The return of Mikkel Kessler

He is obviously waiting on the decision of Carl Froch regarding against whom to next defend his super middleweight titles (promoter Hearn promised to make the announcement inside a 10-14 day windowed deadline from yesterday) but he did indicate at his press conference in May that he is only really considering the following options:

• Froch III
• Ward II
• Golovkin

The super middleweight title sweepstakes to challenge Froch is a three-man race between Kessler, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and James DeGale.

Should the choice be Chavez Jr. or DeGale, it would seem likeliest that Kessler will cut to 160lbs to challenge Golovkin (since he did state he would be willing to do so during his presser, and currently lacks the leverage to entice Golovkin to move up to 168lbs anyway. Besides, this way Kessler gets a chance to become a 2-division titlist whereas nothing would be on the line between them at 168lbs) given that Ward is sidelined indefinitely, thanks at least in part to promotional issues.

Froch at 168 coming off a sizable layoff (November - completing a three-year pattern for Carl Froch of boxing twice a year in May & November since 2012 - would make for eighteen months' worth of rust for Kessler) is pretty daunting, but then so is draining to a brand new unfamiliar weight to meet Golovkin after the same amount of time off.

What's the lesser of two evils for the Viking Warrior? :think

 

...and he will still have Jimmy Montoya in his corner, and has already returned to active training (but not full-blown camp) per Danish periodical BT.

 

He said at his press conference he would make 160 but only for a super fight (meaning GGG, of course)

It has been fourteen years since he made the middleweight limit...but his decline never seemed to have anything to do with trouble making super middle anymore (more to do with shot reflexes and generally slowing down, and the eye problems), and he in fact was only 166.5 in Froch II. He didn't carry a ton of baggage, though, so yeah, it might cost him if he is to have to shed some muscle and leave him a bit weakened...

 

Uh, yeah. :readthre:

Froch is his #1 choice, then either Golovkin or Ward.

If he can't land any of those he probably won't bother with the comeback. He only wants blockbuster events. (though he said he would take a tuneup if he did land one but with some wait time)

 

:conf He never mentioned Chavez's name, but who knows, if Froch picks DeGale and there is big money offered I can't see why Kessler would turn up his nose. (although Chavez would be a cash grab and not as good for his legacy as the other three options. He would get massive credit for dropping a weight class to upset Golovkin, and for going 2-1 in the Froch trilogy, and especially - not that he would stand much chance - if he avenged the Ward loss. Chavez would be more like "Eh, whoop-tee-do..." and purely for the $$. Not to mention, losing to Golovkin, Ward or Froch wouldn't hurt Kessler's legacy much. Losing to a scrub like Chavez would besmirch it...)

 

Groves is sort of similar to Chavez, as far as being worth the risk of damage to Kessler's legacy. (and insofar as he would draw a lot of money in the UK, like Chavez would in the US - but neither of them as much as the "Big Three" that Kessler is angling for)

Assuming that he gets past Rebrasse next, Groves would still be 1-2 in his last three so it wouldn't be hugely creditable for Kessler. If he loses to him (and, based on styles and their respective ages, it would be a distinct possibility) it looks kind of bad.

 

Ah, strongly disagree. Kessler deserved the nod the first time, razor thin, and the 2nd was actually close, though clear for the Cobra.

That is probably the one Froch would get the most credit for beating among purists, although the allure of a big rhinestone-laden sendoff with Chavez in Vegas might be hard for him to ignore...and of course Kessler would be seen as the easiest bet, money for nothing almost.

Rodriguez? I don't think he is even remotely on the radar for what Kessler is looking to do with his remaining time in the ring.