Kessler says he over-trained for Froch fight

By Scott Gilfoid: Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) realizes now what he did wrong when he got narrowly beaten by IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) last May in a 12 round unanimous decision defeat in London.

Kessler says he left his best behind in training camp by overdoing it. Kessler did look awfully drained in the fight, especially in the first four rounds and in the 12th.

Kessler wasn’t outworking Froch like he did in their first fight in 2010, and he was just standing around too much letting Froch throw limp noodle-like jabs. Froch’s weak jabs wouldn’t have held back a quality fighter like Andre Ward, but Kessler looked like he afraid to engage until the 5th round.

Kessler said to Sky Sports “Maybe I trained too hard and didn’t get too much of a break, and it was a big mistake for me. When I watched the fight after with my manager, I [noticed I] I hit under half of my punches…I did in my first fight. I had him almost out in the 11th round, and I couldn’t finish it. I was too tired…I peaked too much and that’s what happened.”

Yes, Kessler over-trained for the fight, and I noticed that too. If the man would have just realized that he didn’t have to go wild in his training to beat Froch, he would have been ok. Kessler wasted time sparring with George Groves and Nathan Cleverly when he should have been taking it easy. I think 4 days of training per week would have been good enough.

Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn BADLY wants a rematch between Froch and Kessler, so it won’t be a difficult fight for Kessler to get if he wants it. However, he needs to lay the ground rules for the venue of the fight.

If I was Kessler, no way would I accept another fight in the UK. Right now, both guys have had fights take place in their countries, so the 3rd fight needs to be in a neutral venue or not at all.

Hearn is already talking about wanting the fight to take place in the UK. I wouldn’t agree to that in a million years if I was Kessler. He should just tell Hearn it’s a neutral venue or nothing.

Kessler can definitely beat Froch in a third fight, but he’s got to actually fight in the first four rounds instead of just looking at Froch throw pawing jabs.

Kessler looked like he forget how to fight in that first half of the bout, because a young Kessler would have went right through Froch’s weak jabs like they butter and rang his bell with right hands again and again.