I think Kessler is well past his best now. I have been a fan of Mikkel Kessler for a while now, but I think that he is very much on the decline. Im sure that people will point to his KO victory over A Green and disagree, but as a fan who has watched Kessler for some time, I felt he looked very poor to how he used to look, though the finish was good. Kessler doesnt seem to be able to get out of the way of the jab anymore, doesnt have the same footwork, looks slower, doesnt throw the same combinations and his timing looked terribly off. Against Green he was just throwing wild swings, the old straight shots through the middle seem to have disappeared also and many of those swings looked off the mark. I remember reading a report where the journalist claimed Kesslers timing seemed off against Perdermo and another who felt he looked like he had slipped against Bouadla, even though it was a clear win they felt he was no longer slipping jabs and felt he was hurt for a moment. Kessler has suffered many delays with injurys and eye trouble. After beating Haussler in Oct 08 he has only fought 5 times and had 3 breaks of around a year. I have noticed how people use the words prime when a fighter loses but I think we have seen Kesslers prime. Look at how Kessler has looked in his last 5 fights Perdermo, Ward, Froch, Bouadla and Green. Look at his speed, footwork, combinations and ability to slip shots and then compare him to the undefeated Kessler who beat Siaca WBA SMW champ, Mundine former WBA SMW champ who would win the title again, Lucas former WBC SMW champ, Beyer WBC SMW champ and Andrade (undefeated). I dont think that version would have struggled as much with Froch, and would have possibly outboxed Froch a bit more. I think Kessler is past his best by quite a way, but not been shown by a loss yet. What do you think?
Without going into much detail i agree. Still i don't really see many people beating him at SMW. He would beat Froch, Abraham, Stieglitz, Degale, Groves etc. Ward would be the only one to beat him. I would say Dirrell but Kessler doesn't have the time to fight runners like 'The Matrix'
Not a great, but very much world class, proven in becoming a 3 time SMW champ, proven in the way he beat Siaca easier than anyone else who was WBA champ, Beyer clearer than anyone else who was WBC champ, Mundine who had been WBA champ and became WBA SMW champ after losing to Kessler. Back then he was barely losing rounds, if you compare that fighter throwing fast straight combinations who was on his toes to a fighter that in quite a few fights now has looked flat footed, slow and throwing wild often missing swings rather than his old straight shots. I think there is a big difference
In some ways, he has lost some skills, but I also think he has gained some. He has lost some speed and accuracy, I guess. But he has gained more experience and has become a bit better at the tactical/mental aspect of the sport. He also uses a greater variety of punches, like today the left hook. He also goes to the body, which he didn't do before Montoya. But he definitely gets hit more, he takes more chances.
Hate saying it about a fighter that has been a big factor in my favourite weight division. He beat Siaca WBA SMW champ, Beyer WBC SMW champ, Mundine who became WBA SMW champ, Froch when undefeated and WBC SMW champ and Sartison who became WBA SMW champ
He is at a new weight, at the tail end of a good career, he aint going to look good but he still got good options especially with a WBC silver belt. Who wont want to see the following fights:- Froch II, Pascal, Cloud, Hopkins, Cleverly. Dawson and Ward would outbox Kessler, but those other name above would be good fights. I think Campillo probably UD's Kessler also. Regardless of how he looks, or his current state............... Mikkel Kessler is Stilll a revelant name in the LHW division.