Kessler: Almost Had Froch Out, Too Tired To Finish Him

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former champion Mikkel Kessler told Sky Sports Ringside that he overtrained for his rematch with Carl Froch, and that caused him to get very tired during their super middleweight unification - which took place earlier this year at the 02 Arena in London. Kessler defeated Froch the first time around when they fought in Denmark in 2010.

"I trained with Cleverly, Groves, I had a guy from Sweden called (Erik) Skoglund over," he told Ringside. "I was training Monday, Wednesday and Friday and sparring. I think I had one of the best weeks of my career. I was moving, punching, everything. I was surprised, you know. I'm in the best shape ever! Nobody can beat me now it's impossible, so I had those three sparring rounds, good against Groves, good against Cleverly, first time I sparred them."

"I had him almost out in the 11th round and I couldn't finish it. I couldn't, I was too tired. I couldn't finish him and I couldn't finish in the 12th in the last minute. In the first fight I was the finisher, you know? "But here it was, Carl was the finisher, that's why he did a good job Carl and no excuses here, but I peaked too much and that's what happened."