Good fight, specially with Dirrells double lead left to the body. I think it would be an intriguing one, Kessler late TKO, but perhaps with Dirrell looking awfully good in the early to mid rounds, keeping Kessler at bay with jabs and his absolutely lovely left to the body and upstairs.
The only way to beat Dirrell is to make it ugle, make him uncomfortable. Mikkel Kessler hates the rough stuff, so he'll try the outbox Dirrell and get beat on. Dirrell easy UD.
I like Dirrell, but he does not share Wards ring IQ and ability to rough things up. Kessler may not like it rough the kind of way Ward made it, but he knows how to make it rough and tough himself, he's not an inside fighter sure, neither is Dirrell. Dirrell has an awesome lead left, but I dont think he's got what it takes to do it for full twelve rounds, against a fighter like Kessler, who starts in the first or second round, instead of the 8th or 9th, like Abraham. And thats not to diss Abraham, thats his style, Kesslers just a much more active guy.
Kessler takes a solid lead on the cards by the 9th and wins by decision or late TKO if Dirrell gets desperate
Kessler will have to outbox Dirrell. I dont see it. He's slower, shorter reach, and he doesnt have 1 punch KO power to get Dirrells respect. Plus Kessler likes to counter punch. If Kessler couldnt take advantage of Ward jumping in and out with his hands down, how's he gonna beat a guy who fights off the back foot? Ward did some intelligent things in there, but he still beat Kessler with speed, and when Kessler had him cornered he still didnt land punches. I dont see him having any more sucess against Dirrell.
Kessler would be able to keep up with Ward much better than he can do with Ward, because an upright southpaw suits him much better than an awkward orthodox fighter who can switch things up and lead with both hands like Ward. Kessler does like to counterpunch, but he likes to lead with his right, and he would get an opportunity to do so against Dirrell, Arthur found home with his straight right all the time but he tried to loop it or go with the left hook as a prerequisite which did not work. Kessler would gladly throw the right hand down the pipe all night if thats what it takes. Dirrell fights off the back foot, but as you see in the Ward fight, as soon as Ward steps off the pedal, Kessler starts claiming ground and finding home, and as soon as Ward steps it up again and makes Kessler confused by his rushes, he's in control. Dirrell does not have that in his arsenal, he will move and shoot his lead left all night, and this will be an interesting battle, I just think Kessler finds home for his right and ends Dirrell late. Ward is the superior thinker of the two technical americans, of that there's no doubt, Dirrell may have a few things Ward lacks, but Ward has a totally different game than Dirrell, one that suits him stylistically against most of the opponents in the s6.
Both Dirrell and Ward are switch hitters. Infact kessler thought Ward was gonna fight orthodox as to why he didnt spar with any southpaws. Ward fought most of the fight against Kessler as a southpaw. Dirrell can fight the entire fight in any stance. He can throw it if he wants. I doubt Dirrell will be there to except. Abraham did occasionally land, but it had virtually no effect on Dirrell. I consider Abraham, the harder puncher, and if he couldnt get Dirrells respect, hows that gonna work for Kessler. Dirrell is a counter puncher, and every time he throws Kessler who has little head movement, has to watch out for that. And has Kessler proven he can handle an elite fighters jab yet? Dirrell has a great jab, whats his solution for that? Because he didnt show one against either Calzaghe or Ward. Even when he had Ward cornered, Ward was still able to counter and get out of there without Kessler landing much. Fighting off the ropes, thats Andre Dirrells game. Maybe so, still doesnt mean Kessler would beat Dirrell. Whenever Kessler has stepped up in class he's been found wanting. I just dont see what you see in him. He's not even that big a puncher.
Good insight, I definitely would not exclude the possibility of Dirrell winning a shutout against Kessler as I dont know where Kessler stands right now. And that last little input is much deserved, there's just not any grounds for Kessler to claim elitism in the division, he knows it, we know it and everybody else knows it by now, thats why the Froch fight is so very intriguing, and don't be surprised to see him come out with a statement against Carl. As of now, it doesnt look as though Kessler and Dirrell will cross paths, but hopefully, we'll see this down the road.
Dirrell will starch him. Probably a shut out. Kessler looked average in the Calzaghe fight. Ward spanked him. I think either Froch or Abraham will put him in ICU. He is decent, but I think his time has passed.
:good Fair enough. KEssler has the ability to improve, he's not a one trick pony, he has skills. If he displays head movement, counter punching and great footwork against Froch, I'll revise my analysis. For all of Froch's faults he has a good jab because of his long wingspan, if Kessler can handle that, he's definitely improved.
Dirrell clear ud but with some anxious moments on the way. Kessler seems to be going downhill rapidly. Be interesting to see if he can arrest this decline against Froch.
i think dirrell beats everyone in this tourney except maybe ward. toss up. dirrell is extremely talented.
Dirrell beats the current version of Kessler. His flaws have been exposed, Dirrell has the tools to take advantage.
Except Froch, right? I don't get how some can discount Froch's win over Dirrell. The only way you could do that is if you don't count the work Froch did in the clinch. Dirrell was clinching regularly in that fight. And Froch was still landing meaning shots to Dirrell. I could only give Dirrell that fight if I didn't score Froch's work while Dirrell was clinching. But that's an arbitrary standard to judge the fight on. Froch beat him up in the clinch - clinches that Dirrell initiated.