Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch II

Clueless...

Froch hasn't suddenly become some kind of monster... Kessler on the other hand is almost back to 100% no eye problems (only some worn knuckles)..

Kessler will surprise you I'm sure..

 

I think if Pascal beats Bute he will give Pascal a rematch before he will fight Ward again. He's always said Pascal deserved a rematch from their war.

 

Yeah it would have to be at 175.

 

I want to see Froch and his arrogant British attitude get knocked down. What an ass. Guy speaks like he's the p4p number one of all time or he is leaving some cultural recognition past boxing.

He's ilke most Brits, an arrogant ******* who has not forgotten tone body language or arrogance of empire.

I go with Kessler. (And yes I know he's half a Brit)- the good half too. Northern Country.

 

Physically, Froch has clearly faded, he's not as sharp as he was against Pascal. Likewise Kessler has clearly faded with the injuries he's suffered to his elbows, hands and wrists, he's not the same fighter who KO'd Beyer with one punch, boxed Andrade's head off for 12 rounds and gave Joe Calzaghe a tough fight. So both guys are clearly past their best. However, they still have enough left in the tank to give us one more great fight.

For all this talk of the fight being more brutal than the last, it's going to be another Gatti-Ward, I don't see it like that. They're both far more skilled than Gatti and Ward, and neither are brawlers. Froch really surprised me against Bute, during the Ward fight I thought Froch was pretty much finished at top level, he looked awful. Against Bute and Mack, he had opponents who couldn't defend themselves and he looked great in taking them out, but I think that says more about Bute and Mack than Froch.

Froch really isn't as seek and destroy as people will make out, he doesn't go after his opponent unless he knows they're hurt and he's pushing for the stoppage. Froch's style is to fight off the backfoot and look to draw leads from his opponent which he can counter. Kessler too is a counter puncher, so this fight will be more protracted than people think. I think there will be some action because both guys are so evenly matched, they'll frustrate the other into taking risks. When Kessler is coming forward, Froch has to keep that right hand up as Kessler likes to feint and throw a left hook around the guard, and Kessler has a powerful left hook (just ask Allen Green!), and when Froch opens up he has to watch for Kessler's counter right hands, and likewise Kessler won't want to engage Froch in a brawl where Froch can get his shots off.

Overall, I see both guys getting hurt at times, the fight will be that close, but I'm going for Carl Froch to win by 12th round stoppage or razor thin decision.

 

Can't wait for this fight!

 

good post

 

Kessler looks faster on his feets now.. Havent seen this movement since he fought Mundine. Looks nice...

 

I'll take Froch by decision.

 

I believe Kessler can beat Froch.
It will not be easy, but I think Kessler can do it.

A lot of posters here are solely focusing on the fact, that Froch has had a good run since the last fight against Kessler, gaining experience against world-class operators, and winning his last two fights in spectacular style.
It is all true, but Kessler is definitely not on the decline, and probably has a lot more to offer in this rematch, compared to their first fight:

1: Kesslers eyesight is back to normal.
Kessler was known for his eagle-eyed precision before the super-six, and in the fight against Froch in 2010 he was forced to be the aggressor (not always successfully) because he couldn't rely on his precision to fight from the distance.
In his last two fights Kessler has been showing his acclaimed precision again, and Froch is normally not hard to find in the ring.

2: Kessler has been working with Jimmy Montoya as a coach now for 3 years. Montoya has been adding a lot of new weapons to Kesslers arsenal (or rather making Kessler find them again, after having relied on the "jab-jab-straight" tactics for a long time under his former coach Ricard Olsen). Montoya has been able to find fatal flaws in Kesslers last opponents every time, and present it tactically for Kessler to exploit (Allan Green dropping his right hand, exposing him for the left hook. Magees soft spot down below, etc.)
Froch-Kessler I was the Kesslers first fight with Montoya in the corner. I am sure Jimmy has been able to find a lot of new stuff about Froch, Kessler can exploit.

If Froch fights like against Bute and Mack, storming forward like a man possessed, I can see Froch being at the wrong end of a nasty counterpunch at some point in the match.
Froch has a good chin, but maybe not as good as he thinks himself.
If Froch fights like against Abraham, keeping the distance and relying on his reach advantage to outscore Kessler, it will be a much more difficult night for Kessler. Kessler would then have to rely on his speed advantage to slip, counter and close the distance, working the body like in their first match, and hitting him from awkward angles.

Froch has made it public, that he will stop Kessler before the 9th round, and it will become a war. If that is true, Kessler has a much better chance than if Froch boxes the match sensibly (which I actually think he will).
Froch also has an enormous pressure on his shoulders. He has been calling out Kessler publically, and has the home advantage, and his fans are expecting great things from him.
It could work out bad for Froch who's arguably best wins in recent time (Abraham, Bute) came after defeats, where the expectancies were much lower...

Either way, it will be an exciting match-up, which every red-blooded fight fan should look forward to !!

 

Terrific post by a real boxing scholar
EDIT: Montaya is an underrated coach for sure.