If you havent seen this vid - you should: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocsdkula8Ag&NR=1 Joe says on UK TV that he knew he was trailing Kessler until round 6. Then in round 6 he felt he might have a chance as he sensed that Kessler may have tired a bit. Round 8 was the round where Joe really believed he would win. Much better and much higher pace than the Hopkins fight.
I enjoyed this fight. I expected Kessler to do a lot better than he did against Calzaghe. Joe proved he was the better fighter that night but always thought Kessler didn't give 100% in that fight. Good action though
Kessler had the hand injury beforehand, and I think he gave what he could under the circumstances. IT was an incredibly high paced fight. And not high-paced like a Gatti fight - high paced and high skilled. Rare really.
Kessler gave 101% in my veiw, he just didnt have the depth of skills to beat calzaghe. Calzaghe took his best shots (Margo V Cotto anyone!!). One of the best fights i have ever watched (11 times). I think we are about to find out just how good kessler is going to be and just how good that win actually was for calzaghe.
I think this was a classic...Both fighters displayed heart and skill. Adaptability was the difference between the two fighters...Joe adapted to Kessler and won. I also beleive Kesslers corner fell asleep and ****ed him in the process, anyways definately did not help him.
How can it be an excuse? English media wrote that he had his hand in a cast and it wouldn't get out until a few days before the fight. Kssler's camp denied this. Yet, UK media kept finding more and more evidence. They talked to the hospital that had treated Kessler and only after the fight did Kessler's trainer acknowledge that it was so. He said that they could not tell the truth before the fight because they were afraid it would be called off and secondly because it would give Joe a mental advantage. So seeing that it was UK media that discovered this, I don't think anyone thinks its an excuse. It happened and thats it. Btw. you agree that his hand wasn't 100%. I agree that the shots he threw looked pretty much 100%. Kessler has later said that he felt good and that his hand hurt but that he didn't think the pain was a factor. He said the only factor may have been that he couldn't use gloves for about a month right before the fight.
I love Joe and I think he is one of the best fighters ever. But I have always thought he looks a bit goofy. :think
Calzaghe experiences hand problems too, so that cancels out any claim Kessler had of not being 100% on the night. Excellent fight in my opinion, they both put in 100%. Calzaghe just had more stamina and the ability to adapt - as I was watching the fight, I could see how Calzaghe was inviting Kessler's big overhand right in the first few rounds, then he shut that weapon down. Later in the fight when Kessler was having success with the uppercut, Calzaghe shut it down too. He basically brought all of Kessler's best punches out and nullifed them within 1 or 2 rounds. I also liked the fact that Calzaghe came out and still went toe-to-toe with Kessler in the 12th - he had the fight won by then and didn't need to take such a risk, but the guy has a lot of confidence in his own chin, proven by him sticking his head out and letting Kessler land big rights early in the fight. He's an exciting fighter to watch, and he's right when he says the better his opposition the better he fights.
Great fight from both. I have been watching a few of Kessler's older fights recently and he is one tough ****er at 168. I expect him to carry on where JC left off.
UK media uncovered this - and I don't know how one could imagine UK media are trying to make excuses for Kessler. Fact is that Kessler had one hand tied up for the month prior to the fight. As fight fans we are all free to make up out minds as to whether this will have an impact or not. Personally, I think it had some effect, but I'm not sure how much. However, we could see that Kessler obviously is a great fighter and he would still have beaten any other SMW on that night - lack of sparring etc. or not.
The fight was lost in the corner and ofcourse to a great opponent. Around round 5 the corner starts telling Kessler that he is behind and has to knock Calzaghe out to win - they've done so before (in the Mundine-fight for instanse) - they proberbly do it to motivate Kessler to make him fight harder - problem was that Kessler then changed from boxing Calzaghe (which was working) to trying to knock him out - fewer punches - more power - hence Calzaghe simply out-punched Kessler to win on points. To further f*ck it up when Kessler then asked what to do - they answered - hit him harder... That's the same as if a football-player askes his coach what to do to win the game and the coach says: score more goals! As for the hand injury - it might have been a factor in terms of stamina, as he couldn't train as he normally would, but it didn't loose him the fight and Kessler never claimed it did. The corner lost him the fight and should be fired for it - Richard Olsen simply doesn't have the skills to help a fighter of Kessler's caliber any further...
it was a great fight.and both guys gave it a 100%,no doubt! and i belive that kesslers corner was a main factor in that loss,as faetter br says. I would loved to watch a rematch. and i think kessler-calzaghe was one of the most exiting fights that year...maybe because one of my favorite fighter was in it..mikkel "viking warrior" kessler..