Kessler Retires. HOF? Yes or No?

Yes no doubt in my mind. Wins over Beyer, Mudine, Froch, Andrade, Green and good fights with Calzaghe and Ward his willingness to travel to make fights, hisiron chin never once stopped and that classic rematch with Froch no doubt a hof for me.

Only lost to 3 greats in their home countries.

 

I think you mean 2 HOF'ers and froch

"3 greats" is more than a bit rich

 

Kessler was universally regarded as the number one fighter after Calzaghe left the weight class right up until Ward beat him. You could argie Froch was also the number one fighter and still is given Ward's absense.

 

another way of saying it would be that froch and Kessler are 0-3 against the best fighters at SMW
they were bridesmaids at SMW, and Kessler's tag as favorite for the super six comp disappeared once he fought ward

 

Well he sure put Denmark on the world map, when it comes to boxing.

 

I'm certainly not Froch's biggest fan I'll never forget how he used to call Calzaghe out when he had about 12 fights, got offered the fight when he was about 20-0 after Calzaghe beat Lacy and refused it then when Calzaghe retired he went spouting off again saying Calzaghe sjould come out of retirement and meet him at a catch weight. Froch blatantly ducked that fight and many people think the opposite.

I also felt Froch lost to Johnson but in all fairness over all he is a hof fighter for me had a great career took on a lot of hard fights and upset the odds a few times with his will power.

 

Nope.

 

you're still 3 "great" fighters short

 

Fought Ward in America who got away with so many head butts he should have been disqualified. Like I said we're talking the hall of fame and for me any stand out world champion qualifies.

Froch and Kessler are both that, both were unified champions, both beat at least half a dozen champions, both only lost over seas and both helped raise the profile of the sport massively in their home countries.

 

i'm certainly not questioning the good both Kessler and froch did for boxing and the division, but don't call them "world champions" just because they held belts, but were never the best in their division
ward would have beaten Kessler without the 'excuse' of the headbutts being raised - it's just bad form hanging onto that now

 

I like Kessler but all he really was, was a good title holder. He really only had one good win against Froch and he lost to the 2 best opponents he fought.

He never unified, was never really the best in the division apart from a short 18 month period he held the WBA title after Clazaghe had moved up and before Ward dominated him. I don't think he's done enough to warrant HOF entry.

 

so an an Englishman (i'm assuming), doesn't what you've said above also apply to carl froch?

 

In some ways yes. Kessler and Froch's careers have a lot in common so it's not surprising their fights were so close.

Just like Froch, Kessler was willing to fight anyone, anywhere and Froch like Kessler was never really the man, his reign was between to better fighters, Calzaghe and Ward's.

The real difference in their careers is that Froch has benefited from Ward's and Kesslers inactivity. Froch was allowed to go further than he would have due to Kesslers absence and he then supplanted Ward as the premiere super middleweight in his absence.

Another difference is Kessler's inactivity due to injuries. After he beat Froch he never really had the kind of run Froch has had which is a real shame had he continued he maybe where Froch is now.

 

:good

 

For what he did for Demmark maybe but I don't think so isnt accomplished enough ..