Froch doesn’t give Kessler any chance, predicts knockout

By Scott Gilfoid: Carl Froch (26-0, 20 KO’s) is feeling pretty good about his chances at beating former WBC super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KO’s) ahead of his April 24th Super Six fight in Herning, Denmark. Froch, 32, is riding high on his crest of his last three wins over Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell. Despite the fact that Froch looked horrible at times against both Taylor and Dirrell, Froch feels confident that he’ll be able to stop Kessler when they meet in their stage 2 Super Six bout next month. I wish I could feel as good as Froch about his chances, but I can’t. I think Froch’s going to get dominated and ultimately humiliated by Kessler.

In an interview at the BBC Sport, Froch says “He [Kessler] hasn’t got a chance against me. Kessler is going to get knocked out for the first time in his career, unless he’s a lot tougher than I already think he is.” The one who I believe could end up on the canvas in this fight isn’t Kessler. I believe Froch is the one that will be on his back counting stars by the end of this fight. Froch has been hurt in his last two fights against both Taylor and Dirrell, and that’s something he needs to be concerned about.

Taylor had Froch hurt and on the canvas early in their fight, and Dirrell badly stunned Froch in the 10th round of their fight last October. With the possible trauma from the punishment from those two fights, Froch could easily wind up being the one knocked out in this fight. I’m not much of a believer in Kessler as a fighter and personally see him as a tad overrated, but I think he’s the much better boxer/puncher compared to the upright, stiff-legged, robotic, slow-footed, and slow of hand Froch.

I think Froch can punch a little if he has an opponent that has his feet glued to the floor and who doesn’t move. But if Froch faces a fighter like Kessler who will shift around, change positions, throw a hard jab and right hand, Froch is probably going to struggle badly. It doesn’t help that Froch will be keeping his hands down by his sides as he always does, plodding forward and taking a lot of punishment. Froch is one of those fighters that take six or eight shots to get his one in. That’s all well and good when he’s facing softer opposition in safe confines of the Nottingham arena in England, but fighting against a skilled fighter like Kessler in Denmark, I see things going really badly for Froch.

Appearing a little cocky, Froch says “Kessler is coming in off the back of a warn-up fight and a bad loss [to Andre Ward last November], so all you can do is wish him [Kessler] luck, really. We might see the best of Kessler, but it will be the best of the last of him because he’ll get beaten on the night by the best in the world. Early on, he’ll have a real strong go, he’ll chuck everything at me, really have a fight but it won’t be enough.” Froch sounds a little deluded about rating his own ability.

I’m afraid I don’t see Froch as being the best in the world like he says about himself. Actually, I see Froch as the second to the worst of the Super Six participants. I think Allan Green is probably the worst of the bunch, and then Froch comes in just a tad above him. Following Froch would be Arthur Abraham, Kessler, Andre Ward and then Dirrell. Froch is a good fighter, but a bit average in my view because of his glaring limitations as a fighter.

If Froch had a lot better hand speed, more athleticism, an ability to move quickly around the ring and good defensive skills, I would put him near the top of the Super Six heap. But unfortunately, I see Froch missing all of those attributes, so I have to put him near the bottom.

17 Responses to “Froch doesn’t give Kessler any chance, predicts knockout”