I wish Kessler handled this better, but really all he is doing is facing a better fighter for a title...
Respected columnist Rafael has basis to call Kessler a disgrace. Two clear facts as have been reported in this case . 1. Kessler's camp demands were met by Miranda and Showtime. 2. Kessler's camp verbally agreed to the fight and backed out.
Mundine prefers to stay in Australia, defending his paper title against Argentinian bums. If he had wanted to take on better competition and make a name for himself in the US, he could have - after all, his next scheduled fight is against The Contender runner-up, Sam Soliman, who he has already beaten twice. The legitimacy of his title is not why he hasn't struck it big in the US, it's his lack of desire to venture out of his comfort zone.
Mundine, it would be justice if somehow Mundine were to win this fight....I however doubt this. I have lost respect for Kessler a fighter I initially liked, That is the state of boxing these days. The people make Dan Rafael the issue, instead of questioning the moves by team Kessler. No one questions the guys they like, many are just a bunch of homers. They root for the home guy regardless bad decision, **** opponent. No the various titles at 168 mean ****. I guess Kessler with a title can rack up the cash and defenses back home regardless of who he fights. Im dissappointed a good fight has been pulled.
awesome avatar when will we see the likes of someone like him again Wilfredo Gomez......that was was a warrior. I miss those fighters.
You guys all miss out one possibility: with Green's retirement there's the vacant WBA 175lb title. Kessler's a former smw champ with only one loss - perfect contender. Wouldn't be surprised at all if they announced that he'll fight Garay for that belt.
Now Dane, I've been over this one with you before. It was a stipulation in the initial contract that if Pavlik were to win the initial fight, he must re-match Taylor at 166 pounds for a NON-title fight. The rest of your points there have been taken care of by BigReg.:yep
Read this: "According to Danish matchmaker Mogens Palle, the WBA has not approved Anthony Mundine's May 28 super middleweight title defense against Sam Soliman. Palle has told the santioning body that Kessler is ready and able to face Mundine at the end of May or the early part of June. We learned that this ridiculous third bout between the two was announced for the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, Australia, on that date. They held a press conference which attracted little attention. Only five press people showed up, Palle said. Nobody cares about that match against a smaller middleweight who Mundine has twice beaten and even knocked down four times. Bettina Palle, Kessler's manager/promoter, says the sanctioning body was never asked to authorize the trilogy between Mundine and Soliman. She has asked the WBA to strip Mundine if he tries to avoid defending the title against his mandatory, Kessler. The Viking Warrior holds a unanimous decision win over Mundine. Mikkel, who is 39-1 and has only a loss to undefeated Joe Calzaghe, is now the official challenger to Mundine. Mundine won a vacant title in March, 2007, and has now gone 13 months without making a required or mandatory defense. We have asserted our rights and told the WBA were ready to make Kessler-Mundine II a reality in the end of May or the start of June.
Basically, team Kessler bailed on Miranda because they "hope" they can force Mundine into a fight for a bogus title.
Good point! Also, a title fight against Garay is much better for Kessler's career than a non-title fight with Miranda.