Michael Watson vs Mikkel Kessler

[SJS19]

@ 168 obviously.


Who would you go with?

[sportofkings]

Great fight, id go for Kessler via close decision, Watson would give him serious trouble though.

[McGrain]

Watson was something of a prisoner at 160lbs. When he moved up to 168lbs he was so good he was able to totally outfight Eubank. For a few rounds. Then he got Ko'd. Making sense of this? Good luck. I pick Watson, but who knows?

[SJS19]

Originally Posted by McGrain

Watson was something of a prisoner at 160lbs. When he moved up to 168lbs he was so good he was able to totally outfight Eubank. For a few rounds. Then he got Ko'd. Making sense of this? Good luck. I pick Watson, but who knows?

I watched the documentary 'Michael Watson - Fighting Back' earlier. Then a few of his fights. It was before my time, but shamefully I had no idea how good he was.

The flip side of that is that I think a peak Kessler is under-rated these days.

[atberry]

Watson did far better against a fresh, strong Eubank than Kessler did against a faded, weak Calzaghe.

Two different leagues.

Watson all day, in 7-8 rounds most likely.

[atberry]

McCallum was four leagues above Mundine and that was a 60-40 fight after 10, despite Watson carrying 11 months of ring rust. Don Lee was streets more dangerous than a Marcus Beyer.

Kessler is steady and tidy, but he ain't living with Watson at his best.

[SJS19]

Originally Posted by atberry

Watson did far better against a fresh, strong Eubank than Kessler did against a faded, weak Calzaghe.

Two different leagues.

Watson all day, in 7-8 rounds most likely.

That's a stupid way of looking at it, in my eyes atleast.

[PowerPuncher]

Watson wins, just better all round

[Vysotsky]

Originally Posted by atberry

Watson did far better against a fresh, strong Eubank than Kessler did against a faded, weak Calzaghe.

Two different leagues.

Watson all day, in 7-8 rounds most likely.

2007 Calzaghe faded and weak. Care to try and even remotely justify that claim.

[Boxed Ears]

Atberry, what was that thing you just said about Eubank, again?

[PowerPuncher]

Calzaghe was physically past prime in '07, what was he 36?

[Vysotsky]

Originally Posted by PowerPuncher

Calzaghe was physically past prime in '07, what was he 36?

35 but age alone doesnt prove anything. While he may not have been at his absolute physical peak its not like he was faded, his Bika and Lacy performances from the year before along with the Kessler fight itself are evidence of that. Granted i would have loved to see Calzaghe at that stage of his career without the hand problems.

[MAG1965]

Very good fight. I go back and forth on this thinking about it. I suppose Watson by split decision.

[PowerPuncher]

Originally Posted by Vysotsky

35 but age alone doesnt prove anything. While he may not have been at his absolute physical peak its not like he was faded, his Bika and Lacy performances from the year before along with the Kessler fight itself are evidence of that. Granted i would have loved to see Calzaghe at that stage of his career without the hand problems.

Physically he wasn't as good anymore imo. I think in some ways he was sloppier too seeming to get hit more and yes the power wasn't there. He didn't look too good against Bika from my recollection

[Vysotsky]

Originally Posted by PowerPuncher

Physically he wasn't as good anymore imo. I think in some ways he was sloppier too seeming to get hit more and yes the power wasn't there. He didn't look too good against Bika from my recollection

It was pretty sloppy and ugly for at least half of it (not quite as much as the Ward fight) but in the second half of the fight, may have only been the last 4 rounds or so i remember Joe really started to work Bika over on the inside and i found it very impressive. Slipping and rolling under shots at mid range and countering him with hard shots while roughing him up, somewhat like Ward vs Froch actually.