Calzaghe v Kessler - A look ahead

16 Oct 2007
Calzaghe v Kessler - A look ahead.

Special Feature - A look ahead to Calzaghe vs Kessler
A fight that eclipses all others finally takes place at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on November 3rd. Push Mosley versus Cotto and Mayweather's tussle with Hatton to back of your mind for the time being because the biggest fight this year is without question Calzaghe versus Kessler. The WBC, WBA, WBO and Ring magazine titles will be at stake.

Ever since the "Viking Warrior" Mikkel Kessler knocked out German WBC king Markus Beyer in Copenhagen on the same night Newbridge southpaw Joe Calzaghe came through a tough and bloody title defence against Sakio Bika the public have been slathering at the mouth at the prospect of these two undefeated 168 pounders meeting. With around 65,000 people in attendance and millions watching on Setanta and HBO the public finally get what they want.

Calzaghe, who was last beat as a teenage amateur, has been clambering for a contest of this magnitude for years. Fights with the likes of Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins, Sven Ottke and Jermain Taylor have all fallen by the wayside. Many people (mostly Americans) blame Joe and his long list of injuries for these fights not taking place but others are inclined to believe Joe has been a victim of his own ability and lack of notoriety and to the likes of Jones and Hopkins, in particular, he represented too much risk for too small a payday. It is also known that when a fight was agreed with "The Executioner" in 2003 it was Hopkins and not Calzaghe that pulled out. Though his career he has been described as a protected fighter and his WBO title a McDonald's belt but this simply isn't true. He's fought the best that were available and it isn't his fault that the big names have side stepped him. Granted some of his twenty defences have come against the likes of Tocker Pudwill and Will "Kid Fire" McIntyre but he's successfully beat six world champions, fought in twenty-one title bouts, and reigned as the top super middleweight for over a decade. Those are achievements that few in this sport can boast.

Kessler like his Welsh foe is not without his detractors. He has been described as robotic and one dimensional but it can't be denied that he packs one hell of a powerful punch. His victory over Markus Beyer looks better than it really was due to fact that Beyer had looked shaky for sometime and had been talking about retirement. It was the impression of many in the industry that Beyer had took the Kessler fight for money and was expecting to get knocked out before he even stepped through the ropes. But the way in which the German wilted should not take anything away from the 28 year old Dane, he has won 2 version of a world title, taken the scalp of a then undefeated prospect in Librado Andrade, made the decent Manny Siaca quit on his stool to take the WBA strap and travelled to the other side of the world to beat the always tough Anthony Mundine in his own back yard. One of the most admirable things about Mikkel is his willingness to fight anyone anywhere. He is involved in this HBO headline event on merit.
Mikkel Kessler, who it is rumoured will have the cross of Saint George on his shorts due to his English heritage, is confident he can end Calzaghe's 43 fight winning run. "He (Calzaghe) is a great fighter but I'm going to beat him," He said recently, "I'm going to be better than my last fight by 200% and he's going to get a big surprise."

He added "I'm going to show everyone I'm a bigger champion than he is."

Joe Calzaghe fired back by saying "Kessler is probably the best fighter I've ever faced, but like all my other opponents, he will go empty handed. November 3rd can't come soon enough for me."

If Calzaghe has a flaw it's his defence. He fights, sometimes arrogantly, with his hands low and, as a result, has been floored by Byron Mitchell and Kabary Salem but does possess a sturdy chin and should be able to stand up to Kessler's best shots. Kessler on the other hand has never faced anyone who fights like the Welshman and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to Calzaghe's all action style.

Verdict: The Vikings have invaded the British Isles before but on this occasion will go home defeated. I see Kessler landing some good precise punches early on but Calzaghe will be too fast and frustrate the Dane with quick combinations. For me this fight will end with another Calzaghe victory by unanimous decision.

by Andy Wake