Mikkel Kessler vs Iran Barkley

Kessler would win. He was better than Barkley.

 

People often talk of iran"s supposed lack of skill.

Its true in his best wins he was an excellent street brawler.

However the reality is world amateur bronze medalist...he could really box and move and his punches were very correct technically when he was in boxing mode...pretty much after 1989 that ceased.....i think iran nudges kessler on points in a gruelling fight

 

Barkley had good height and reach and a great counter left hook. The guy could box, bang, brawl, all of it.

 

I dont think he does. Kessler lost decisions to Ward and Calzaghe, and split with Froch. That's two prime first ballot hof fighters and Froch will likely get in too.

Barkley was a lot more spotty, losing to a blown up Duran, Benn by 3 KD rule, and getting outclassed by Toney.

 

This.

 

Nice European guys like... Nigel Benn?

 

That nice European Nigel Benn is a fine example of this.

 

Sensible post.

 

Benn was British, of African descent.

 

European as in mainland Europe. Stand up ordinary high handed boxers throwing straight punches.

 

I for one never said Barkley was devoid of skill. Calling him less skilled than Kessler isn't an insult.

If you mean like an Uli Wegner or Fritz Zdunek style, that isn't really how Kessler fought. Yeah he was mostly a by the book technically sound one-two artist, but he was far less stiff & robotic and more adaptable with a higher ring IQ than your typical EBU title contending German schlub.

 

I know you didnt intentional butt.

However ive called Iran unskilled myself in the long distanyt past.He did look awful vs Toney.

I see Kessler being roughed up over 12

 

British of Bajan descent. Unless you're going back a couple hundred years. Then you might as well say Kessler is Danish of Viking descent. Which makes him a bad MF.

 

As opposed to slow face first sluggers throwing looping punchers? Hmm, I'd say the straight punching defensively sound boxer might win that one.

 

Iran's skills and physical ability had waned by the time he was a dedicated super middle. He was slower, less committed to his craft and had devolved into more of heavy footed slugger.

He was a reasonably technically sound boxer-puncher type with a heavy jab coming up the ranks until a few fights after the Duran fight.

Against that Barkley Kessler could find it difficult establish his jab and dominate from it. Causing him to take a riskier approach of leading with power punches and trading more to assert himself.
That defo suits Iran a lot more.

I'd still side with Kessler for reasons mentioned already but I think people forget Barkley was more than a brawler with a big heart for a time.