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

TEAM KESSLER TO BOYCOTT MUNDINE-SOLIMAN III?

Team Kessler sent out a very interesting official press release. They state that Mundine's title defense vs. Soliman is not yet approved by the WBA... I've checked it and Soliman's name wasn't on the WBA list after the Bika loss however - even if he hasn't stepped in the ring since the Johnsen fight - his name suddenly appeared on the rankings created on March 13. How did it happen, don't ask me. Anyways, here is the press release:

Mikkel Kessler promoter Mogens Palle said Wednesday that he has checked with the World Boxing Association and has been informed that a May 28 super middleweight title defense by Anthony Mundine against Sam Soliman has not been approved. Mundine has announced the third bout against Soliman is set for the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, Australia. Palle said the WBA had not even been asked to authorize Mundine-Soliman III. "Mundine won a vacant title in March 2007 and has now gone 13 months without making a required mandatory defense. We have asserted our rights and told the WBA we're ready to make Kessler-Mundine II a reality in the end of May or the start of June....I would hope Mundine would prefer to try Kessler again rather than having his world title stripped for not complying with WBA rules. He does refer to himself as 'The Man' so I would really hope so. It is a WBA world title and is not limited to a WBA Australian title." Former champion Kessler, now the WBA mandatory challenger, previously outpointed Mundine in June 2005.


That's a pretty harsh talk from Team Kessler, Miranda style... Okay, they've checked it, the WBA haven't approved it yet, but it's a pretty bad low blow from Palle to go to the public with the info right after they've recieved the mandatory position without a fight... What the hell? They are trying to boycott a fight through the WBA, instead of just begin negotiations with Team Mundine?

 

If Mundine fights Soliman (and it looks like he will), Kessler will be out of the ring at least until early fall since the Mundine-Sam fight will be in May... after turning down the Miranda fight, that's a pretty bad situation for Kessler, and this press release is just as bad as their previous move was.

 

Because he said he's focusing on the WBA belt... but WBA champ Mundine fights in May... and because world champions don't fight every weekend, it's at least 3 or 4 more months... 05. 2008 +4 months = 09. 2008

 

Look... Soliman's name appearing on the WBA list is a complete joke... but that's how promoters and organizations usually legitimize mismatches... Soliman is a top15 contender according to the WBA, and according to their own rules, the champ can choose between 1 to 15...