Interesting, the post fight interview with Froch, saying that in England the decision would have gone his way - he really didn't need to let it end up being so close. But... that's the way it went and no doubt Carl will be more disappointed than any of us. Hopefully he can go away and work on things, although I suspect we'll never see any radical changes to his style. He is who he is.

Yeah, I don't think he can change and I think that will be a big problem against Abraham. Froch' single/telegraphed shots are not going to get through that guard enough in my opinion, but Abraham's wide shots will. Will be a tough night for Carl?

Is the fight in England or Germany? Froch needs a home draw.

jeej wrote:

Matt W wrote:I had it for Carl close but could have gone either way. Mid rounds were the key. The only thing worse than the 117-111 was Duke McKenzie's commentary. Terrible.

Yeah 117-111 was a bit much! Wonder if that was the guy who reffed Ottke VS Reid?!

Yep it was. Incompetent official he is.

Carl's a nice guy and he has some fantastic traits and skills about him, but as a fellow Englishman (and Froch fan) it's just extremely frustrating to witness his short-comings. If we're brutally honest, this result could have easily happened in the Taylor fight, if not for that last gasp knockout. Naturally I'll always root for Carl, as I always have done, but it's never been more apparent (in my mind) that it'll all be an up hill struggle for him now with regards to high calibre opposition.

crusader wrote:

Matt W wrote:I had it for Carl close but could have gone either way. Mid rounds were the key. The only thing worse than the 117-111 was Duke McKenzie's commentary. Terrible.

I was watching with the sound off, but it seems alot of people have complaining about that. Why was it so bad?

It's got it's own thread it was so bad. He just seems to make things up for the sake of saying something and gets really over-excited.

Matt W wrote:

crusader wrote:

Matt W wrote:I had it for Carl close but could have gone either way. Mid rounds were the key. The only thing worse than the 117-111 was Duke McKenzie's commentary. Terrible.

I was watching with the sound off, but it seems alot of people have complaining about that. Why was it so bad?

It's got it's own thread it was so bad. He just seems to make things up for the sake of saying something and gets really over-excited.

He did apologise for getting excited about the slip which he proclaimed was a knock down!

It's the same with most sports though. Football commentators come out with a right load of crap too.

I don't think a tighter defence was what Carl needed, I think what he needed to do was take control of the ring a bit better, Kessler most of the time was the guy 'stalking' from the middle of the ring, I really think something as trivial as this would have swayed the judges, I dont think there was much difference in the punches thrown or landed in most of the rounds.

Kessler did deserve it, I'v watched round 12 again and looking at it Carl won that round and actually I thought in the last 30 or 40 seconds he had Kessler going a little bit. Thats another thing thats popped into my mind, Carl never seems to finish rounds that well. There were times when Carl would have a good round or a round would be close and then Carl would just drop off in the last 30, it happened a lot in that Taylor fight and I think did for 2 of the Taylor judges having it so wide. We saw some of that again tonight. As Robert McCracken puts it, he needs to stop giving guys the last 30 seconds of the round, I think thats what McCracken meant when he was saying 'dont let him con ya.'

jeej wrote:On a side-note, seeing that Kessler cut in his post-fight interview... looks like he has a vagina on his face...

Maybe thats why Schmichael wanted to tell the world at every opportunity that Froch has got Rachael Cordingly up the duff.

jameswilson wrote:I don't think a tighter defence was what Carl needed, I think what he needed to do was take control of the ring a bit better, Kessler most of the time was the guy 'stalking' from the middle of the ring, I really think something as trivial as this would have swayed the judges, I dont think there was much difference in the punches thrown or landed in most of the rounds.

Kessler did deserve it, I'v watched round 12 again and looking at it Carl won that round and actually I thought in the last 30 or 40 seconds he had Kessler going a little bit. Thats another thing thats popped into my mind, Carl never seems to finish rounds that well. There were times when Carl would have a good round or a round would be close and then Carl would just drop off in the last 30, it happened a lot in that Taylor fight and I think did for 2 of the Taylor judges having it so wide. We saw some of that again tonight. As Robert McCracken puts it, he needs to stop giving guys the last 30 seconds of the round, I think thats what McCracken meant when he was saying 'dont let him con ya.'

I hear ya. It was almost like Carl would do something good, then take his foot off the gas and start getting cocky and strut around a bit. What he should have done was capitalised on his hard work and forced Kessler into his game plan. Everyone knows Kessler has his limitations, so why did Carl so rarely exploit them? He showed Kessler far too much respect in that regard.

stujones wrote:

jeej wrote:On a side-note, seeing that Kessler cut in his post-fight interview... looks like he has a vagina on his face...

Maybe thats why Schmichael wanted to tell the world at every opportunity that Froch has got Rachael Cordingly up the duff.

I now wouldn't be suprised if the ultra-sound shows a foetus with a Schmeicel face and goalie gloves on.

Suddenly it will all become clear why Schmeicel wanted the World to know.

I had the fight pretty much even. I found it hard to seperate most of the rounds but if pushed would say that Froch did just enough to win, just. Would'nt argue either way though.

The scorecards were rediculous however and spoiled what was clearly fight of the year!

ALI wrote:I had the fight pretty much even. I found it hard to seperate most of the rounds but if pushed would say that Froch did just enough to win, just. Would'nt argue either way though.

The scorecards were rediculous however and spoiled what was clearly fight of the year!

I didn't make a conscious effort to score each round, just a rough guide in my head as I was watching, and I was half expecting it to be announced as a draw.

jameswilson wrote:I don't think a tighter defence was what Carl needed, I think what he needed to do was take control of the ring a bit better, Kessler most of the time was the guy 'stalking' from the middle of the ring, I really think something as trivial as this would have swayed the judges, I dont think there was much difference in the punches thrown or landed in most of the rounds.

Kessler did deserve it, I'v watched round 12 again and looking at it Carl won that round and actually I thought in the last 30 or 40 seconds he had Kessler going a little bit. Thats another thing thats popped into my mind, Carl never seems to finish rounds that well. There were times when Carl would have a good round or a round would be close and then Carl would just drop off in the last 30, it happened a lot in that Taylor fight and I think did for 2 of the Taylor judges having it so wide. We saw some of that again tonight. As Robert McCracken puts it, he needs to stop giving guys the last 30 seconds of the round, I think thats what McCracken meant when he was saying 'dont let him con ya.'

Yes, Carl noted it also but did nothing about it untill it was too late..... well I hope it gives him a little bit of a kick up the bum. He was 14 seconds from defeat against Taylor, but you watch that round 12 - he didn't start desperate. Again tonight, he just spent too long allowing Kessler to just come forward.

He's had a tough career, but generally had things going his way. Including a controvesial decision win against Dirrell. I hope that this win might see him take more control of the rounds earlier - cause he now knows his punch isn't going to get him out of jail and he aint going to get the rub of the green with the decisions always.