Some things that first come to mind: -Stop trying to go for the knockout. It seemed that he put his full power behind every right hand, which pretty much limited his output to 40-50 punches a round. At that rate, it's extremely hard to win rounds against someone who throws 70-80 punches a round even if most of them miss or are blocked. -Work a bit more on close or medium range. Often when Calzaghe came in close, Kessler backed up but needed quite some space to get his punches off because he is tall and has long arms. His uppercut worked like a charm in round 2 and 3 but he didn't throw that many after that. A short left hook would work miracles for him. -Go to the body more instead of head hunting.
Seconded. Worst cornerwork since Waldo got smashed by Sanders. After the first round they didn't even put water on him.
Brawl. Brawl brawl brawl. GO for the KO. It's the opposite, in many ways, of what I was advocating pre-fight this time, but Kessler was out-jabbed :shock: When they were both jabbing, Calzaghe got the better of it. So brawl. Hope he can be drawn. He probably can, and he'd probably win anyway.
Kessler needs to shift his attack downstairs. Almost every right hand Kessler threw from the 4th on was slipped by Calzaghe. Kessler should throw the right hand to the body and rip left hooks to the rib cage. He needs to go to the body more! He needs to shorten up his left hook and not telegraph it so much. Throwing the uppercut as Calzaghe leans in would work, but Calzaghe would probably adjust again. Kessler also needs to vary his combinations and give more variety - so he isn't so predictable.
NO **** MAN!! He had hella success early with uppercuts and whether it was part of Joe's trying to get him to open up or let him inside Joe's chin was OUT THERE quite a bit. I was all but begging for Kessler to throw the upper. It was like Oscar quiting the Jab.
Kessler's mistake was similar to De La Hoya's against Mayweather. Some observations thus far in this thread are good. .... Calzaghe is a technician -he combines sound fundamentals with stylisms and constant rythym-breaking strategies. He presents some calculus III and alot of alchemy. The end result is gold -he forces his man to think and then makes the man pay for thinking. He punches in a manner that is sporadically timed and from odd angles. He varies the speed and power of shots in the midst of a combination. In effect, he takes over by keeping you constantly occupied and constantly trying to figure out what is happening. Mayweather does the same with speed and finesse. What to do? Scrap the test and take over the classroom. There is an old adage in boxing. Fight a boxer, box a fighter. In other words, be a matador to a bull, and a bull to a matador. Kessler was content to play patsy to Calzaghe, he neither outboxed him, nor consistently tried to bull him. In round 4 and in round 12 Kessler got close and threw hard, straight uppercuts and combinations. That was the key. Calzaghe was hurt/stunned by at least one uppercut and a body shot. Kessler failed to recognize this for what it was. It was the answer key! When De La Hoya put Mayweather's back on the ropes, he gave him a beating and neutralized Floyd's advantages. He failed to do it enough. Both men had the answer key to those tests. Kessler is a basic fighter. Sound fundamentals with no imagination. It would have been more advisable for his corner to remind him that he, Kessler, is the stronger man. Get close and rip short shots to the body in 2s, 3s, and 4s, and not worry about incoming. Kessler did not impose his will --whenever Calzaghe punched or punched back, what did he do? He backed straight up with his hands up in front of him. Wrong. Step to the left and throw a straight right to the body. Or, step in and meet him. Calzaghe evades shots by going low an awful lot. Punch up. Kessler was punching the air over his head. In sum. Calzaghe is beatable.
I agree. Also Mikkel should understand that although it would've been difficult he should've had a clear a more powerful answer for anything Joe threw. Let's face it in order to beat Joe you need to match if not surpass his volume and quality of punching which is very difficult. Kessler fought like he had his head up his ass..no focus, no determination, no confidence..very sad Joe did good however we did'nt see his best either and now he's the Greatest SMW ever? all too sad
totally agree mikkel didnt try and outbox him and didnt try to bully him nor try and swarm him or oput punch him. he was the stronger man and could of done better if he stuck to a gameplan but a simple game plan. it was the same when calzaghe fought reid. reid stuck on the outside just outside joe's reach and threw bombs form the outside calzaghe adjusted that robin wasnt goign to come foreward unless eh engaged him and got counterpunched....whcih was exactly wat robs plan was. but in the end calzaghe hieght and reahc and handspeed just caught up with robin and he lost the decision
Indeed. It was also noted by HBO's crew later in the fight that at no point had Kessler's corner been using end-swell on his eye (sounded more like Tyson/Douglas to me).
