By Scott Gilfoid: In only 10 more days, undefeated top American challenger Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KO’s) will be taking part in his first fight in the Showtime Super Six tournament against World Boxing Association super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO’s) in a 12 round bout at the Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California. Ward, only 25, is ready to open some eyes and educate boxing fans by showing how good he is.
Most of the so called experts in boxing are picking the 30-year-old Kessler to beat Ward, basing their decision on Kessler’s better experience against more talented opposition and because they feel that Kessler has better all around boxing skills compared to Ward. However, I see this fight as an easy one for Ward. He’s got too much speed, talent and overall ability for the aging 30-year-old Kessler to deal with. Even in Kessler’s prime of several years ago, he wouldn’t have been able to beat a fighter like Ward.
Kessler showed his limitations in his 12 round loss to Joe Calzaghe in 2007, and he wasn’t impressive in getting outworked by the quicker fighter. Ward is even faster than Calzaghe, with arguably much better defense and movement. The only way that Ward loses this fight is if he doesn’t utilize his superior skills. I don’t see that as a problem for Ward in this fight, because Ward doesn’t doubt himself and will be bringing it to Kessler from the word go.
During yesterday’s National conference call with Ward and Kessler, Ward had this to say about the previous two fights in the Super Six tourney involving fellow Americans Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell:
“It was unfortunate that both Americans lost their fights but it’s just added more motivation. It just really motivates me and I did take it personal [Dirrell and Taylor’s losses] because that’s what everyone expected it to be. Even Carl Froch [the World Boxing Council super middleweight champion] said everything is going as scheduled. And I take that personal,” Ward says. I know exactly what Ward is talking about.
A lot of the boxing experts and fighters from Europe were quite pleased with their performances in the first bouts of the Super Six tournament on October 17th, but for one I think Froch should have lost the fight to Dirrell by a considerable margin. I really question the scores for his controversial 12 round split decision victory, and I’m not the only one. And for two, things aren’t going to continue to go as scheduled because Ward is likely going to make Kessler look like an old man and beat him by a 12 round shut out.
That will send a message to people and show that Ward isn’t the type of fighter to be underestimated. And if Dirrell gets another chance at fighting Froch, he will beat him like a drum, even if he’s forced to go to Nottingham again to do it. I think Dirrell has Froch’s number now, and all we need is a rematch for Dirrell to prove it.
Ward says “If I beat Mikkel Kessler it will send shock waves into the [Super Six] tournament and throughout the boxing world, because it’s just something they cannot fathom happening. They don’t see it happening. They won’t it until it happens. I think people’s minds will change after this for sure.” You can say that again, Mr. Ward. You will not only chance some stubborn shortsighted minds, but you’ll also put Ward’s name on the boxing map and make him a huge star.
I see Kessler as the old guard in the super middleweight division. He may be better than most of the fighters aside from Dirrell, Lucian Bute and Ward, but he’s not the top dog in the division anymore in my view. Ward is going to show that by beating Kessler by a ridiculously one-sided 12 round decision on November 21st.
Kessler says “I’m looking forward to Ward and I’m looking forward to a war.” I hope Kessler has a back up plan available if the fight doesn’t turn out to be a war like he’s thinking it will be, because I see Ward boxing circles around Kessler and showing how limited the European fighter is.
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