By David "Los Gatos" Rosenberg

The WBO has advised several outlets that a deal is very close for a super middleweight collision between their champion Robert Stieglitz (40-2, 23KOs) of Germany, and the former king of the WBA/WBC, Mikkel Kessler (44-2, 33KOs) of Denmark. As previously reported, Kessler petitioned the WBO for a mandatory ranking. The sanctioning body granted his request and placed him in position to face Stieglitz for the title.