BoxRec

Good articles in the Guardian all week on the mega fight. I know there are numerous threads knocking around but let's have a final pick'em. One word...no explanations. Who are we backing...Calzaghe or Kesser? Here's my pick.

Kessler.

Over to you

Calzaghe.

Clazaghe in 4, i just cant see it with Kessler, sorry

livingstone cole wrote:Jesus one word, it's so difficult to pick one.

Calzaghe.

Naughty Livingstone...one word!

Calzaghe

Fence.

Calzaghe (but waivering)

DavidPayne wrote:Calzaghe (but waivering)

Actually, the opposite view - Kessler's hands are a concern. Dismissed, but to you know ANY fighter who would say - "yeah the rumours are true, I am going into the fight with one hand"

Kessler is all wrong for Calzaghe style wise, but not proven enough in the ticker and chin department - for me to jump off the fence. He is going to be hit more times than in his whole career combined. If Calzaghe struggles to hold centre ring - Kessler wins. He's quick enough and hits accurately enough (and correct enough) to cause damage - if he fights as he did vs Beyer.

I think the persistent, strong, fit and massive (if crude) Andrade was a great preparation for Kessler. He had uncomfortable moments, his nose bled, he had to work all the way through. He hit the guy with everything and Andrade kept coming back at him every time. And Kessler won probably 10 of 12 rds.

I've been big on Kessler since '05 when I got a bunch of his fights. I think he's going to use his reach and that he'll have Calzaghe lunging. Calzaghe even lunged vs Lacy, but was able to get away with it. If he has Joe over reaching, he'll pick him off with clinical precision. Have to go with Kessler for his reach, youth and sense of timing. Also, he did well vs his last southpaw (Beyer, whom CALZAGHE should've been fighting that night over a year ago). And I liked the way he upped his attacks on Andrade, gunning for a KO several times.

Kessler, who beat Mundine before a hostile crowd of some 10,000, is the most prepared opponent of Calzaghe's career.

If Calzaghe had EVERYTHING, like the complacent British press seem to suggest, then he would have gunned for the rival belts earlier and he wouldn't have faced only 3 mandatories out of 20 defenses.

Vs Lacy, Joe kept the Joe Calzaghe Story running. Bought himself some extra time. The book closes on a sad note after a dozen rds vs Kessler. After 3/4 of an hour, it will be all over.

Calzaghe.

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Calzaghe.

Fair play Ian, you were very clear when asked by BM your view. Only member who was.

Autobarn wrote:I think the persistent, strong, fit and massive (if crude) Andrade was a great preparation for Kessler. He had uncomfortable moments, his nose bled, he had to work all the way through. He hit the guy with everything and Andrade kept coming back at him every time. And Kessler won probably 10 of 12 rds.

I've been big on Kessler since '05 when I got a bunch of his fights. I think he's going to use his reach and that he'll have Calzaghe lunging. Calzaghe even lunged vs Lacy, but was able to get away with it. If he has Joe over reaching, he'll pick him off with clinical precision. Have to go with Kessler for his reach, youth and sense of timing. Also, he did well vs his last southpaw (Beyer, whom CALZAGHE should've been fighting that night over a year ago). And I liked the way he upped his attacks on Andrade, gunning for a KO several times.

Kessler, who beat Mundine before a hostile crowd of some 10,000, is the most prepared opponent of Calzaghe's career.

If Calzaghe had EVERYTHING, like the complacent British press seem to suggest, then he would have gunned for the rival belts earlier and he wouldn't have faced only 3 mandatories out of 20 defenses.

Vs Lacy, Joe kept the Joe Calzaghe Story running. Bought himself some extra time. The book closes on a sad note after a dozen rds vs Kessler. After 3/4 of an hour, it will be all over.

Its all very well, pounding a persistant, slow fighter for 12 round and suffering a nose bleed. Its also all very well beating an accomplish boxer like Mundine infront of a partisan crowd.

None of these fighters throw 100 punches a round.

Calzaghe

But they are very good prep work and suggest Kessler can adjust in world class.

If calzaghre throws 100 punches a roud, CALZAGHE is in trouble. He can't throw that many shots unless he's out of range - so often he punches with his feet out of position, something that southpaws who fancy their handspeed can be guilty of. As Cliff Rold says in his BS piece, Joe drops his head when he punches.

I'm going for Kessler all the way. The British media think Joe has it all, don't they? Fast hands. Skill. Experience. But Joe isn't just the guy who beat lacy. he's also the guy who fought Salem & Ashira. We'll see a bit of both of those Joes on Sa, the best and worst of him, IMO.

Terry D wrote:Calzaghe.

Sorry but on this one I'm wobbling more than a big fat lass who loves disco dancing.

All of sudden I've become very attracted to you!

What a fantastic matchup this is, it really is a pick em fight. Probably the only person sure about the outcome is Enzo Calzaghe.

Has it come at the wrong time for Joe, a few years too late? Could be.

Graham Houston gets it right 9 times out of 10, and he's picked Kessler.

I get the feeling both are going into this with damaged hands: Joe, because that's always the case, and Kessler, because of those rumours. Stories like that don't usually come up without a good source, and it's pretty pointless to just make up something like that.

It's going to be difficult for JC to dominate like he wants to, but homeground and 50,000 Welsh fans could make the difference.

I always pick Calzaghe so I'm not gonna change now

I'll go for Joe to land enough fast and accurate shots to put Kessler off his game and get home with a very tough points win.

GO CALZAGHE

Calzaghe in the last third of the fight

Calzaghe by sphincter clenchingly close decision.

Kessler.

Calzaghe being that he's my favourite boxer but looking at styles, this can be another one sided win for Joe.

Kessler's chin Is good enough where he will lose on points.

Kessler.

Take two good undefeated champions and match ‘em up.

Give me the younger one every time.

BTW, to read the press this week, Joe is superman and the Incredible Hulk rolled into one and Kessler is a slow robot on tram lines with only one hand, and he's cracking under the pressure.

Kessler to win.

Kessler is just too solid for Calzaghe , Kessler isn`t brilliant at any one dept. but solid in all of them and I think this will be too much for Calzaghe at this stage.
Kessler clear points winner...maybe even late stoppage over a desperate Calzaghe.

I really hope I`m wrong

Calzaghe.

As long as Calzaghe hasn't gotten old - I fancy Calzaghe for the win.

We'll know after the first round.

Heart says Kessler, head says Calzaghe.

Kessler.