No it´s not speed. Kessler is a rythm based fighter. Disrupt his rythm and he is uncomfortable and doesn´t know what to do. Calzaghe was a rythm disrupting fighter and Ward is one too. Having said that, if Kessler can make it a brawl he has a good chance to take it. If he doesn´t he loses again.
The speed certainly doesn't hurt, as Kessler's handspeed is only slightly above average. Speed kills...even when there's an accomplice. :yep Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.
Of course speed helps. But speed can be negated. By timing and by a good dominating jab. Kessler has has both but it didn´t help him much. The main factor for Ward was him disrupting Kessler´s rythm and not letting him get set. His speed was only one of a view tools to achieve that. His fouling, I don´t blame him, was another one.
