I think Kessler is well past his best now. Sorry

I think Kessler is well past his best now.

I have been a fan of Mikkel Kessler for a while now, but I think that he is very much on the decline. Im sure that people will point to his KO victory over A Green and disagree, but as a fan who has watched Kessler for some time, I felt he looked very poor to how he used to look, though the finish was good.

Kessler doesnt seem to be able to get out of the way of the jab anymore, doesnt have the same footwork, looks slower, doesnt throw the same combinations and his timing looked terribly off. Against Green he was just throwing wild swings, the old straight shots through the middle seem to have disappeared also and many of those swings looked off the mark.

I remember reading a report where the journalist claimed Kesslers timing seemed off against Perdermo and another who felt he looked like he had slipped against Bouadla, even though it was a clear win they felt he was no longer slipping jabs and felt he was hurt for a moment.

Kessler has suffered many delays with injurys and eye trouble. After beating Haussler in Oct 08 he has only fought 5 times and had 3 breaks of around a year.

I have noticed how people use the words prime when a fighter loses but I think we have seen Kesslers prime.

Look at how Kessler has looked in his last 5 fights Perdermo, Ward, Froch, Bouadla and Green. Look at his speed, footwork, combinations and ability to slip shots and then compare him to the undefeated Kessler who beat Siaca WBA SMW champ, Mundine former WBA SMW champ who would win the title again, Lucas former WBC SMW champ, Beyer WBC SMW champ and Andrade (undefeated). I dont think that version would have struggled as much with Froch, and would have possibly outboxed Froch a bit more.

I think Kessler is past his best by quite a way, but not been shown by a loss yet. What do you think?

 

Not a great, but very much world class, proven in becoming a 3 time SMW champ, proven in the way he beat Siaca easier than anyone else who was WBA champ, Beyer clearer than anyone else who was WBC champ, Mundine who had been WBA champ and became WBA SMW champ after losing to Kessler. Back then he was barely losing rounds, if you compare that fighter throwing fast straight combinations who was on his toes to a fighter that in quite a few fights now has looked flat footed, slow and throwing wild often missing swings rather than his old straight shots.
I think there is a big difference

 

Very happy for him, just fear he has dipped more than I first thought a few years back

 

Hate saying it about a fighter that has been a big factor in my favourite weight division. He beat Siaca WBA SMW champ, Beyer WBC SMW champ, Mundine who became WBA SMW champ, Froch when undefeated and WBC SMW champ and Sartison who became WBA SMW champ

 

Yeah hes a warrior but its sad to see such a noticable drop.