The thing is, they're showing Pac-Marquez tonight, which is good for me. But, seriously.. Kessler-Magee > Skoglunds padding journey. Nobody cares.... TV10 is making a huge mistake atsch And they were supposed to show every scandinavian fight as part of a 3-5 year package of "Scandinavian fight night".
Interesting style matchup for sure, I think Barker may have a little too little to offer physically, however. I'd love to see Kess fight Froch again, that'd be something... in Nottingham ofcourse. :good
I think right now, Barker has the better jab. (but of course 2007 Kessler's was vastly superior) He's also no shrinking violet. Kessler would be stronger and the obvious favorite but I think Barker could hold his own in spots. Yeah, great atmosphere.
Barker/Hope isn't a proper SMW clash, Barker weighed in at 162 and a bit pounds, Hope at 161.5. Just one of those where there's no meaningful title on the line so no need for both guys to make the championship weight. Weird that they have the IBF inter-thingy belt on the line though :huh
So in other words, yes, it damn well is a super middleweight clash. :yep Until they drop back to middleweight, both will be rated at 168 after today.
- Which I'd LOVE to see ! A wiser Kessler vs a tougher, possibly stronger Froch. Could be a great fight. I don't see Magee as much of a threat, but the WAY in which Kessler deals with him will tells us a lot about Kessler's possible future in the division.
Stupid though isn't it. If that the weight they're coming in at they obviously have no intention to make the jump up to 168. It's like Danny Jacobs fighting at around 161/162 for his past couple of fights but he'll be pursuing title opportunities at 160. With the IBF thing the winner will end up being ranked at 168. What's the point of wasting money on a sanctioning fee though? Unless Sky wanted a 'title' fight as the main event :dead
It's no matter that both came only a bit over 160...fact is, they're over 160 and thus super middles. You don't have to weigh all the way up to the max limit of the division as opposed to down near the max of the next one down. Look at Marquez. He's officially measured at 143 for tonight's "third time lucky" rematch, and it's @ welter. He's closer to 140 than 147, technically, but he's still very much a welterweight. If you can't/don't make the previous division's limit for whatever reason, you're a full-fledged combatant in that next division up. :good (at least until such time as you successfully drop back down)
Eddie Hearn said Magee/Kessler would start around 10.45pm UK time (just under 3 hours from now). Barker/Hope is on before then.