Kessler vs. Froch: What happens if Carl can’t stop Mikkel?
March 9th, 2010
By William Mackay: For a number of boxing experts, they’re under the impression that WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch will be able to stop Mikkel Kessler at some point in their Super Six fight on April 24th. Some of them see the punishment that Kessler took in losing to Andre Ward in his last fight in November as evidence that Kessler is starting to slip as a fighter and is vulnerable to being stopped by Froch. That may or may not be true, but the one thing that we do know is that Froch doesn’t have the same boxing skills as Kessler.
Some boxing fans and experts feel that Dirrell is the weakest of the Super Six fighters in terms of ability. But with Froch basically having to fight tooth and nail to get a win that some people question whether it was a home two decision, it doesn’t give one a comfortable feeling about Froch’s chances to outbox Kessler.
Froch might surprise some people by suddenly showing boxing skills that he’s never shown before in his career, but more likely he’s going to be what he’s always been in the past, a crude slugger. Kessler, most people would agree, has superb boxing skills, and could the most talented of the Super Six tournament fighters along with Ward. For Froch to outbox a skilled fighter like Kessler, it’s going to take quite a lot for that to happen.
I mean Kessler will have had to really gone downhill as a fighter for someone like Froch to outbox him. That’s not a knock on Froch, because he’s good basic boxing skills, but rather a compliment of how good the skills are of Kessler. Mikkel isn’t the same league as Joe Calzaghe and probably not as skilled as Ward either, but he’s still probably more than good enough to beat the likes of Froch.
I think Froch has a chance to win, but I’m only giving him a puncher’s chance at beating Kessler. Froch doesn’t have the boxing skills to beat Kessler by decision unless the judges really scoring the fight in weird way. Froch will have his moments in the fight and will land some big shots, but I think it won’t be enough to get Kessler out of there.
Froch would have to have more power, better hand speed and more pressure to take Kessler out. Froch is too slow, and telegraphs his punches much. Kessler will be able to see Froch’s shots coming and will either block them, move out of the way of them or brace for them and not be bothered. Froch’s power is good, but he’s not a huge puncher like some people are thinking he is based on his win over Taylor. Unless Froch gets a knockout, he’ll probably wind up losing the fight by being out-boxed by Kessler.
Tags: 17 Responses to “Kessler vs. Froch: What happens if Carl can’t stop Mikkel?”
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I like both of these guys so i’ll be sorry to see either man lose but i reckon Kessler is on the slide a bit so for me it’s a Froch win by KO.
everyone since the beginning of time has said that styles make fights, only a brit with credit it to lewis…that said, this fight will prove a lot, is kessler shot or is froch overrated…if its a close fight i vote for both, but it may be neither…
Lennox lewis once said that styles make fights… he is correct… and i think Carl has yet to show to you what he can do… Dirrell ran that night and Carl was off his game
J lander…i am a real fan of Jean Pascal and i can guarantee you that he would beat Froch easy today, but back in december 2008, Pascal was green…that lost against Froch and those 2 war that he won against Diaconu made him what he is today. I agree Pascal will beat Dawson on the 14 August.
If Froch can walk through Kesslers best shots i can see him winning by a ud or even a late tko if kessler tires towards the end, because Froch always seems to have great fitness.
to a comment below a green pascal??? haha the guy is wbc light heavy champ and will beat chad dawson im his next fight,if pascal were to fight any other fighter apart form froch in this super 6 series,he would stop all of them!!!
Pete…I surely don’t think that Dirrell put on a great performance against Froch, he was way too much on the outside and scare to get dirty.
But i think he won the fight, i will ask you one question…if we put the same fight, the same scenario with the same fighters, but somewhere in the US or anywhere else than Froch backyard.
Do you seriously think the decision would have been the same ?
And remember that Dirrell is not a great fighter, he was being carefull against Froch imagine against Abraham, he will probably run out of the ring. Kessler is still a lot better than Dirrell and Froch.
GOOD ARTICLE
FROCH IS SH*TE
HE GOT WHUPPED BY TAYLOR UNTIL THE TWELTH AND DIRRELL MADE HIM LOOK REALLY AVERAGE, AND DIRRELL IS NO GOOD EITHER. IT MAKES ME LAUGH WHEN PEOPLE SAY FROCH WOULD HAVE BEATEN CALZAGHE.
Kessler is over-rated.
He is just an ordinary fighter in every dept. An old fragile fisted Calzaghe and young-gun Ward showed the world that.
I wouldn`t be the slightest bit surprised if Froch outpointed or stopped Kessler – much the same as if Kessler did the same to Froch.
Both guys are mediocre fighters pretending to be something special.
The biggest surprise of the super6 tournament for me, has been how average the so-called top guys at the weight are ..
Kessler’s skill is overrated he takes way to long to set himself to get his shots off the guy looks almost robotic at times unless you have the speed and reflex of dirrell Froch will find you with his big slightly clumsy shots
@ Benzo
You can play down Froch’s wins but that’s all you will be doing. And by the way, it wasn’t a “weird decision” against Dirrell, it was a wierd performance by Dirrell. In round 4 and a couple of other rounds like 11, Dirrell looked fantastic, he looked like a world beater… but the rest of the time he was awful. Froch was able to control the ring and throw Dirrell off his game.
I was just making the point that Kessler is over-rated and those who think he has superior skills are deluding themselves. I think it will be a great fight and it could go either way but my money is on Froch.
just wait and see mikkel kessler will pop carl froch with counter shoots again and agian. and when froch kumps in with a jab and he’s chin so long forword kessler won’t be able to miss
completely agree with everything the author said
I agree,Froch has a only a puncher’s chance…that’s all !
By the way Pete, who has beaten Froch beside a green Pascal, a gift by Taylor an a weird decision against Dirrell.
Froch will get is first defeat and his second in a row against Abraham after that.
when froch does stop him which i hope he doesnt even tho i want froch to win your excuse will be ? this fight is going to be heartbreakin either way
Kessler is over-rated, his biggest claim to fame is a lopsided loss to Joe Calzaghe.
Froch will end him.
Kessler has only beaten Andrade and Beyer – two guys that Froch would KO easy. So I do not know why you think Kessler has great skills. I think Froch has very under-rated skills and Dirrell would be a difficult nights work for anyone. Kessler is slower then Taylor and Dirrell so I think Froch is going to have an easier night finding the target. Froch will win this fight, he has a strong jab, can fight from range and mix it up close.