By Eric Thomas: IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute’s management has made an offer to former super middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler (44-2, 33 KO’s) for a fight after Bute’s scheduled July 9th bout against number #1 contender Jean Paul Mendy. However, Kessler’s promoter has yet to say whether they’ll accept the offer from Bute’s management. According to Danish TV2, Kessler and his promoter Kalle Sauerland are waiting for the new rankings from the World Boxing Organization.

If Kessler is put in as the mandatory challenger for WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz then that may be the fight that Kessler will take instead of a bout against Bute. Kessler stopped Mehdi Bouadla last Saturday night in a 6th round TKO. It was the first fight for Kessler in over a year. He looked good but was a little rusty looking despite getting the win. A fight against Stieglitz would be a good move for Kessler, because he needs at least one more fight under his belt before he takes on a guy like Bute.

Stieglitz would be a good tune-up fight for Kessler. Stieglitz is a good fighter but he previously was beaten by Librado Andrade, a guy that Kessler easily beat by a lopsided 12 round decision in 2007. Obviously, Bute’s team realize that it would be better to face Kessler sooner rather than later after he’s had a couple of fights under his belt. Kessler is more vulnerable now because of his long layoff from action than what he’ll be after he beats Stieglitz and maybe one other guy.