Anyone else think Kessler is on the slide? (or half way down it?)

[icemax]

Originally Posted by JonnyBGoode

He looked pretty good against Magee,

He did.....Magee is a solid fighter, game as fuck but at least a couple of levels below Kessler so the Dane should have looked good against him. The early body shot stopped Magee in his tracks and basically made him a sitting target....It wasn't really a fight where you could judge where Kessler is at the moment

[AndyPaterson]

Originally Posted by Bill C84

True, Im not saying its impossible, just highly unlikely, I think if Kessler was to ever stop Froch it would have been in the first fight.

Left hook of Kessler can be devastating, he has the power to get Froch's respect.

[Uncle Rico]

Originally Posted by macho_grande

I fancy that Ward beating might have done for him. The war with Froch strait after didn't help either.

I haven't been overly impressed with any of his comeback fights since his surgery. He looks a little slower, a little more sluggish & flat footed. It's all a bit weak and flimsy for me. He's ready to fall I fancy

I wouldn't be surprised if Froch stops him.

Thoughts?

Been saying this for years. Kessler's been on a slow declined for aaaages. The best of him was left behind when Ward head-butted the shit out of him, had only one fight per year between 2010-11, has a war with Froch with only one decent-operating eye, has surgery on it, and he's looked even more robotic/sluggish since he's returned.

Meanwhile Froch has been slowly improving with each fight and not shown any signs of softening up. Kessler's an old, battle-worn horse and Froch is relishing the prospect of having a scrap with him. He knows he's there for the taking. Froch by late TKO.

[Jim Bowen]

Does he still do 168 well enough though? Getting on with injuries and dodgy eyes, its a recipe for disaster, hope I'm wrong because a repeat of the 1st fight would be a classic.

[sniffmybadger]

Been down to the park, he's not on the slide

[PaulieMc]

I think he's had a few too many wars and might just be showing signs of slowing. He was dropped by Green and does look a bit slower. Plus I think when he fought Froch first time it was one of his career best performances. He could beat Froch again but I don't think he will personally. I think Carl has more left in the tank than Kessler does at this stage.

[rampant]

Originally Posted by icemax

He did.....Magee is a solid fighter, game as fuck but at least a couple of levels below Kessler so the Dane should have looked good against him. The early body shot stopped Magee in his tracks and basically made him a sitting target....It wasn't really a fight where you could judge where Kessler is at the moment

Maybe not but he looked in a very good shape, hungry and determined.

Should be another great fight, hopefully Froch can nick it this time.

[Boxed Ears]

Of course. Go back and watch him versus Calzaghe and Andrade and then watch him versus Froch and Green. This isn't even a question, to me. Don't get me wrong, he's still a top five (3, probably) SMW in the world until proven otherwise, and he's a rock-solid, class fighter, but he's a much duller version of what he was at his peak. This guy's had a lot of physical wear and tear. I'm not talking a tremendous amount of punches, but just physically, the grind of the sport, the training and everything, he's had a lot of well-documented difficulty, and it's clear he's not what he once was.

[L.J.KEYS.]

Originally Posted by JonnyBGoode

I think if anyone was ever likely to stop Froch that he's faced it would be Kessler but he really hasn't ever been in any real trouble in his whole career really. I've never seen him hanging on, he only got put down against Taylor cos he was off balance and he wasn't really hurt at all. It's a fascinating fight.

some bloke in the general forum said Froch got KO'd in the amateurs?? Is there any truth to that? Found the quote

Originally Posted by BritBulldog

The "IRON" chin "POLISH".......ENGLISHMAN!.Carl FROCH got KO'D....By the almighty Peter manfredo jnr in the AMS....Go fucking figure

[BlackBrenny]

Originally Posted by macho_grande

I fancy that Ward beating might have done for him.

you mean the ward heabutting?

[BlackBrenny]

Originally Posted by JonnyBGoode

I think if anyone was ever likely to stop Froch that he's faced it would be Kessler but he really hasn't ever been in any real trouble in his whole career really. I've never seen him hanging on, he only got put down against Taylor cos he was off balance and he wasn't really hurt at all. It's a fascinating fight.

Dirrell shook him up pretty badly at one point

[REEVO]

No way i cant understand how people come to some conclusions....

[zulander]

yeah on the top of the slide for sure
He stopped green but didnt look great at times and as other have said the physical wear and tear could be starting to take its hold.
Id consider it a shock if Kessler beat froch to be honest

[Flash Jab]

It really could go either way. Simple as that.

[AndyPaterson]

Originally Posted by Boxed Ears

Of course. Go back and watch him versus Calzaghe and Andrade and then watch him versus Froch and Green. This isn't even a question, to me. Don't get me wrong, he's still a top five (3, probably) SMW in the world until proven otherwise, and he's a rock-solid, class fighter, but he's a much duller version of what he was at his peak. This guy's had a lot of physical wear and tear. I'm not talking a tremendous amount of punches, but just physically, the grind of the sport, the training and everything, he's had a lot of well-documented difficulty, and it's clear he's not what he once was.

agree with this.

He fought Beyer with a rib injury.

Even though he denied it in a pre-fight interview, he had a hand injury for the Calzaghe fight.

Fight against Mundine in Austraila had to be put back because of a back injury.

Then there was the eye problem that forced the withdraw from the Super Six.

There is also documented injuries with both hands and elbows.