Froch vs Kessler II: There Will Be Blood

kessler#800By Mohummad Humza Elahi: Twitter – @MHE_1985 – Tonight, I’ll be sitting in the cheap seats at a packed O2 Arena in London to witness the biggest fight (on these shores) of the year so far. Carl “The Cobra” Froch (30-2-22 KO’s) the hometown favourite will square off against “The Viking Warrior” Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 32 KO’s0).

There’s anticipation of a real classic in the making; I’ve been following the opinions out there and it seems that the majority are going for Froch in a home decision win whereas the rest think Kessler will take the victory and if that happens, I can imagine his hand being raised in a sea of boos (and probably booze) from the crowd. Atmospheres here (and in other parts of Europe) can be very intimidating for boxers not used to fighting on the road, however, this isn’t a factor for Kessler.

read more

Rios a lose-lose scenario in the making for Pacquiao

pac45By Nick Reynolds: On November 23rd, in Macau, China, Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) will make his much anticipated return to the ring — anticipated because most are eager to see what long term impact Juan Manuel Marquez’s devastating knockout had on Pacquiao’s once upon a time granite chin — as he will be stepping into the ring with fellow Top Rank stablemate Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s).

On the surface for Pacquiao? Decent idea, right? A solid name opponent to add to the resume in Rios who appears to be made to order for Pacquiao due to Rios’ plodding, come forward, and not so difficult to hit style. I’ve heard some even refer to this as a tune-up bout of sorts for Pacquiao — although I fail to see how a 31-1-1 fighter with 23 KO’s to his credit, and who has never been stopped before professionally, qualifies as a “tune-up”. But that’s another topic for another day.

read more

Khan: Negotiations with Mayweather are underway

khan4343By Scott Gilfoid: Amir Khan is saying that Golden Boy Promotions are trying to negotiate a fight between him and Floyd Mayweather Jr. right now. How serious negotiations are is unclear because Golden Boy is pushing hard to try and get Mayweather to fight their future cash cow WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and they need that fight badly for the Mexican fighter to gain a wide audience in the U.S.

Khan said to I Film London “Negotiations are underway. It’s a fight that Floyd Mayweather wants, and it a fight I’d want to take. I’d love to be in the same ring with Mayweather. I know he has flaws. I think my speed will make a difference in this fight. I think I can make a very tough fight for him.”

read more

Roach: Pacquiao only has a couple fights left after the Rios bout

roach45By Chris Williams: Trainer Freddie Roach says his fighter Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) is about at the end of his career now with a mere three fights left in his estimation as he approaches his fight on November 23rd against fellow Top Rank fighter Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s) at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China.

Pacquiao turns 35 in December, and Roach wants him to fight Juan Manuel Marquez before he retires and whoever else promoter Bob Arum can dig up for him before he calls it quits.

Roach said to Fighthubtv.com “I want Manny in an all-out fight. It’s the young vs. the old and it’s very dangerous, but that’s why I was looking for the Marquez rematch. But unfortunately we’ll continue until that fight comes around again. Win or lose, Manny only has a couple fights left in him after this one.”

read more

Groves: Froch is afraid to lose to me because it’ll hurt his legacy

froch5645By Scott Gilfoid: 25-year-old super middleweight contender George Groves (18-0, 14 KO’s) thinks IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KO’s) is dodging a fight against him because he’s worried about how it’ll look if he gets beaten by the still inexperienced and unaccomplished Groves and exposed again.

Groves thinks Froch doesn’t mind risking getting whipped by Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler because both have beaten him before and they’re well known fighters.

read more

Ward: I don’t have to fight Froch in the UK; he has to fight here in the U.S

ward46By Scott Gilfoid: Well, it looks like if IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch ever wants to try and avenge his loss to WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KO’s), he’s going to have to come to the USA to try and get the job done because Ward doesn’t see the point of him traveling to the UK to face a guy that he already licked two years ago in the Super Six tournament.

The way Ward sees it, Froch is the one that has something to prove, not him.

Ward said to the BBC Sport “The reality is that I don’t have to fight in the UK to become a star in the world of boxing, but Froch has to come and stake his claim in the United States in order to be recognized domestically and worldwide.”

read more

Froch vs. Kessler: A neutral perspective

froch111Who will win in this highly anticipated bout between Carl “The Cobra” Froch and Mikkel “Viking warrior” Kessler this Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, England.

Personally I see Froch winning this fight by a unanimous decision, in competitive and controversial decision similar to the first fight, but in “the Cobra’s” favour. My reasons for predicting this are as follows:

Kessler’s record follows the pattern of many German champions, winning or defending his title by fighting on home soil, both losses have come when fighting away from home, outclassed by both ward and Joe Calzaghe, basically he’s never won out of Denmark or Germany.

read more

Froch v Kessler: The wait is over

kessler#234By Ben Walton: Saturday night at the 02 arena in London, Britain’s IBF world champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch, will face for the second time “The Viking Warrior” Mikkel Kessler, in a bill titled “Warriors Call.”

The first time these guys locked horns, the Great Dane took a unanimous points win against Froch on his home soil in an enthralling battle, and now Kessler – looking in the mood to do business, is promising come Saturday night he will go 2-0 up against the man many Boxing scribes feel is the favourite.

“If I lose, I’m going to quit, ” Kessler told Sky Sports News. “If I lose fair and square I am out of here.”

read more

Canelo will have to move off September 14th date if he doesn’t face Mayweather

canelo454By Dan Ambrose: WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO’s) is in a bad situation as far as his next fight date goes on September 14th. Canelo absolutely has to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on that date because if he doesn’t, he’s going to be bumped from that date by Mayweaher Jr.

Canelo wants to fight on September 14th in order to take advantage of the Mexican Independence holiday. The problem is Canelo wants that to be his first pay per view fight. Well, he’s not going to draw flies if Mayweather goes ahead and fights on that date as well.

read more

Weights: Groves 167.5, Gonzalez 167

By Scott Gilfoid: Undefeated super middleweight contender George Groves (18-0, 14 KO’s) came in a half pound under the limit at 167.5 pounds for his fight tomorrow night against #11 WBC, Noe Gonzalez (30-2, 22 KO’s) at the O2 Arena in London, UK. Gonzalez weighed in at 167 lbs.

read more