Kessler: If I lose, I retire.

Just to say, Google online Translator, Babel fish and others offer decent quick translation, just to save you some time next time ;) Benny's right, it's wierd to hear any boxer even considering defeat, mentally it's often, but not always, not a sign of deep confidence which usually aids a boxer. There's times when a boxer questions his ability, and is very self critical, and improves weak area's, becomes a much better fighter. There's signs of that when Kessler talks of having other dimensions and game plans. But there is a negative sense there. Just because he's not where he hoped he'd be after Calzaghe, he still impressed most, and showed he's worthy to be top of the division at no. 2. There's ppl that'd kill for that position so he should be grateful just for that. Would hate to see him not meet his potential through lack of drive or confidence, really want him to go out there and beat some tough opponents, and make the US in particular, Hops n folk whom don't rate him, realise, he is elite and up there with them.

Hope he hasn't lost his taste for the game, cos even as a massive Calzaghe fan I had alot of respect for Kessler in going to Wales & taking the fight to Joe, and honestly thought he was the man to take the SMW division to the next level. I hope that's still the case.

At www.TeamPalle.dk there a 3 good interviews with Kessler. All in danish - so if someone could translate them, it would be good reading for a lot. One of them are translate here: http://www.teampalle.dk/composite-1631.htm For more than half a year Mikkel Kessler have pondered the Calzaghe fight and what went wrong in Cardiff. Now, three weeks of Southern Californias thin and hot mountain air have brought clarity to Mikkels mind and also a recognition of what went wrong against Calzaghe that night in Cardiff. The core matter of Kesslers innermost feelings are as follows: "The strategy lacked details but first and last sharp determination." Kesslers US based coach Jimmy Montoya, who in November sat glued to the TV watching the Calzaghe fight, says: "You (MK) box the first 4-5 rounds well and disciplined. Okay, I would have liked a more focused physical pressure on Calzaghe. After round 5 I start worrying because I see in your (MKs) eyes, as you walk towards your corner, some confusion. It's no good to be confused in a fight at this level because being confused means you are not 100% motivated. You need to know what you have to do inside out. It is as if your (MKs) strategy falls apart half way through the fight. Even though you are in it in the second half, structure lacks in your movements." Montoya assistent Ruben Chavez adds: "You have enough raw physique to take Calzaghe apart, and you know it, and I know you will if a rematch is ever scheduled, however, in the second half of the Calzaghe fight you lack control of your powers because you were without a masterplan. That's why you fell through in a fight you were on a path to winning." Both Montoya's and Chavez's analysis doesn't take Mikkel Kessler by surprise because the Calzaghe fight has been the subject around the dinner table more than once during the first week in the Montoya camp. The danish World title challenger stays with his earlier statements that his injured right hand was part of the reason his performance was never optimal in Cardiff. Kessler says: "If a football player (soccer player), due to some foot injury misses out on some training sessions before vital matches then this player will loose some of his touch. That's obvious. But the hand was treated and it didnt hurt or cause problems of any kind. In this manner I can accept that my first defeat may have its explanation in strategic issues surrounding my preparations. It's true that I most likely put too much effort into punching hard and for that reason didn't put on full pressure on Calzaghe, the way Montoya would have liked. My danish coach, who knows me from top to toe, have always been very good at creating calmness and make it stay there during a fight. Unfortunately the calmness did not pay out when Calzaghe changed tactics. My timing was gone, so far gone that I no longer was able to adopt any coherent pressure strategy." With all this in mind Kessler recognizes that he lost to a smarter and more effective opponent on the given night. "It will never, for any boxer, become a day of celebration when you loose your first fight. It was certainly not for me. The loss actually cost me some weeks of pondering the fight but in no way did it cause any depressions. Anyway, my drive to move on was somehow affected in a negative way. Actually, I first started to feel really calm and comfortable again when Palle called and told me he had found a path to become World Champion again. Then I regained the calmness to look forward with a positive attitude." Mikkel Kessler is perfectly aware of the fact that a rematch with Calzaghe is most likely not going to happen as long as Calzaghe keeps winning. "Nah, I will probably have to accept that no Kessler-CalzagheII will ever take place. In case it does happen you can be sure that I will have a plan A, B, C, D, E and F. What happened in Cardiff will not happen again. I will not be left on the platform while the train is passing by because my railroad schedule was errorneous so to speak."

Certainly not, but nonetheless, that quote just doesn't sound right. Before the Calz loss the possibility of losing would not have even entered his mind. He has losing on his mind now and the Calz loss seems like it may have ruined him. That is what happens to some fighters. When they lose they just cannot get the fact they lost out of their mind. It ruins them. When losing never enters the mind, they can come back from being beaten to win and will never give up no matter what the circumstances because they simply believe they cannot lose! Now, though, if he is getting beaten it will enter his mind they he may actually lose and it just robs you of the needed determination to keep going no matter what. Yeah, that quote doesn't sound like it came from a confident fighter.

Can't see him losing to Sartison. Certainly not, but nonetheless, that quote just doesn't sound right. Before the Calz loss the possibility of losing would not have even entered his mind. He has losing on his mind now and the Calz loss seems like it may have ruined him. That is what happens to some fighters. When they lose they just cannot get the fact they lost out of their mind. It ruins them. When losing never enters the mind, they can come back from being beaten to win and will never give up no matter what the circumstances because they simply believe they cannot lose! Now, though, if he is getting beaten it will enter his mind they he may actually lose and it just robs you of the needed determination to keep going no matter what.

Can't see him losing to Sartison.

Kessler is now in a training camp in Big Bear. He seems more focus than ever. Think the "if i lose" comment is a way to hype him self up. There is no more room for a mistake, and hi knows it. At www.TeamPalle.dk there a 3 good interviews with Kessler. All in danish - so if someone could translate them, it would be good reading for a lot.

Mikkel Kessler faces Dimitri Sartison, June 21st, in a fight for the WBA Title. And should he lose, the "Viking Warrior" will retire. "There is of course alot of different ways to lose, and an injury in the ring is not impossible. But if I were to lose to Sartison, fair and square, no injuries. Then I can't see myself continuing with my career. So, if I lose it will most likely be the end of me." What a loser, talk about not taking your only loss well. " Joe ruined my dream " Like Marlon Brando said in the Godfather

Can't see him losing anyway. It would be a great shame if he did and retired.

He shouldn't be losing to someone like Sartison. I would be REALLY surprised if he did.

Who the fuck is Dimitri Sartison? It says he is undefeated but I never heard of him... Joe Calzaghe atleast has a name, who the fuck is the guy he is stepping in the ring with now? Is Dimitri Sartison any good?

I guess he doesn't want to go back to the drawing board if he loses.

whoa, Dimitri Sartison! now i see why he turned down Miranda http://forums.sohh.com/images/smilies/dry.gif

I don't know where this quote is taken from, so I don't know the context, but it doesn't fill me with confidence. I have to question the ambition Kessler and his camp have for themselves. For a talented, youngish guy like Kessler, who should be screaming the house down for shots at fighters like Pavlik and Taylor, and promising to clean up the SMW division, to be talking about defeat and retirement seems very strange to me. Add to that the seeming inability or reluctance of Palle to make decent fights for Mikkel and I am starting to get the feeling that Kessler is going to wind up throwing away a whole load of potential. It's from an interview with Team Palle.

Mikkel Kessler faces Dimitri Sartison, June 21st, in a fight for the WBA Title. And should he lose, the "Viking Warrior" will retire. "There is of course alot of different ways to lose, and an injury in the ring is not impossible. But if I were to lose to Sartison, fair and square, no injuries. Then I can't see myself continuing with my career. So, if I lose it will most likely be the end of me." I don't know where this quote is taken from, so I don't know the context, but it doesn't fill me with confidence. I have to question the ambition Kessler and his camp have for themselves. For a talented, youngish guy like Kessler, who should be screaming the house down for shots at fighters like Pavlik and Taylor, and promising to clean up the SMW division, to be talking about defeat and retirement seems very strange to me. Add to that the seeming inability or reluctance of Palle to make decent fights for Mikkel and I am starting to get the feeling that Kessler is going to wind up throwing away a whole load of potential.