Kessler-Stieglitz negotiations to begin today

By Boxing News - 06/14/2011 - Comments

By Eric Thomas: Negotiations between former two time super middleweight world champion Mikkel Kessler (44-2, 33 KO’s) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (40-2, 23 KO’s) are set to begin today for an important clash in a fight that will likely take place in Stieglitz’s adopted country of Germany rather than Denmark, the home of Kessler.

There was hope that Kessler would face IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute next after Kessler destroyed a badly over-matched Mehdi Bouadla in a 6th round stoppage in Kessler’s comeback fight on 6/4. However, it looks as if Kessler wants to get some more fights under his belt before he faces Bute. It will obviously be a big plus for Kessler if he can have the WBO belt in his possession when he does eventually face Bute in the future.

Stieglitz, 29, has held the WBO strap since 2009 after beating Karoly Balzsay by an 11th round TKO. Stieglitz has defended the belt four times against mediocre opposition. His talent level is questionable, as he was easily beaten by Librado Andrade in an 8th round TKO loss in 2008. Kessler, for his part, whipped Andrade by a lopsided 12 round decision in 2007. It’s easy to see why that Kessler would want to face Stieglitz rather than take on the much tougher and more dangerous Bute at this early stage of Kessler’s comeback. The Bute fight will obviously happen at some point in the future but it might not take place for another year or so.

Kessler could also end up facing the winner of the Super Six tournament next year. Kessler has fought both of the Super Six finalists, losing to Andre Ward by an 11th round technical decision and beating Carl Froch by a 12 round decision.



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