Kessler vs. Froch: Can Carl’s heart overcome Mikkel’s talent?
January 5th, 2010
By Sean McDaniel: On April 17th, World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl Froch (26-0, 20 KO’s) will be getting his long awaited wish by fighting Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KO’) in their Super Six tournament fight in Denmark. Froch, 32, has wanted to get a fight with Kessler for a couple of years now, but had little luck in getting a fight until he decided to participate in the Super Six tournament.
Froch moves in straight lines and seems to take the shortest route to his targets that way. If this fight had taken place a year ago, it’s unlikely that anyone would be giving Froch a serious chance of beating Kessler. However, Kessler was recently beaten by Andre Ward in a 11 round technical decision loss on November 21st, in a fight that Kessler looked really poor in.
Some of that was caused by Kessler being cut up over both eyes by a series of head butts with Ward, but there’s no mistaking that Kessler was totally dominated by Ward. Kessler looked old in the fight, and nothing like his former self a couple of years ago when he fought Joe Calzaghe. The question is whether that was because of what Ward was doing or because Kessler had aged. It’s hard to tell, really, because Ward looked so sensational on that night, and Kessler just didn’t seem to have a clue how to adapt to Ward’s fighting style.
Froch typically attacks hard just like Ward, albeit without his blazing hand speed and his movement. Kessler won’t have a hard time guessing where Froch will be coming from because the British fighter will be coming straight at him trying to run him down like he does with most of his opponents. Kessler will no doubt be using lateral movement to escape from Froch’s attacks and counter him.
Froch just fought Andre Dirrell, a previously unbeaten American fighter in the Super Six tourney, and Carl had a huge dose of lateral movement in that fight. Kessler’s movement will likely seem like nothing compared to the movement that Dirrell was using on Froch, and I can imagine that Froch won’t have trouble catching up to Kessler.
However, Froch may not like what he gets when he does corner Kessler. Mikkel is the much more polished fighter, and quite capable of taking advantage of any mistakes that Froch makes during exchanges. Kessler will likely have little trouble landing counter shots and making Froch pay for anything that he lands.
On the flipside, Froch is also a good counter puncher who does well against a trapped or stationary opponent. If he can get Kessler to stay in one place for any length of time that would be to Froch’s favor. Kessler will have to keep hitting and moving if he wants to beat Froch. He can’t afford to stay in one place and let Froch land his heavy shots.
Dirrell showed how to beat Froch by hitting him, moving and then clinching him when he gets in close. That worked really well for Dirrell, because Froch was only able to punch at all when they were in a clinch. In between that, Froch was missing all night long and looking more than a little clumsy and slow of foot.
I think Kessler wins this fight if he can stay on the move for 12 rounds. But if he tries to stay in one place and fight it out, then Froch will wear him down with his heavy shots and beat him into submission. The crowd should be a big factor for Kessler.
Tags: 31 Responses to “Kessler vs. Froch: Can Carl’s heart overcome Mikkel’s talent?”
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Kessler is gone.Calzaghe fought him he was undefeated unlike when flop gets in the ring with him flop should beat him now if not he will never beat him.Ward abraham final
time 7.15 thursday date january 7 2010 boxing news 24 im ready for kessler froch
DAN IS THE MAN!
lets get ready to rumble
the most honest boxer fighting today vs a guy who alwys wants to entertain the crowd.
there will be no running, ducking, holding, feigning injury or intentional headbutts disguised as “head movement”…in other words…a good proper fight. watch & learn america.
time 3.15 pm january 6 2010 so sorry alan bosworth mikkell kessler over carl froch
kessler is tough and was unbeaten until he met calzaghe,since then he has lost again.froch is unbeaten and on a high and as proved he can go in the lions den and be victorious.froch as power in both hands rite upto the end of 12rds.kessler now no,s wot its like to be beat and once froch starts hurting him,the calzaghe ward fights will play with his mind.froch always finds away to win.froch by late stoppage.
time 11.35 am january 6 2010 so sorry clint mikkel kessler
Froch by late stoppage, Kessler isn’t the same fighter anymore.
Will see a better Froch this time round as Kessler is more of a stand and trade fighter than Dirrel.
froch vs kahn ha
froch vs kahn are you a lunatic? more chance of prince naz coming back and fighting at that weight. To accuse the midleweight division as being poor??? im a little bit upset with you shazuk. Its arguably the best divison going after welter. wind your neck in son
I think Froch is too overatted and Kessler isnt the same fighter he was since Calzaghe! Froch needs to find someone decent and respectable in order to get recognition, he is too slow!! I think the middleweight is a very very poor division at the moment and if they have someone like Froch as a champion.. says it all. I wouldn’t mind seeing Froch Vs Khan if he can move up the weight! Now that would be exciting!!
time7.40 am january january 6 2o10 this will be best fight of super 6
This will be the fight of 2010. Anyone going over from England? how easy will tickets be to get hold of?
When Calzaghe was around the world made more sense… Pacquiao, Mayweather and Calzaghe… top 3 p4p in everyones book, and if you beat them then you where an instant legend. Not that anyone could.
Now Calzaghe has gone the super middleweight division has been blown wide open. I cannot see past Abraham myself but it has made for some real interesting match-ups.
Personally Froch and Kessler failed to impress in their first fights, especially Kessler (though Ward does look the real deal). But I will take Froch for this one, he hits harder then Ward and will KO the big dane late on. I am really looking forward to this one though.
At the moment, my predication for the final is obviously Ward v Abraham – but anything can happen in this sport.
“…Kessler will use lateral movement…” Just like he DIDN’T against Ward. We will see cos during the Ward fight Kessler totally omitted the use of lateral movement. I haven’t seen much of Froch but i think Kessler is in for some more pain if he doesn’t sort himself out. Despite that, his excuses after the Ward fight were pitiful, it clearly showed a man who struggles to accept defeat. Great fighters don’t make excuses.
FROCH DEFINATELY HAS HEART AND A TON OF CONFIDENCE, KESSLER I DONT THINK HE HAS MUCH TALENT OR THAT MUCH CONFIDENCE ESPECIALLY AFTER HIS LAST LOSS.
my bulb is moist just thinking about this fight, i cant wait! come on kessler, knock froch out, cause if you out box him and make him look bad you will lose the decision, dirrell.
Carl Froch will win by ko
Kessler didn’t look all that good against Perdomo, and while many people attributed it to ring rust his performance against Ward makes one wonder if Kessler isn’t fading as a fighter. If he is, an aggressive Froch could take him.
Kessler has an undeserved glowing reputation, and then Ward exposed him.
Carl Froch will stop Kessler late on and put kessler out of the super 6
No matter who wins, i see this turning out to be fight of the year for 2010.
Could be a close call this one. If Kessler opts to punch and move and generally spoil he could do well and it could go to a split decision, but I feel that Kesslers warrior spirit and willingness to engage Froch will ultimatly lead to him being hurt and possibly suffering his first ko.
Dirrell is going to beat Abraham and Klesser is going to beat Froch and the only undefeated left will be S.O.G
Imo froch aint ready for kessler.
I agree with Guvnor, results dont lie (unless your name is Sven Ottke) and with a 26-0 record which boast Jean Pascal, Jermaine Taylor and a much much tougher domestic route than what Amir Khan has took its is tough to argue. Froch struggled against Taylor because of his speed though Dirrell just didnt engage, plant his feet or land to have an effect on Froch, point being Mikkel dosnt have the speed of neither of these fighters and Froch shown against Pascal that he can not only have a tear up but use his jab to effect when he has to.
5.40 pm tuesday january 5 2010 anybody who;’s english on here going
i like both boxers but i think froch will take this 1 i dont think it will be a domination by carl because mikkel will go to fight no question i think carls heart will win him this 1 should be a good fight lookin forward 2 it.
Well here’s another angle on the headline above? can Kessler come back from that bad loss? because Carl will be full of confidants after beating the undefeated sprinter Andre **Gazelle** Dirrell, and Carl Frock is still an undefeated world champion.
joe welsh dragon italian lion calzaghe best supermiddleweight champ
Everyone keeps on saying Froch is slow and can’t box but he just keeps on winning and i personally think he will take this fight on points or a TKO late on.
Froch knows he’s not the best boxer in the super six but he knows he has the hardest punch, hardest chin and biggest heart…..that means one thing, he’ll give anyone a good fight and he is always good to watch when the oppenent want to box.
I for one can’t wait for this fight.
mikkel viking warrior kessler over carl froch we can argue this till fight night