Will he get the credit he deserves? Or will he just be another average fighter who beat quite possibly the most overrated fighter in the last decade?
Ill give him the credit he deserves, but what your going to see is more pointing and laughing at Calzaghe than cheers and congratulations for Kessler.
I will give him credit. Kessler has been destroying his competition where as Lacy was having close fights with past their prime fighters and being bailed out by his power. Kessler is not Lacy. So if Calzaghe wins, he gets full credit as well.
I feel that Andrade was a good win and Joe definitely has a better resume overall. I think Kesslers a bit overrated
And if you judge actually on how fights are won, then the Lucas, Siaca and Beyer wins are class jobs also. Took them all to school just about every minute of the respective fights, lit Beyer up in the third round pretty nice also.:yep That was long overdue mate....
Calzaghe will look good in defeat should he lose - so yes, he'll get credit. The only way it would be otherweise would be if Joe broke his hand in round 1 and Kessler only managed a contested split decision, something like that.
We all know Joe's resume is average (some would say poor) but you seriously have to lack objectivity if you don't realise his talent. So unless he walks into somthing silly early on or injures his left early I expect it to be a high quality, keenly contested match with Kessler just coming out on top (expect me to change my mind every day or so ). So yes, Kessler should get full credit and I'd have him in my top 3 p4p list if I ever bothered to write up such a list. This should be considered a massive win for either fighter and I hope it dosen't get dissmissed in the same churlish manner that Calzaghes win over Lacy has been.
Some fighters generate more hate than others and Calzaghe is one of those, not least because of some of his over zealous fans, his poor resume for the length of his reign, his stay-at-home attitude etc... however un/warranted such things are. Therefore when he wins or loses there will be those who dont give out the credit deserved or give out too much. If Kessler beats him expect the Calzaghe haters to go on about JC being exposed regardless of whether the fight is competitive or not and in doing so discredit a Kessler win. Im thinking if he loses we'll have a Hamed syndrome repeat. From the most part Kessler will get credit for his win but at the same time people will lay the **** on Joe. Barerra's win over Hamed is regarded as one of his best wins yet Hamed was supposedly 'exposed'. How can it be a good win for Barerra if Hamed wasnt any good in the first place?! Expect the same if Kessler wins.
I agree, boxing fans are a contrary lot! Who ever wins this deserves fighter of the year. Although you could argue for Hatton if he pullls off the impossible. I think Kessler is potientially the no1 p4p4 fighter in the near future.
If Calzaghe wins then Kessler was never that good in the first place, he was always overrated and Calzaghe still hasnt fought anyone. If Kessler wins then Calzaghe was over the hill and anyone could have beaten him in that state. Its just the way boxing fans are im afraid.
I think the previous post says it all. I am a big Calzaghe fan and I think he'll win but if he loses then i'll be the first to congratulate Kessler. He's not only a damn good boxer, he's a helluva likeable guy. He realises how good Calzaghe is and what a achievment it would be if he does beat him.
I think Mikkel is the guy Calzaghe could accept as his heir. He would lose to one of the few unified and universally recognized champs. If oldjoe loses, he is 35 and Mikkel could be champ in SMW for a long time. Mikkel gets some stardust and USexposure. I think that Joe has accepted the idea of a loss as a distinct possibility. Not a fantasy.