How tough is Mikkel Kessler ?

My heart says Calzaghe but my head says Kessler however, I think both men are better than anything at the weight classes directly above and below them.

Kessler is tough IMO it will be interesting to see how they take each others shots both can dig a bit im slightly worried that Calzaghe seems open to right hands against conventional fighters through out his career and kessler holds some real pop in his right hand and is very accuarate im stilll picking Joe though i think he will have a big night and stop Kessler late

Just heard they sold 40.000 tickets by now, and full house (63.000) is still expected on fight night. Yes, Kessler is very tough. I agree with Pesticid – textbook stuff works, that’s why it was written in the first place ;) I fact, I can’t think of a better way to deal with a guy who fights like Calzaghe. Some argue Calzaghe has been with fighters similar to Kessler, but he has never been with anybody at his level. Another thing is special; Kessler doesn’t respond much to emotions (unless he's told to by his corner), but uses a game plan all the way. Notice the dialog in Kesslers corner, it’s a one minute sharp conversation and Kessler follows it 100%. Kessler does it at least as good as Calzaghe, when it comes to building up pace towards the final bell.

Really? Which amateur show did you go to to watch him fight? I watched his wins over Dean Francis and Glenn Catley on BBC Grandstand. I think it was the 1992 ABA's at light-middleweight His speed and power was awesome

Calzaghe wins this fight. he's faster, has a good beard, more experience, and controls the pace of the fight better than Kessler has. He's also used to the big stage more, which helps, it's in his backyard, and he's the more agile and versatile of the two. Kessler is a bit robotic. I like both, but Calzaghe wins.

Meh, I think Joey C will beat Kessler by decision. Kessler is a basic fighter, real good, but everything he does is textbook. He's going to look to pick up the pieces of Calzaghe's messes, to put it metaphorically. When Joe opens up a crack, Kessler will want to fill it with fists. If Joe fights smart and aggressive, though, his versatility and experience will win him the fight.

I've been watching Calzaghe since 1992 and have downloaded Kessler's world title fights Really? Which amateur show did you go to to watch him fight?

It's harsh on Hamed! Calzaghe has never been in that class Ow, goddamn! Maybe they're one in the same, highly overrated, unproven fighters who've never really beaten anybody of substance. Calzaghe may retire if he loses to Kessler, he's said so himself. So that comparison may just be valid.

That's a pretty damn harsh comparison It's harsh on Hamed! Calzaghe has never been in that class

Dude wtf are you smokin ? Do you even watch boxing ? Have you see Joe or Mikkel even fight ? I was upset with Calzaghe performance against Peter Manfredo. If that Calzaghe shows up, then no question Calzaghe loses. That Calzaghe got an early stoppage by hitting manfedo on the gloves. His accuracy was off so bad in that fight. No question Manfredo would have gotten ko'd by Calzaghe because sergio mora could hurt Manfredo. But the fact Calzaghe's punches were being blocked by such a crap fighter questions will be raised about Calzaghe if he doesn't beat kessler. It was a marginal improvement on the Veit, Ashira and Bika showings (which were improvements on the usual Calzaghe), but probably because Manfredo shit his pants in there I do think he's got slightly better with age, like a wine, as far as pure boxing and positioning (as shown against Mkrtchian), but he's still not very good technically

Dude wtf are you smokin ? Do you even watch boxing ? Have you see Joe or Mikkel even fight ? I've been watching Calzaghe since 1992 and have downloaded Kessler's world title fights Why??

Dude wtf are you smokin ? Do you even watch boxing ? Have you see Joe or Mikkel even fight ? I've been watching Calzaghe since 1992 and have downloaded Kessler's world title fights

That's a pretty damn harsh comparison, but you may well be right. Calzaghe hasn't looked spectactular since Lacy, and Kessler may just have the style to exploit him. If Calzaghe loses I will seriously question his legacy, well, further than I already do. Kessler, while a damn solid fighter, is no elite class unbeatable guy. Calzaghe has passed himself off as such. And the lackluster performances as of late don't help his reputation much. I'm talking about Calzaghe in general, not his last few fights As for this Lacy fight, come on! It wasn't against anything. You could see the tention in Lacy's shoulders at the weigh-in. He was literally a punching bag by the time he got to the ring, a punching bag winging forward and open for Calzaghe to pick him off with his fast combinations

Calzaghe is the power puncher in this fight but he has no ring intelligence. Kessler has better ring generalship and is a far better technician. He has neater, harder combinations than Calzaghe too and I'll say more accurate as well because he won't let combinations go that hit thin air (as Joe does so often)... Dude wtf are you smokin ? Do you even watch boxing ? Have you see Joe or Mikkel even fight ?

I don't rate Kessler as top-notch, but Calzaghe is just awful more often than not Basically it's a style thing. Calzaghe makes no end of mistakes whereas Kessler makes no mistakes, basically Expect a Hamed-Barrera type thing (with Kessler being Barrera) That's a pretty damn harsh comparison, but you may well be right. Calzaghe hasn't looked spectactular since Lacy, and Kessler may just have the style to exploit him. If Calzaghe loses I will seriously question his legacy, well, further than I already do. Kessler, while a damn solid fighter, is no elite class unbeatable guy. Calzaghe has passed himself off as such. And the lackluster performances as of late don't help his reputation much.

kessler's never really been taken to his limit. he's a younger, stronger, faster, better version of richie woodhall. a washed up woodhall still gave joe a good fight

The only real impression I've gotten of Kessler was that he was semi-robotic. I really need to hit up youtube for more of his fights. I don't rate Kessler as top-notch, but Calzaghe is just awful more often than not Basically it's a style thing. Calzaghe makes no end of mistakes whereas Kessler makes no mistakes, basically Expect a Hamed-Barrera type thing (with Kessler being Barrera)

Kessler hit Andrade with some bombs and couldn’t knock him out. I also was at Mundine v Kessler fight and he hit Mundine flush many times and couldn’t knock him out and Ottke knocked Mundine out. I see this fight going to Calzaghe by decision or by stoppage, Calzaghe to smother Kessler with combinations and continually cutting the ring off and forcing Kessler on the back foot.

Calzaghe is the power puncher in this fight but he has no ring intelligence. Kessler has better ring generalship and is a far better technician. He has neater, harder combinations than Calzaghe too and I'll say more accurate as well because he won't let combinations go that hit thin air (as Joe does so often)... The only real impression I've gotten of Kessler was that he was semi-robotic. I really need to hit up youtube for more of his fights.

I don't think it'll even be close