Froch vs. Kessler II - "WARRIORS CALL" - AFTERMATH AND BREAKDOWN THREAD

points win for froch seems likely...but i have a bit of a gambler in me.....and i am going to gamble on kesslers huge body shots down the middle crippling the mid-30's froch.......although froch looks in remarkably fresh condition from recent training videos

 

Blueprint to Victory

The first fight was a shootout, Both men firing from the waist but tomorrow night it's the man who makes the technical adjustments that wins.

For Kessler:

Bodypunching: Padwork on Media Day Mikkel leans over and looks to strike to body. This was exactly what troubled Froch in the first fight. Froch didn't defend to the body at all. His stance was defeated by the bodypunches as it knocked him off balance and allowed Mikkel to close in low and come up with bigger shots.

Once again Mikkel will look to and need to do this. This is a fight that will most probably go into the latter rounds so can he take vital miles off the Froch Clock and score points to the biggest part of body.

Jab:Mikkel has a excellent jab, His jab landed well against Froch in the opening fight and his style is based off the jab. He needs to get the jab into play from early on and look to gain centre ring and force Froch to retreat. Montoya mentioned cutting the ring off.

Left Hook:The biggest punch in Mikkel's armoury, He works beautifully off the left hook and Froch tends to stand centre after his attacks. Mikkel can land lead and counter left hooks to score and cause damage to the Cobra.

Counter Punching: I believe they will look to try and exploit Froch's lack of balance with effective counter punching. A half step out and land. He damaged Froch's nose last time out and Montoya has written down in training counter punching.

The fight needs to be dictated by Kessler for Mikkel to win IMO. I think if he's struggling he will be relying on the big punch to rescue him.

Froch:

Right Hand:For as many improvements Kessler has made he's still open to the right hand lead and counter. Hand placements and stance are at a disadvantage to this punch and Froch scored well with it 3 years ago. This punch is a key, Knock Mikkel out of his stride and nick rounds with judges with a highlight punch.

Jab: Last time jabs were landing but there was no education from either man it was a jab before waging war. Tomorrow night both have to get jab into fight and work with education behind it. Kessler moved his head well when Froch threw one but when Froch threw 2's and 3's he landed. His long arms troubled Kessler who even remarks at how long they are. There's a seam through the guard if Carl throws them with speed and in bundles he sets up his artillery.

Combinations:Kessler is a excellent fighter but when he's faced with speed and workrate he tends to struggle. His defence is a 2 phase operation block and create distance but if Froch steps in and fires 3's and 4's unlike he did in Herning he will have a great deal of success. He has to be bold and brave but not naive he must be aware of potential counters. But Combination punching troubles Mikkel and i feel this is Froch's route to victory.

Front Foot:Mikkel isn't the best backing up, Carl has to try gain centre ring and get jab implemented and knock Mikkel onto back foot where he squares up and his feet aren't great when put under pressure. Also Carl's weight mustn't come over front foot as much as it has. #Balance

All in all both men have to defend there weaknesses and exploit the others weaknesses. I feel Froch is in fine form and may have the edge as fight goes into later stages. McCracken made a point of him defending the shots to body. I feel Mikkel will have his moments but Carl will adapt as the fight flows and will pull out the victory.

Whether he stops Mikkel remains to be seen. Mikkel is a tough man but he's been hurt in the past and i had the feeling in first fight that Carl hurt him with his punches but then again Carl was hurt but him.

Epic tussle!. Cannot wait..

 

The problem i see with froch is that he is gonna walk forward with one of his flurrys that he used in the bute fight but kessler is gonna catch him with a body shot and hurt him. If i was froch id keep it long and box early before putting it on him mid to late rounds.

 

Froch is going to KO him.

Hope its a cracking fight!!

 

Think he has to fight centre ring and box as you say, He doesn't have to hunt Kessler but he can't allow Kessler to back him up IMHO.

He's got to keep centre ring and pick and choose his attacks and yes from time to time step off and have a breather and a look but when he got close to ropes last time Kessler found success. But he must back Kessler up and hurt him. He's got to discourage him.

He's got to take chances but chances at the right time and right place.

 

Kessler Win via Majority Decision. 12 rounds.

 

Don't think you can read too much into the sparring though as has been mentioned. He wouldn't have brought the likes of Groves and Clev over late into a camp to go toe to toe with them just prior to the fight.

But we know Froch is physically still pretty much at his peak but until tomorrow we won't know if Kessler really has slipped as much as some think. There are arguments either way on that score.

 

This could be key if Kessler gets his movement right. Despite McCracken's urgings he can't seem to get Froch to move his feet after he delivers, and Froch has been wide open to the counter left in all the training footage I've seen despite McCracken trying to drum it into him. Having said that, Kessler needs to move his head more like he used to if he doesn't want to get nailed himself first.

 

I reckon, booo to me, Kesler stoppage. If Froch keeps his hands up then happy day.....but I reckon he wont and get picked off heavily. Booo.

As his annoying bird would say "COME ON CARL!" X 900.

 

If anyone gets stopped it will be Froch IMO, although I see this fight going the distance and being very closely fought like the first fight, maybe with the added bonus of one or both fighters being genuinely hurt from some big clean shots. Reckon Kessler will beat him by a couple rounds again though, but Froch ending up getting the judges decision.

Hope I'm wrong though, would love to see Carl win in dominating fashion. COME ON COBRA!

 

Froch has turned me against him the last few months. Close to supporting Kessler tonight. Think Froch will win on points though.

 

Kessler is shot, & he's here for the pay day...

It's his last fight win lose or draw so mentally he has already retired.

Froch takes him late or makes him quit on his stool.

 

This could have any outcome....Froch could steamroller Kessler from the start and stop him in the first third, Kessler could be more circumspect but pick his shots and stop Froch at any point from round 4 onwards, or Froch, starting with more urgency this time could win this wide on the cards....The one outcome that I can't see happening is Kessler on points, it was close last time and that was with Froch not turning up for the first 4 rounds, he won't make that mistake again.

 

I think Froch might stop him late.

What he really needs to do is take the fight to Kessler early - he's had success in his last two fights by starting very quickly, whilst Kessler has been ridiculously inactive and was decked hard by Allan Green not long back.

Kessler looks in good nick but I really do question exactly where he's at right now, whereas Froch is bang in form.

The only worry I'd have is that Froch might be too eager and try to behead Kessler with every shot.

I think we'll be hearing McCracken say ''do me a favour and....'' a few times tonight between rounds.

 

Look ahead and prediction here - http://theboxingnotion.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/warriors-call-look-ahead-to-froch.html