By Scott Gilfoid: Rather than risk his hide against WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz and possibly suffer another loss on his record, Mikkel Kessler (44-2. 33 KO’s) has decided to move up in weight to the much weaker 175 pound division to go after the vacant WBC Silver light heavyweight strap against fringe contender Allan Green (31-3, 21 KO’s) on May 19th at the Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark.

This obviously is a calculated move for the 33-year-old Kessler to try and extend his career by increasing his chances of success against the weaker opposition at light heavyweight. Facing Green, #15 IBF, is case in point. Green was easily beaten in his only two appearances in the Super Six tournament against Andre Ward and Glen Johnson. Green blames his poor performances on cutting too much weight to make the 168 limit. However, he’s not looked much better since moving up to the light heavyweight division in August of last year, winning both of his fights against Craig Candy and Sebastian Demers but still not throwing combinations the way he needs to to be competitive against the better fighters in the division. Green was supposed to fight Kessler in the Super Six tournament in 2010, but Kessler pulled out of the tournament complaining of an eye injury. Green would then face Kessler replacement 42-year-old Glen Johnson and suffer an 8th round TKO loss in November 2010.

Kessler has only had one fight in the past two years, beating Mehdi Boudla by a 6th round TKO in June 2011. Kessler was supposed to fight WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz but postponed the fight due to a hand injury. Finally, Kessler pulled out altogether and moved up in weight. It’s probably a wise decision on Kessler’s part because Stieglitz has never looked better than he is now and is fighting at an extremely high level. Of course, I don’t rate Stieglitz in the same category as WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Andre Ward or IBF champ Lucian Bute, but Stieglitz is perhaps the #5 super middleweight in the division right now. He would give Kessler fits if they fought and likely outwork him.

If Kessler beats Green on May 19th, then he could face the winner of the April 28th fight between WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson. I don’t like that match-up for Kessler if he ends up having to face Dawson, because he’s not in his league and would take a sound beating. Kessler might be able to handle 47-year-old Hopkins, though, but that’s neither here nor there because Hopkins probably won’t get past Dawson next month. I seriously doubt Kessler’s management will put him in with Dawson. Look for Kessler instead to go after the easy marks in the light heavyweight division such as WBO light heavyweight champ Nathan Cleverly, IBF champion Tavoris Cloud or WBA champion Beibut Shumenov. Kessler would likely beat all three on the same night. He’s much better than those guys.