By Scott Gilfoid: Former WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KO’s) has never been beaten while fighting in his native Denmark. On Saturday night, Kessler, 31, faces World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl Froch (26-0, 20 KO’s) at the MCH Messecenter Herning, in Herning, Denmark. Kessler, who lost his last fight in the Super Six tournament to Andre Ward, will be fighting in front of what will be a large friendly audience in his home country of Denmark. Kessler says in an article at the Sun, “My home fans always give me the extra five per cent. The bottom line is I have never been beaten in Denmark and I never will. I don’t think Froch will pick up any points from his visitor to Denmark.”

Froch is hoping to get a knockout win or a decision, which would put him in the lead in the Super Six tournament, depending on how Ward does in his next fight against Allan Green on June 19th. Besides his home advantage, Kessler will be the faster fighter, the better boxer and will have the better foot movement. It’s up to Froch to try and neutralize Kessler’s vast assets.

Hopefully, Froch’s plan B doesn’t consist wholly on just trying to rough Kessler up in the same way that Froch roughed up his last opponent, the talented Andre Dirrell, when things started going badly for Froch in that fight. Rough house tactics are things that may work one fight, but can backfire in the next one, depending on whether the referee is doing his job or not. I think Froch would have lost countless points and perhaps even been disqualified in the Dirrell fight because of his incessant fouling of Dirrell.

I’ve seen Kessler handle fouling really well in his 12 round decision win over Anthony Mundine in 2005. In that fight, Mundine tried hard to rough Kessler up when things started going badly for Mundine. However, kept his head, didn’t bother complaining to the referee and just kept pumping jabs into Mundine’s face all night long. I expect the same thing to happen against Froch when/if he starts with the fouling. I really hope Froch keeps it clean this time, but future events cast their shadows before. Kessler knows he’s in a do or die point in the Super Six tournament.

Kessler can’t afford to lose anymore if he wants to make it to the semi finals of the tourney. Kessler says “It is a fact that I need to win to keep alive my hopes of winning the Super Six. This really is my last chance and I will make the most of it. “Kessler should be okay in this fight because of his much better skills. Froch only has one chance in this fight and that’s if he can knock Kessler out. I don’t see Froch winning any decisions, because this fight will be held in Denmark, not Nottingham. So Froch better be working hard to try and stop Kessler, because if not, I see this fight as a one-sided win for Kessler.