Mikkell Kessler v Jeff harding

This would be a fabulous fight. A real rear up. Harding was seriously tough and had bottomless courage but exactly the same could be said about Kessler.
Jeff was not quick and had a leaky defence but at the same time could always pull a fight back with 1 punch. His right hand was a hammer.
Kessler wasn't a big one punch hitter and tended to have success with combinations. He had quicker hands and threw more punches than Harding as well as having a better schooled all round game.
I'd say Kessler on points but the middle rounds, when Harding tended to be at his best in fights would be unforgettable as Harding willed his way into to the contest.

 

Good matchup.

The only two guys who beat Kessler in his prime were Calzaghe and Ward (really only Calzaghe, Kessler was slipping when he fought Ward), and Harding obviously wasn't on the same talent level as those guys.

Probably a slight edge to Kessler IF he could keep Harding at the end of his jab, and continue giving him angles, which Kessler was good at in his prime. But there's a really good chance Harding could pull this fight out late, as he was both the bigger/more durable man, and had better stamina.

If Jeff could force Kessler into a tear up, he has the advantage. Problem is, Harding was just very, very limited, and he'd have trouble getting past Kessler's jab.

I think Kessler wins a decision, but has to survive some scares to do so. Kessler might be on his last legs circa 11-12, but I think he survives long enough to earn a decision.

In a 15 rounder, I think Harding stops him.

 

Kessler points or late tko

 

Agree with Kessler being favored. But yes Jeff Harding was one tough and underrated fighter

 

If Kessler failed to stop that bum Librado Andrade, despite hitting him with 15,000 clean shots, then he's not stopping Harding.

If anyone gets stopped in his matchup it'd be Kessler.

 

Harding was knocked out in his first loss, Kessler never,apart from that Froch, Calzaghe and Ward are 1 or 2 steps above Andries

 

Kessler was ruffled by Ward roughhouse tactic's and Harding with his mental
toughness and underrated body attack would upset Kessler momentum.
Harding pts.

 

I like Kessler on points in this one but he will definitely have some come to jesus moments with Harding in this one.

 

Got to go with Kessler here. A bit quicker and more rounded than Harding, who was incredibly game and very effective at what he did, but who never adapted and had only one way of fighting. Harding was a sucker for a good uppercut, and Kessler certainly had one of those in his peak years.

Agree that Kessler isn't stopping him, though. I think in the second Andries fight it was exhaustion which did for Harding as much as Andries' punches. He didn't beat the count but I think being demoralized rather than being out of it was the reason for that. I know McCallum wasn't a heavy puncher at all at 175, but he was still a very accurate and aggressive one. He must have hit Harding with every shot in the book fifty times over, but Harding kept coming after him. On the other hand, I think there's a higher chance that Harding could conceivably stop Kessler. Ward had Kessler holding on and wobbling at least two or three times.

But more often than not I'd take Kessler's cleaner work and more measured style to take a points win. Would likely be a very good fight with some hairy moments for Kessler, but I see him holding on.

 

Kessler only had about 3 maybe 4 fights at this weight so hes not prime at all but if he keeps a kool head and boxes behind his superb 1-2 he should take the UD

 

Harding. He had an underrated body attack and wax very strong.

 

I think Jeff stops him late while being behind on points.Kessler does not quite have the chin or skills of Mc Callum.

 

I'd like to see Harding win this one.
He was one of my favourites back in the day.

 

We obviously haven't got a visual size comparison, but I don't think size would be a factor here. By Kessler's era, 168 had moved on from being a transitional division for middles who no longer were able or willing to make 160. Kessler was a rangy, good sized super-middle; although he never formally campaigned at 175, I don't get the impression that he'd struggle at that weight.

Conversely, Harding wasn't a huge light-heavy by later standards. Physically strong and durable, yeah, but it's not like he was a boiled down cruiser.

Size wise they are likely to be pretty similar. The shift from 168 to 175 is quite a common one.

I think the key to beating Kessler was taking away the jab; Calzaghe, Ward and Froch II all achieved that by different means. Froch literally outjabbed him for the long periods of their second fight. I don't see Harding doing that, and from there I don't see Kessler falling apart under sustained pressure from Harding. There's nothing in Kessler's ledger to suggest that.

Harding would make it tough and competitive, but ultimately there's a difference in boxing ability that could only be overcome with a big advantage in size/strength and/or fragility on Kessler's part, neither of which seem to apply.