Kessler to return against Stieglitz for WBO title?

FWIW, Sartison is currently a belt holder. Granted, he won a vacant title by beating Stjepan Bozic (the same guy Abraham is probably about to blow out) but still...he also gave Kessler arguably his fourth toughest fight after Ward, Calzaghe, and Froch (some would say Mundine but they'd be wrong).

Haussler had been on a decent run (including going 1-0-1 with then-rated Sanavia).

I'll give you Perdomo. He was a woeful challenger (and the fact that Kessler had even the slightest of problems controlling him in the first few rounds rang many alarms heading into the Super 6).

You could say the last time Kessler was fully on his game was 2008. Since then, tune-up with Perdomo aside (remember; Ward fought freaking Podwill, who's even worse) he's hardly been taking the easy path for someone who's on the slide: Ward, Froch, now a scrappy B-level guy in Stieglitz who is going to be sure to exploit any rust, any injury, any weakness whatsoever displayed by Kessler.

 

Some of you guys need to calm the **** down! Kessler should take a relatively easy fight before he tries on a top guy. That's obvious.

 

The thing is, boo - given how much the declining Kessler neglected (or had to abandon) his previously sharp counter-punching style against Froch (hell, even dating back to Perdomo)...and given how badly Stieglitz has shown he wants to retain his title at all costs, digging deep against Librado...I'm not even sure this is a relatively easy fight for Mikkel at this stage. :verysad

It'll tell us a lot about where he's at.

A points win would give him and his fans something to feel good about - another win, another title...an opportunity to bow out on a good note (but of course he won't, being the warrior he is).

A loss would be discouraging. He would really need to think long and hard about continuing.

A bad loss (or having his eye ripped open) would be heart-breaking.

A dominant KO win...that is best case scenario. That would be a very positive sign that he can mix it up with Bute and the Sixers.

 

Stieglitz is actually a better boxer than he was against Andrade, I would even dare to say much better. He boxed well against Balzsay, although he got lucky with the cut and subsequent melt down of the Hungarian, and I think he upped his game in the subsequent fights.

On the other hand, Kessler hasn't looked himself for years now. He's accuracy has gone and the fact he beat Froch on heart alone tells you all you need about his mentality. He's all but the same fighter he was a couple of years ago. To be honest, I'd probably go for Stieglitz especially if kessler has no previous tune up.

 

I was kind of hoping Stieglitz would buy in to the "Pavlik is shot" theory, or KP would make himself Stieglitz's mandatory.

Kessler does not need the WBO title to put himself in the mix. He already holds emeritus status with the WBC.

Slightly off topic, but consider this:

Kessler is coming back in June.

For all practical purposes Top Rank's new arrangement with Showtime makes Pavlik a Showtime fighter. He'll be back in May.

Froch has proven himself to be much better than a lot of us thought he was.

Glen Johnson is back in the mix, and looks like he could remain viable for several more fights.

Bute is with Showtime now.

As much as I detest Andre Ward I have to admit he has proven he knows how to win.

I've heard that Dirrell intends to resume training in March. That probably means an early summer return.

In addition there are several undefeated prospects/contenders coming up through the ranks: James deGale, Edwin Rodriguez, Marco Periban, Peter Quillin, Marcus Johnson, Maxim Vlasov, Alfonso Lopez, et.

And, we also have a good list of "tough contenders" who could upset the apple cart on any given night.

The super middleweight division has sure come along ways since the IBF crowned Murray Sutherland the first super middleweight world champion on March 28, 1984.

 

If Kessler is the same fighter he was against Froch he will beat Stieglitz... But not without being hit alot... Lets just hope he will come back to his old self.

 

It really wouldn't shock me. Upset me, yes. Shock me, no.

 

Yeah, Stieglitz doesn't have the pop to hurt Kessler (who has an excellent chin, maybe the division's best or at least top 3) but has heavy enough hands that with enough accumulation, if Stieglitz is able to keep turning and hitting him as Froch was able to...especially if Kessler has lost a step since then (which is very plausible...) :err

 

Yeah. There's going to be a lot of flux over the next year or two, let alone the next several.

We'll see the old guard faze out (but rage against the dying of a light) and the new blood trickle in.

It'll be fun.

One small nit-pick - Glen Johnson is good for maybe 2-3 more fights max, IMO.

 

After defending against Zuniga Bute was asked if he wanted Kessler. Bute accidentally wet himself before stuttering: "...Errrmmm... Thththere are other champions."

So Bute clearly didnt feel he was ready then which was a shame.That fight might have hindered the Palle-Kessler fall-out.

 

Yep that's the one. Lol.

 

It's ok Boo. I was just messing a bit with Bute haters. Just putting them in front of their own contradictions.

I've written before that I'm fine if Kessler takes a tune-up. I just don't want him to sit on his Emeritus status if he's fine after his tune-up.

I hope he will be fine but in the past Kessler has fought injured many times. It makes me sick because I would have loved to see a healthy Kessler against Bute. Now, I feel I'll see Stieglitz maybe win against a faded Mikkell. :twisted:

 

I'm no Bute hater and actually have quite a bit of respect for Magee, but honestly Stieglitz is much more of a threat to Kessler now than Magee is to Bute.

 

Serious question to Bute fans in the know: Do you think than Bute is willing to vacate his championship in order to get a shot at Kessler?

I am asking because it's been a very long time since the IBF forced a mando down his throat and Mendy, however pathetic, has earned a crack.

 

That's cool laffie.

I reckon a Kessler at 40% KTFO Stieglitz.