Kessler vs. Ward: Is Andre too green for Mikkel?
October 23rd, 2009
By Scott Gilfoid: The general consensus seems to be that unbeaten American challenger Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KO’s) will be too inexperienced and green for World Boxing Association super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO’s) in their Super Six tournament bout next month on November 21st, at the Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California. Boxing fans see Kessler out-boxing Ward and beating him by a one-sided 12 round decision or possibly knocking him out.
Ward, unbeknownst to many of the fans outside of the U.S., has excellent boxing skills, perhaps even better than Kessler. Ward certainly has better hand speed and a better punch assortment than Kessler. That’s not saying much, because Kessler is pretty basic in the amount of punches he throws and he’s also not a particularly fast puncher, although Kessler is certainly faster than his European counterparts Froch and Arthur Abraham.
Kessler is good when he’s fighting on the outside where he’s able to use his powerful jab, left hooks and right hands to inflict damage. But at closer range, Kessler becomes more human and is merely proficient. Ward, however, is excellent at fighting on the outside and especially on the inside, where he’s hard to hit with shots. Some experts seem to think that Kessler will be able to land his shots when Ward comes flying in to try and work at close range.
That may be true, but Kessler won’t be able to hit Ward all the time because he’s quite good at making his opponents miss with their shots. He’s not on the level of Dirrell, but then again who is? Ward is still plenty good enough to cause Kessler all kinds of problems when he comes at him to make it a close inside game.
Ward doesn’t get much credit for his power, but he’s a lot harder puncher than many people think he is. He might not be as powerful as Abraham, Dirrell, Kessler, Froch and Taylor, but he hits hard enough to inflict major damage if he’s allowed to get his shots off.
Ward is going to shock a lot of people on November 21st in not only beating Kessler but dominating him as well. Frankly, I see Kessler as a weaker version of WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Kessler gets a lot of praise from boxing fans that see him as the best fighter in the super middleweight champion, but I don’t believe the hype. Kessler is more like a Pavlik-type fighter.
Kessler might be considered one of the best in the division, but that’s only because the division has a number of weaker fighters that Kessler has been able to beat and pad his record. In stepping up the level of his competition in 2007, Kessler was beaten by a 12 round decision by Joe Calzaghe. Kessler is a strong fighter, but he’s more of a limited brute than a skilled technician like Dirrell and Ward.
Tags: 15 Responses to “Kessler vs. Ward: Is Andre too green for Mikkel?”
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I believe this is an article that represents the typical approach for the american-average-joe. It seems like the columnist is so devoured by the young, upcoming boxer qua his gold medal, age and talent (which are all impressive). BUT it has blinded the objectivity and abiliyty to analyze Wards opponent Mikkel Kessler. When analyzing a boxing match, one has to valuate both contenders.
Yes – that is exactly what the article so weakly does – or try to do. But not only is the analysis on thin ice, it is upright wrong.
It seems like Kessler is still an unknown boxer in America (or at least his skills are).
I am not saying that Ward is a feckless boxer. But it is obvious when analyzing this pre mach, that the only parameter in favor to Ward is the location for where the event is taking place. (Kessler has “only” fought outside danish borders four times: ones in the US about 10 years ago, ones in Australia, not to forget ones in Wales in Cardiff agains Joe Calzaghe and last year he fought in Germany).
Kesslers skills are clearly underestimated.
I ask for a do-over by the columnist.
Kessler will flog Ward.
His speed held up pretty well against Calzaghe and he has the power to knock Wards head off.
Kessler will win the entire comp.
I think Ward has pretty good all-around skills, although he might not be the best in any one area. Kessler has size, strength and punching power on his side, or so it appears to me. I’m not sure the size difference is as great as I’d originally thought, however.
I’m expecting a pretty tactical fight, as I consider it right now.
Great article! I love ward! my fave fighter! Leander is an idiot!
This web site is hilarious!
Ward is the best of the three americans in this tournament. Taylor is a has been and Dirrell is a running crybaby.Froch is lucky Dirrell came to run and cry or he would have lost that fight. But you will all find out none of them belong in the ring with Kessler or Abraham. They should of skipped this whole mess and had the fight that will come and the end of this tournament.
Ward has a chip on his shoulder, being that the other two Americans have had let downs. I see Ward taking a lesson from the two early fights in this tournament and executing an aggressive but smart game plan. Ward by decision.
Kessler will kill ward
new article…. same point as the old ones
right you don’t really boxers from outside the us, and american boxers r also more talented and faster than their european counterparts…. mate get a grip, it’s always the same thing with your articles, big up the american and slag off the other persons speed…. power etc.
think your going to be disapointed to see ward get ko’d by a more expierienced fighter
this guy is in love with andre dirrell ahaha
Although I think Ward is signicantly more equipped for this tournament than Dirrell I put his chances at beating Kessler very slim. He is a slicker boxer but hell…Taylor was slicker than Abraham….Dirrell was slicker then Froch…etc.
The problem with the majority of US fighters is mental focus/toughness. These guys from Europe are alot hungrier, superior in mental focus, conditioned better and in the case of Kessler…equally skilled. I predict that Abraham will win this Super Six.
Kessler SD 12
Even though this guy is based,he is kind of right. I think Ward is going to give kessler problems. I don’t know if he will beat Kessler, but he will cause him problems.
how come gilfoid hasn’t mentioned taylor since he predicted an easy win over a “limited european fighter”?. have you totally forgotten about taylor scotty, or are you in denial?
And I suppose you also think Dirrell won his fight also!! Ward a good young talent will be BEATEN by Abraham unless he takes a lesson on running from Dirrell.
Mr Gilfroid predicts:
“Ward is going to shock a lot of people on November 21st in not only beating Kessler but dominating him as well.”
I don’t know what is going to happen, but I do know you’ve gotten your last five predictions wrong. If you get this one wrong, will you please stop writing about boxing, because apart from being biased, you clearly know diddley-squat about the noble art.
Your chief skill seems to be in irritating people and, as with your numerous articles on the Froch v Dirrel fight. Please please don’t do the same with this fight – ten articles before, and ten after (explaining why your fighter won, even when he lost).
Nevertheless, you did make me laugh, albeit unintentionally when you wrote that Direll was “towering an inch over Froch.” You get so carried away with your own nonsense that it’s hilarious at times.