BoxRec

does anyone else thing froch would keep him off him all night with long jabs and long uppercuts, forcing a late stoppage?

Not really, no. Which isn't to say Froch can't win, indeed I think it's a good, close bout. But I see Kessler's jab causing more problems than Carl's.

I don't rate Kessler. To me hasn't fought anyone bar Calzaghe. I just see a straight-up, European boxer-puncher who stands in front of you, with little sense of timing though an impressive looking right hand. He did show good ring generalship against that extremely limited guy he fought before Calzaghe, going one way and the other and stuff, but that guy he was fighting just walked in face-first in straight lines.

I rate Froch. He punches through defences, which only Cotto and Haye can do out of any other fighter today. He has the longest jab about and looks really difficult to hit the way he uses his shoulder and leans and rolls. He has decent footwork as well, though hasn't shown it in recent fights because of his knee. He can show little side-steps effectively with good timing, to prevent an opponent setting to hit and all the while pinging him with his accurate arm shots all over. When he sets his feet... we've all seen the power. I think he's going to take some beating, Froch.

One thing over-looked about Froch is his body-punching - I think he tries not throw them so much because he wants to keep it abit of a secret. He's an accurate body-puncher with the long arms to get them in, and he's a strong guy who does lots of squats, deadlifts and clean and presses in the gym. Those body shots will be very strong and effective, as he's forced to open up, as he moves up in class.

He makes everything look so casual.

No, Kessler would time Froch with his accurate right hands better than Reid and would open up when Carl Is off balance. He can trade with Froch and match his strength too.

Kessler beats the rest of the supermiddles since Calzaghe In an atg talent.

And what exactly is an 'ATG talent' when it's at home, away from the internet boards?

Kessler is an outstanding talent and will go on to dominate at 168 if anybody actually fights him. I can see him being avoided.

I think he would knock out Froch if they fought. Either that or dole out a one sided beating.

His straight, accurate, hurtful right would find Froch out big time.

It'd be the kind of fight I'd love to see made - two guys who come to win and try to do so the right way. I certainly don't think it'd be a walkover either way - Kessler has fought in the higher class and I think those who think his style "straightforward" and "European" do him a great disservice - having said that, Calzaghe clearly hurt him, and Froch is if anything aharder hitter...

Kessler's very good but he couldn't quite get to grips with Calzaghe's awkward southpaw style and handspeed. That doesn't mean you're no good.

what would it say for Calzaghe's legacy if froch KOed Kesslar?

Kessler is exceptional. I don't get why people are down on him. Fair enough, he's not Floyd MAyweather, and doesn't know how to block with the shoulder, but he does what he does damn well. I can't think of anyone below 175 who could push Calzaghe so close while coming to win, and not spoil.

He has a superb jab, a destructive right, and he emplys them to excellent effect.

If Kessler fought Pavlik, Taylor, Hopkins, or Wright, I'd expect a close fight.

Am I on the same forum that had Kessler at least at even money against Calzaghe? Loads were tipping him for the win. What happened?

Terry D wrote:I went for Joe myself, thought it may be tight but Kessler would not produce anything new in the fight and he didn't. I like Kessler and admire his approach but he is very 1-D in certain areas and once Joe saw this he won the fight, although it was quite close and, as with the Hopkins fight, my abiding memory is of the shots Kessler landed as Joe rarely lands cleanly.

Yeah, I had Joe, too. But you have to be pretty good to keep Calzaghe honest when he's focused and on his game. The uppercut worked really well for Kessler that fight. Admittedly, the Dane was saved by the referee juping in for a borderline infringement when hurt and looking ready to go, but that's not quite the point.

Kessler ran through the habitual contenders at 168 before getting at Calzaghe and there were plenty here trumping him as the man to beat Calzaghe. What happened? Where are these people now?

I ain't gonna rubbish Kessler as i admire his balls to bring his titles to 50,000 welsh fans and Joe Calzaghe in Wales.

I picked Kessler to win by KO against Calzaghe as i believe he was fast enough and hit hard enough to trap Joe and bring the stoppage with his strength.

I would never have picked Kessler to win on points as i believed that Joe would go to Mikkel's chest and body to keep the Dane at bay, which is what he did.

Bottom line is, Joe took the win and all credit to him.

But straight afterwards Kessler said their was no hand injury - when clearly there was as he hardly threw it with anger - and when he did he gave Joe fits..i think it was the 4th round or so he had Joe at sea and then took his foot completely off the pedal.

For a minute i thought i was watching the movie Snatch, it was as if someone said "Dont knock him out Mikkel !!!"

But then after the fight it surfaced in the papers than Mikkel had actually undergone micro surgery to repair the damaged hand and then him and his father went on a 3 week vacation to recuperate and get away from the danish media.

Who knows if Mikkel fought the fight in his country with a better hand, if it would have panned out any differently.

I think another factor was the adaptability - it would appear that Mikkel was a great athlete but the team's gameplans were fairly limited and he didn't change tact at any point.

Wheras Joe to his credit chopped and changed a bit to get the best results from each round.

Who knows if Mikkel fought the fight in his country with a better hand, if it would have panned out any differently.

Maybe, when I say simular stuff like about who knows If Haye Vs Mac went 12, I get ravaged.

Calzaghe beat Kessler 9 rounds to 3 Imo, that was pretty easy.

Plus Haye's not hard to hit and admitted the cut got him to wake up and spark Mac. If Mac had some survival tatics you never know.

If I am a fool, this status must mean godly on this forum.

STP wrote:And what exactly is an 'ATG talent' when it's at home, away from the internet boards?

Greatness is taking risks, something Calzaghe has never done.

If greatness was based on talent, Kirkland Laing would be up there with Robinson and Ali.

Very tough fight for Froch if it comes off, a league above Inkin & co.
Kessler is the goods, he's fought at a much higher level than Carl.
That's a pretty sterling record if you look at it - trouncing unbeaten contenders and ex/current world champs, including Mundine in his own backyard.
Credit the fact he didn't use the bad hand as an excuse after his first loss either.

Really like Froch, he has an excellent attitude, but this fight looks too soon for him right now. Better if he could pick up one of the many soon to be vacant titles, get a bit more top level experience, then take on Kessler.

Can't fault him if he goes for it though.

On boxrec It means godly.

Calzaghe Vs Hop and Kessler were not close at all. Kessler was a strong guy to trade with but Joe comfortably outboxed him and Hopkins didn't come to fight, just cheat.

Hop hit him with a right then pushed forward making Joe go off balance from pushing forward more than the punch but because the punch lands, It has to be counted as a knockdown. He wasn't hurt at all and even let Hops have some free shots later In the fight.

Funny how people score It to that cheater.

If Hopkins had come to fight he would of been damaged, Joe thrives off aggressive guys.

I can adapt to what I please.

Kessler would school Froch

mrkh wrote:does anyone else thing froch would keep him off him all night with long jabs and long uppercuts, forcing a late stoppage?

Froch by Ko in 6.

Max Molyneux wrote:Calzaghe beat Kessler 9 rounds to 3 Imo, that was pretty easy.

Plus Haye's not hard to hit and admitted the cut got him to wake up and spark Mac. If Mac had some survival tatics you never know.

If I am a fool, this status must mean godly on this forum.

bollocks, utter bollocks. Joe wasn't up more than 3 on my card. Kessler landed so many clean correct shots.

What doesn't have bollocks.

HBO seemed to score It the same as me too.

Kessler was strong but he was pretty easily outboxed.

Autobarn wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Calzaghe beat Kessler 9 rounds to 3 Imo, that was pretty easy.

Plus Haye's not hard to hit and admitted the cut got him to wake up and spark Mac. If Mac had some survival tatics you never know.

If I am a fool, this status must mean godly on this forum.

bollocks, utter bollocks. Joe wasn't up more than 3 on my card. Kessler landed so many clean correct shots.

Agreed. I had Joe winning by two points. 9 rounds to 3? Max was watching a different fight. Joe pulled it out in the second half. Kessler was nailing him at will through six rounds and then gassed - never got his second wind. A more experienced Kessler might have negotiated the second half better and beaten Joe.

Calzaghe had the experience to just nick it. It wasn't PRETTY EASY by anyone's standards. 'Easy' was Haye sparking Max's boy Enzo 'the new Lennox' Maccarinelli. Now THAT was a stroll in the park

And is Max really arguing the legitimacy of Hopkins' KD of Calzaghe? Jesus, I've heard it all now. That was as clean right hand as you can hope to land.