Kessler to fight Mundine as mandatory challenger, avoided Miranda in the process...

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by BigBone, Apr 1, 2008.


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  1. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The official press release states that Mikkel Kessler became the official challenger to SMW WBA-champ Anthony Mundine, whom he's already defeated in 2005. The press release does not say that the rematch is on, but Kessler's statement is all about that fight and as his NEXT fight...

    “I am more than ready to get back into the ring and to what I do best,” Kessler said. “I asked my management team to seek out a world title opportunity. Now it is up to me to take a world championship belt. I don’t plan on stopping at one but I will take each fight as it comes. I believe I am the world’s best at 168 pounds and I would be thrilled to fight Joe once again. But he has business with Bernard Hopkins and I must focus on my next step which is competing for the WBA belt.



    So no Garay fight at 175... and since Green has just retired and Mundine-Green II is not a possibility anymore, Kessler-Mundine II looks to be the next logical thing anyway... so if Kessler can get the opportunity at Anthony's title... we can say he's avoided Miranda but probably for a better deal (money and stake). On the other hand, if the rematch will be held in Australia, there's no guarantee IMO that Showtime or HBO will be interested... HBO is interested in Miranda-Abraham II, so Kessler-Mundine II might not fit in the US TV picture which is a low blow for his career...
     
    BigBone, Apr 1, 2008
    BigBone, Apr 1, 2008
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  2. Bodysnatcher

    Bodysnatcher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bodysnatcher, Apr 1, 2008
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  3. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well, fighting Miranda as a champ is still an opportunity for Kessler if he wins the rematch, since Bute has to fight Andrade and Joe's only concentrating on big names (Pavlik, Jones, maybe Taylor). But Miranda will probably lose to Abraham so he'll be out of the big fight picture for a while...
     
    BigBone, Apr 1, 2008
    BigBone, Apr 1, 2008
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  4. DanePugilist

    DanePugilist God vs God - Death Angel Full Member

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    So now it's official. I would have loved to see him fight Miranda, but this is a better fight overall. Mundine has improved vastly since last time, and it is only right, that he returns the favor that Kessler did to him.

    Maybe Miranda will get his shot eventually...

    I personally think the US interest died with the loss, but thats not to say it can't be rejuvenated later on. Those who know, will know this is a top fight at 168.
     
    DanePugilist, Apr 1, 2008
    DanePugilist, Apr 1, 2008
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  5. DanePugilist

    DanePugilist God vs God - Death Angel Full Member

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    Does this mean that Miranda moves down again, or does the whole MW move to SMW?
     
    DanePugilist, Apr 1, 2008
    DanePugilist, Apr 1, 2008
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  6. Bodysnatcher

    Bodysnatcher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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  7. ocelot

    ocelot Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    As an American, I think a win over Miranda would definitely have resulted in bigger fights in the US market- much more so than a rematch with Mundine, who isn't as well-known here. It's understandable though that he'd want a title shot. And a win over Mundine could lead to a bigger fight later this year. Mundine's a scrapper though, so Kessler's taking a big risk. If he loses the rematch (and if it is fought in Australia I'd be a little concerned about the judging), his career as a major player/contender is tanked.
     
    ocelot, Apr 1, 2008
    ocelot, Apr 1, 2008
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  8. Bodysnatcher

    Bodysnatcher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bodysnatcher, Apr 1, 2008
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  9. DanePugilist

    DanePugilist God vs God - Death Angel Full Member

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    Then so be it - Kessler once stated that he wanted to be the best as can be, and that means going all-in, and thus far have done so, since he took his first belt from Siaca.
     
    DanePugilist, Apr 1, 2008
    DanePugilist, Apr 1, 2008
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  10. Arriba

    Arriba Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Miranda is the sort of fighter who wins/losses don't matter. He can lose 10 times but people will still come to see him because he's a character and he's got a lot of one hit KO power.

    So basically even if Miranda drops to Abraham, Kessler can still face off with Miranda and get the american fanbase back.
     
    Arriba, Apr 1, 2008
    Arriba, Apr 1, 2008
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  11. ocelot

    ocelot Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The problem is that Kessler doesn't have the American fanbase. Nobody other than serious boxing fans even know who he is. A win over Miranda would have changed that very quickly, and possibly opened up the door to a fight with Pavlik, for instance. This is all from a business perspective though, admittedly. No one can criticize him for wanting to fight for a title.
     
    ocelot, Apr 1, 2008
    ocelot, Apr 1, 2008
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  12. onourway

    onourway Haye KTFO1 Wlad Full Member

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    Kessler should have fought Miranda.
     
    onourway, Apr 1, 2008
    onourway, Apr 1, 2008
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  13. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well... Kessler-Miranda is the fight that excites the fight fans more... because there's a great contrast between the style of the two and of course Kessler-Mundine is a rematch... So I might have liked Kessler-Miranda better...

    But before all the crap starts:
    -Mundine is ranked much highter by every respected boxing writer than Miranda, so fighting the Aussie is actually a step-up in competition wheter you like it or not... How can Kessler lose respect if he's fighting tougher fighter?
    -Mundine is a world champion, Miranda is not
    -Mundine can make the fight more competitive vs. Kessler IMO, Miranda loses badly (but still a good fight)
    -Kessler will earn much more facing Mundine

    As I've said: the problem here is the possibility of losing a good US TV deal... Team Palle just can't put enough hard cash on the table to make huge fights in Denmark, so Kessler, who speaks English very well, has to fight outside of the country... and there's no better market than the US market, so Kessler should get an HBO deal first then an opponent next...
     
    BigBone, Apr 1, 2008
    BigBone, Apr 1, 2008
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  14. HolgerD

    HolgerD Armscontrol Full Member

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    It depends on how much weight the title carries. Knocking in the doors to US boxing is not easy. Fighting Miranda was a great chance to do so. Team Palle and Kess blew it this time around. I know the official explanation is that Kess wants a title, that's at least what they say. Personally, I feel that this is more about Palle wanting more control. You just don't have that much with the US networks and Palle doesn't like that.
     
    HolgerD, Apr 1, 2008
    HolgerD, Apr 1, 2008
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  15. Marnoff

    Marnoff Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He's finished if he loses a fight?
     
    Marnoff, Apr 1, 2008
    Marnoff, Apr 1, 2008
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