Kessler vs. Ward: Andre will open some eyes on Saturday
November 17th, 2009
Picture Credit: Jan Sanders -By Scott Gilfoid: There are only four days to go before the Super Six tournament fight between American Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KO’s) and World Boxing Association super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO’s) meet up at the Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California. Yesterday, they participated in a public workout at the King’s Gym, in Oakland. However, neither fighter had much of anything interesting to say and were mostly making neutral comments.
Technically, Kessler is correct in saying it was a world title, but the IBA title isn’t held in as high esteem to the other major titles by boxing fans. Also, Thobela had lost his last two fights to Dave Hilton and Eric Lucas going into his fight with Kessler. It’s not exactly the same thing that Ward is facing in fighting Kessler. Also, Ward has a much different style compared to Kessler.
Ward is lightning fast with his punches, moves around constantly, punches from every angle and is hard to hit. In contrast, Kessler fights in a stiff manner, almost looking slightly robotic as he shoots out a jab again and again. Kessler’s style of fighting is very basic and predictable. His offensive tools consist of jab and a left-right combination. He moves around a little, but looks very stiff and heavy-legged as he shifts position. Kessler loads up with his shots and tries to hurt his opponents when he gets an opportunity.
But because of this, Kessler’s hand speed isn’t good. Kessler points out that he has more experience than Ward and has fought twice as many fights. However, you can discount most of Kessler’s fights because they have come against B and C level opponents. What’s the point of bragging about having more fight when many of them are against lower level fighters.
Of Kessler’s opponents during his entire career, I rate only Anthony Mundine, Eric Lucas, Markus Beyer, Joe Calzaghe and Librado Andrade. Of them, I only consider Calzaghe to be near the talent level of Ward. Mundine, Lucas, Beyer and Andrade are good fighters, but not what I consider to be at the same level of Ward. It’s nice that Kessler fought all these guys, along with all the B and C level opponents, but it won’t mean a thing on Saturday night.
Kessler won’t be fighting them and if he’s thinking that Ward is a fighter like those guys, Kessler is going to be sadly mistaken. I hope for Kessler’s sake he is able to push his game up another level or two, because what I saw of him in his loss to Calzaghe and in his fight against Gusmyr Perdomo, Kessler would lose by a large margin to the talented Ward.
Tags: 25 Responses to “Kessler vs. Ward: Andre will open some eyes on Saturday”
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The only way Ward can beat Kessler is adapting his fight plan when he realises how strong Kessler is. Calzaghe had to because he realised Kessler is a very good fighter and he would have to outbox him. I hope Ward has a good jab to win the rounds because the best he can hope for is a points win.
Gotta fancy kessler, who is ward?
Please check out this video prediction of Saturday’s big fight!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBZQN9nfQOU
the same as haye will get battered,the same as hopkins and jones to beat calzaghe,the same as froch going to get knocked out by dirrel, kessler will win this tournament you know nothing about a fighter if they dont come from america, why dont you just give up predicting fights and just write about them after they’ve happened you might get some respect then.
I grew up with Kessler..and i sincerly hope he gets his azz handed to him (AND testicles), though i doubt this will be the case
By the end of the fight Andre wont even be able to see through his own eyes.
So Guilford…what about our 10.000 usd bet on the fight…I see you have removed my other posts challenging you to back up your brag and delusions with your own money…I have areputable bookie that will hold the money for a small fee.
Anyway – how come a fighter 2x Calzaghe has only met tomatocans until now. Why go sooo slow with a talent 2x calzaghe…..Calzaghe was WBO champs years ahead of ward by now.
Anyway I can live without your money knowing you yourself are fully aware that your predictions are utterly BS based on fantasy and wishful thinking.
With Wards punching power he would be walked down by Andrade and knocked out of the ring. Ward looks pretty weak. When watching the clips on youtube you can see he is way more featherfisted than Calzaghe and not punching but touching like an amateur. Look how he hits his opponents full force in the face witout any apparent effect. Ask Beyer, Lucas, Siaca, Calzaghe andrade or some other ones how hard mikkel punches.By the way Kessler only lost 2 times as an amateur making it 3 in his career.
Looking forward to your comments on sunday. Maybe Ward calls himself SOG…maybe we will call him SOS Help or even son of santa if we get an extreme hometowndecision.
Gilfoid, or Gilfool…..
U love these up and coming americans…
I think they should face each other. Dirrell and Ward.
After this weekend, both of them will have been defeated and you can look to the next young stars.
Heard the best boxer ever is a new US fighter. Got the skills and heart and power of Pacquiao, he’s fought 2, won 2…
Kessler to win by 10th round Stoppage…
I guess this means Kessler will win easy. Another bad prediction by Gilfoid. Did i mention Mundine would even school Ward, this older version. Kessler by KO in 7.
this fight could be close.
Unknown factors are ward’s chin and whether Kessler can be fast enough to catch him often, it is in the us too
This GILFOID has no idea about boxing does he?!
Kessler has only ever lost once, and to Calzaghe who was great in this division, he won’t lose to Ward mate, just like Dirrell lost to Froch, you keep over rating yank fighters and they lose – probably best try a new career mate – try collecting stamps or something more on your level!
And the only name on Ward’s resume is Miranda, and Ward, while beating him by a landslide, could not put him away or even come close to stopping him.
Get a life and move out of your mum’s basement
Yes and kessler will close some ha ha.
just watched ward against Edison Miranda again, and i’m even more convinced ward is nothing special and will lose against Kessler. ward not even anywhere near the levle of the great Joe Calzaghe and never will be
dirrel still a good bet 4 the comp 20/1 he got the speed and at the mo thats the biggest thing in boxing right now if he doubles his punches in each rd witch aint that much looking at the froch fight and dont get hit witch he does very well he could be the boring winner of the comp and nick me some readys thats not bad
Same old, same old, Scott you boring t w a t. What is your excuse gonna be this time when Kessler beats Ward. He was robbed by the refs, he got a lucky punch. No doubt you’ll come out with some crazy excuse when you get your prediction wrong like you usually do. For once if Kessler does win just once stand up and admit the better man won. (I doubt it though)
yeah delete the comments
wards gonna have to get on the inside and work kesslers body, he doesnt like it.
gilfoids gonna go into hiding for a few days next week, then it will be a khan vssalita article
also, Calzaghe has said that Kessler was his toughest opponent. Tougher than Roy Jones Jr. (Clearly) and Bernard Hopkins (though the decision was closer against Hopkins than Kessler)
i predict hospital ward for ward.
I’m putting my life savings on Kessler! Betting on the opposite of Gilfoids predictions has earned me a fortune!! thanks again Gilfoid!
calzaghe near the talent of ward. hows bout ward near the talent of calzaghe but only in theory as he aint beaten anybody, never been world champ, unified champ, undisputed champ, ring magazine champ, two weight champ, pound for pound top five or headline act in millenium stadium, madison square garden or vegas. ward has never drawn 60000 fans (kessler) 35000(manfredo) or the lower numbers of 20000 (MEN arena).
right scott chew those facts then tell me ward is like calzaghe.
Calzaghe is/was miles above the level of talent that Ward is at my friend. You harp on about Ward, as you did Dirrel, before he has done anything. Yes Kessler’s best fight was a loss but Ward hasn’t fought anyone of note yet.
I was wondering whether your ready to be proved wrong just as you were about Valuev and Dirrel too?
Kessler to go to the body early for me and rack up the points, with Ward being forced to come out his shell later on and get caught more than he should do. Ward will look good and exciting when he comes out his shell but i don’t think he’ll hurt or be effective enough on Kessler to get the fight.