Kessler What A Hype?

Nonsense, Ward has not lost since he was about 13 and an olympic gold medalist, he just had not been tested as a pro so nobody could be sure how good he was - turns out he is very good indeed.

Whats that got to do with over hyping Kessler who was and still is a very good fighter.

 

To be fair though it's not as if people are only saying this now after he's lost. A lot of people have been saying for a while that Kessler is over-rated, and they are right. Plus it's not as if Kessler lost a close fight, he pretty much got dominated form start to finish.

 

I disagree - you have to make your bet based on the records at hand - and there is no doubt that Kessler had the best record going into the super six, so it was only natural that he was made out to be the favourite - it's not like he was made out to be that undisputed hudge favourite - just the favourite.

But you're right we'll know a lot more after the final in 2010

 

It is true that a lot of fans that follow boxing are a bit impressionable. Look at the hype Chris Arreola recieved before and after his last fight.
People start to like certain fighters and continue to way after the fighter
peaks in performance. This Kessler guy got too much hype as has others.

 

No Hype. Kessler is still the ****.

 

Kessler is a good technical boxer. If he wanted to be great he should have split from Palle 5 yrs earlier and gone to the US to expand his skill set. The fight against Calzaghe clearly showed that the classic European style can only take you so far against fast opponents that attack from many angles. He has no tools to fall back on if plan A fails and what's really incredible is that he sticks with the old coaches who clearly can't offer him anything beyond what he learned 10 yrs ago.

I hoped Sauerland would at least try to work with him but it seems both Kessler and Sauerland are content with Kessler as is and only looking for the paychecks from this tournament. Fair enough, he ain't getting younger and has had a long history injuries which probably wore him down mentally. The things he experienced against Calzaghe and Ward he needed to experience a long time ago so he could include it in his training but his early career was pissed away fighting stat pumping fights in Cirkus Palle.

Froch is going to be another awkward fight but he should be able to actually hit Froch. On the other hand Froch has just watched the How-To guide to beating Kessler. I think Kessler will beat Froch (I did pick Ward against Kessler) in a messy fight because Kessler will dirty it up instead of take a good look at his skill set and find ways to expand it.

 

Kessler doesn't become a bum cause he lost to Ward. Mikkel just couldn't find his range at all the entire night. He couldn't establish his jab and in his case if that happens, he's in trouble. Kessler's main problem i think is his inactivity. It caught up with him BIG TIME yesterday !!

Andre Ward has serious skills and has matured a lot as a boxer. If he keeps fighting like that, I don't see anyone capable of beating him in that tournament, except possibly Andre Dirrell that will match his speed and athleticism.

 

I think Kessler's psyke will be the deciding factor versus Froch - in terms of styles and skills he'll beat Froch 9 out of 10 times - Froch's style is tailormade for Kessler. Froch can't use the "how to beat kessler-guide" because he simply doesn't have the speed to do so. Kessler-Froch should look alot like Kessler Andrade... but! The Kessler that fought yesterday will loose - he gave up around round 2 and wasn't mentally there. I have no idea why, and it's not that important - if he isn't mentally ready for Froch, then he'll loose.

It's also going to be exiting to see where the fight is going to be at - Kessler can't sell out "Parken" after last night - so Sauerland might choose the best paying way and send Kessler to England, especially if they have lost faith in Kessler - then it's better for Sauerland to cash in while they still can. Kessler-Froch in England in 3½ months ... I'd have Froch as the favourite.

 

And Kessler, Abraham or Froch - Ward is very skilled, but he can be hit and his chin isn't granit and those three can really punch if they connect.

 

Kessler is a warrior. He will come back strong. I would love to see a rematch between Ward and Kessler in the future. They are natural rivals.

 

I know many people love Froch but I'm less sold on him than any other men in this tournament. I think his days on top of that division are numbered and he's only a fight or 2 away from being really exposed as the most limited man in that tournament. I see Kessler actually stopping him.

As for Abraham, he obviously has very decent power but I don't rate him anywhere near as high as most do here. His low work rate combined with his Euro version of the Winy Wright shell defence, won't win any UDs in the States.. If Dirrell and or Ward stay focused, they easily outbox that guy for 12 rounds.

The fight now that truly intrigues me is Dirrell vs Ward !!

 

I'm not sold on Abraham or Froch either - but both can punch and have that one-punch knock-out power combined with Wards not too strong chin - they will always stand a chance of a KO - but I don't see either beating Ward by points - but then there is the hometown-part too - it also depends on where they fight - Abraham-Ward in Germany might be a points victory for Abraham - especially with the two points decuted for headbutt for Ward :yep

If Kessler is mentally ready - he'll beat Froch no doubt about it - but he doesn't seem to be mentally ready at the moment... sadly.

 

He just didn't fight enough in the last 2 years and it's catching up. Obviously Ward had a lot to do to make look bad in there but Kessler still didn't do half of what he's capable of... Fighting Froch in his next bout just may be the best thing for him afterall ! Froch can easily help him look good again...

 

I think the legal actions and the whole hype about him being the favourite combined with him fighting away from home was too much for Kessler - he never did like too much attention. Take a look at how reliased he looked when the postfight pressconference was over.

 

It was clear that Ward fought dirty - he hit and held, and he charged with his head down, leading to these head-butts. However, he also outboxed Kessler - Kessler just coun't deal with Wards speed and counter-punching.

But we mustn't forget that Kessler looked very rusty, after having fought only scarcely 7 rounds in 17 months. Having seen a lot of Kessler fights, I can tell you that this wasn't the Kessler that fought Andrade, Mundine or Calzaghe. That's why I think that we shouldn't write him off just yet.