Contracts for Froch-Kessler II rematch could be signed by next week

By Boxing News - 12/20/2012 - Comments

kessler4323By Scott Gilfoid: A rematch between IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch and WBA belt holder Mikkel Kessler could be taking place in the near future after all. According to Danish news source Ekstra Bladed, contracts for a rematch could be signed in the next week for a fight that would take place in the first part of next year.

Former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute is reportedly willing to step aside so that the Kessler-Froch II fight can take place. Both Froch and Kessler will receive $2 million each for the fight, which might end up at the Manchester Arena, in Manchester, England. It won’t be taking place in Froch’s home city of Nottingham or Kessler’s home country of Denmark.

The date of the fight is still unknown but they’re looking at any time between April to June for the bout. They want to put the fight in a big arena that can fit between 18,000 to 20,000 fans. This is a big drop off from the ideas that Froch had about the Kessler-Froch II fight being a stadium fight that could draw tons of people, but I guess there isn’t enough of a demand to make it worthwhile for this fight to put it in a stadium, eh?

There is a still possibility that Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn will put the fight in an outdoor stadium, but he’ll be taking a big risk if he does it because the fight may not sell enough tickets to fill it and he could have a half empty outdoor facility.

Given that Froch has been fighting in front of crowds of 9000 in Nottingham, I think it would be wise to keep the fight indoors. Even the 18,000 seat Manchester Arena might be too big of a venue for this fight. I think a 12,000 seat arena would be perfect for the Froch-Kessler II fight.

Kessler beat Froch by a 12 round unanimous decision in 2010 in the Super Six tournament. Kessler was able to take advantage of Froch’s lack of hand speed and his cautiousness by out-working him to a decision. Froch tried to rally late in the fight but Kessler shut him down to earn the decision.



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