Was Kessler the number #1 168 Pounder Before fighting Ward?

Burner

Yes, he was.

El Angel

Yes he was. That spot now belongs to Ward.

Madvillain

You'd have to be borderline retarded not to think so.

Fact is, as impressive as Bute was tonight (and as someone who doesn't like Bute, there's no denying he was), it doesn't change the fact that Andrade is still very limited, impervious to pain of not.

Andre Ward beat the consensus #1 guy in the division. Andre Ward is the best Super Middleweight in the world. And until Bute defeats Ward or the man that defeats him, he'll have to stay #2.

Burner

Carnivore voted no...

So who did you have ranked as the 168 Pound King???

Freedom2013

Before fighting Ward, Kessler was ranked #3 by both BoxRec and the IBO, behind Bute and Abraham on BoxRec, and behind Bute and Froch on the IBO's ratings. Lets face it, he hadn't done much since Calzaghe.

Boxrec and IBO rankings are based on a computerized system, not on opinion.

Freedom2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burner

Carnivore voted no...

So who did you have ranked as the 168 Pound King???

I was undecided between Abraham and Kessler, and really Bute as well. I wanted to see the results of Abraham-Taylor, Kessler-Ward, and Bute-Andrade II before deciding on the best.

When Joe Calzaghe was at 168, I never had any confusion as to who was the "man".

THe TRiNiTY

Kessler had fought the better opposition between he and Bute. Still has, actually.

Kessler has never come as close to losing as Bute had in the first fight with Andrade, until the Ward fight. After the ratings were naturally implied.

Computerized BoxRec systems had Manny Pacquiao as the champion/number one fighter at 140 before he fought a single fight there. So, that computerized system can kiss my ass.

!! Shawn

Id say yes, but it was kinda an unknown how his inactivity would effect him. He really looked rusty in there, not that the outcome would have been any different.

THe TRiNiTY

Top 5 at 168.

1. Ward.
2. Bute.
3. Kessler.
4. Abraham.
5. Froch.

Just my opinion.

Freedom2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madvillain

You'd have to be borderline retarded not to think so.

Are you referring to Bhopreign and Burner? They kept saying Kessler is a overrated Euro-bum.

View Poll Results: Was Kessler the Number 1 ranked SMW before he fought Ward?
Yes	37	74.00%
No	13	26.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll

Burner Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9,159 Rep Power: 0 Points: 225,184.95 Bank: 165,371.33 Total Points: 390,556.28 Donate	Was Kessler the number #1 168 Pounder Before fighting Ward? Yes, he was.

El Angel Team Cotto Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,644 Rep Power: 34 Points: 26,700,014,183.09 Bank: 16,457,300,812,886.04 Total Points: 16,484,000,827,069.13 Donate	Yes he was. That spot now belongs to Ward.

Freedom2013 boxing aficionado Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 38,981 Rep Power: 205 Points: 10,000,023,556.76 Bank: 6,069,665,783,076.55 Total Points: 6,079,665,806,633.30 Donate	Before fighting Ward, Kessler was ranked #3 by both BoxRec and the IBO, behind Bute and Abraham on BoxRec, and behind Bute and Froch on the IBO's ratings. Lets face it, he hadn't done much since Calzaghe. Boxrec and IBO rankings are based on a computerized system, not on opinion.

!! Shawn  Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,830 Rep Power: 41 Points: 63,403,692,975.05 Bank: 17,028,823,184.61 Total Points: 80,432,516,159.65 Donate	Id say yes, but it was kinda an unknown how his inactivity would effect him. He really looked rusty in there, not that the outcome would have been any different.

THe TRiNiTY Sugar-Will O'-Hurricane Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Washington State. Posts: 10,265 Rep Power: 32 Points: 70,900.05 Bank: 218,583,499.23 Total Points: 218,654,399.28 Donate	Top 5 at 168. 1. Ward. 2. Bute. 3. Kessler. 4. Abraham. 5. Froch. Just my opinion.