Kessler is a massive SMW, with good handspeed & footspeed, a tight defense, an excellent jab and and good punching accurancy. Kessler is a very good fighter.
His top 5 was Calzaghe, Hopkins, RJJ (before the Calzaghe fight), Taylor and Bute. All legends except Bute who is a good champion whpo has had a lot of European coverage. Taylor has been in with the best and has had far far more exposure than Dawson. Obviously Dawson must take the backseat to these fighters. Mikkel's dream is to do what Hopkins has done and what Calzaghe has done - to unify the four belts. Froch, Taylor, Lacy, Pascal, Bute, Ward, Direll etc. Unifying with these guys is gonna be a tough and maybe impossible proposition. He may, however, skip up to LHW for a legend for one fight, but not for a belt (which is all Dawson is).
Kessler is extremely basic, and Calzaghe is no genuine boxing dynamo. The Kessler hype is based on the politicking of Calzaghe fans trying to add credit in places where it doesn't belong.
I have Bute as less stable in his performances than KEssler, but his peak level I believe is really high. He imo is one of the best technical fighters in boxing today. He fought a great fight against Bute until he was clipped in round 12. I think Bute may go on to battle for HOF pride in the future.
If he really is extremely basic, then surely Taylor (who beat Hopkins etc.) should easily be able to beat Kessler, right? And Pavlik who has beaten many good fighters should also, right? Can you list the fighters in MW or SMW (the two divisions Kessler has said he will concentrate on the next five years) that clearly beats such an extremely basic fighter? Just the ten you are most sure of.
Kessler said, that he in theory could make MW, it is highly unlikely that he would though. He (or his trainer I believe) said he would stay in SMW, but chances are that the money/prestige fights, bar Taylor, are to be found north of SMW.
I disagree. I have watched Bute's career closely and I haven't seen much development in his last couple of fights. He is the same fighter he was against Bika, just better. Bute would have to develop a strong inside game to be competitive at the highest level; currently, his inside game is non-existant. He would have to develop a much better defence, especially on the inside; his defence has not improved much, so I assume it won't get much better in future either. His decision making is also questionable, but in all fairness, he is still inexperienced. Most worrying is the extent to which he succumbs to pressure, both physically and mentally. It could be a sign he doesn't trust his own toughness and solidity. I used to think there was a lot of upside there too, but I no longer do. Still, I hope you are the one who is right.
Best hate case scenario says, or at least in my imagination says: Bute Froch Abraham Pavlik Taylor Winky ...... ...... ...... ...... I guess I need a little help with the last four! Dirrell, Mundine (braver version), nahh hell doesn`t work out for me Help!:rofl
I couldn't find any such article. Perhaps you'd be kind enough to private message me the links. Thanks.
I wish Kessler and his team had the balls to fight Dawson now. I don't rate Dawson too highly but he'll fight anyone.
Dawson will fight anyone?! This is the same Dawson that binned his title rather than fight his mandatory after his team lost the purse bid?