why does kessler get so much praise here?

He turned down Miranda for crying out loud. That's sad.

1. He has to fight in the U.S. Until you fight here, no matter how many fights you've had or paper titles you've held, you are a nobody in boxing 2. Fight Taylor, Froch, Pavlik, Hopkins, Abraham - ANY of them. Try to get a fight with any of them. He already fights in the least interesting division in boxing so branch out and show how good you are by beating up a somebody. If Jermain Taylor went over to Europe and cleaned out all those paper champs, would he get any love from the Euros I wonder? Because he wouldn't get any love here

Those rumors are a few months old. He hit the vacation circuit pretty hard after the 2nd Pavlik fight, but was in the gym over the summer doing some sparring and should be back in training now for the Lacy fight. Here he is in June looking a little beefy (180?) but that's probably about what he walks around at: http://arkansasmatters.com/media_player.php?media_id=40191# Good for him. I was very impressed by his performance in the rematch against Pavlik. VERY impressed. And if he's at that same level, he should comfortably decision Lacy.

Perhaps he began training? Heard this a couple months after the Pavlik rematch. My source is solid. Those rumors are a few months old. He hit the vacation circuit pretty hard after the 2nd Pavlik fight, but was in the gym over the summer doing some sparring and should be back in training now for the Lacy fight. Here he is in June looking a little beefy (180?) but that's probably about what he walks around at: http://arkansasmatters.com/media_player.php?media_id=40191#

Where do you get your rumors from? Taylor's been out and about lately and is looking pretty good. Not out of shape at all. Perhaps he began training? Heard this a couple months after the Pavlik rematch. My source is solid.

Green will get Kessler on American television again, easily, and could be a showcase performance for him. Green's not a GREAT fighter, but he's a pretty good one with above average power. I'm not even sure Green is a very good one. Sh*t, I don't think much of Miranda either. It may not get Kessler an overflow of respect, but will definitely get him some good exposure. Showtime would definitely pick up that fight. True. But exposure and respect are two different things. But I see your point. Until he gets more exposure like the kind he would get in this fight, no U.S. fighter that would gain Kessler any real respect is going to be leary of him, because the risk/reward isn't there. I don't know that he's worth enough money over here yet for a top fighter to take a serious look. Glen Johnson, anyone? The light heavies are a possibility, but Kessler has it made right now being a big guy at 168 and I haven't heard any rumors about him having issues making weight. Could be a good fight for getting his name out there but he'd also be taking a bigger risk against bigger guys. Hear, hear. We'll be looking at more Kessler-Beyer fights while he gets lauded for beating old champions. Wonderful. Nice, thought-out post BTW.

Word is that both of these guys are on the way down. Taylor has been horribly out of shape and Lacy is just...Lacy. No, that's not what I want to see Kessler doing. Where do you get your rumors from? Taylor's been out and about lately and is looking pretty good. Not out of shape at all.

Yeah, I see how that benefits Green but not Kessler. Green isn't the type of name that'll garner any serious respect. But, like I said, there are a whole lot of names Kessler could look for. The winner of Dawson-Tarver Glen Johnson The winner of Pavlik-Hopkins LET'S SEE WHAT HE DOES. Green will get Kessler on American television again, easily, and could be a showcase performance for him. Green's not a GREAT fighter, but he's a pretty good one with above average power. It may not get Kessler an overflow of respect, but will definitely get him some good exposure. Showtime would definitely pick up that fight. Until he gets more exposure like the kind he would get in this fight, no U.S. fighter that would gain Kessler any real respect is going to be leary of him, because the risk/reward isn't there. I don't know that he's worth enough money over here yet for a top fighter to take a serious look. The light heavies are a possibility, but Kessler has it made right now being a big guy at 168 and I haven't heard any rumors about him having issues making weight. Could be a good fight for getting his name out there but he'd also be taking a bigger risk against bigger guys.

After Taylor beats Lacy I would LOVE to see Kessler-Taylor. I think both fighters would be pushed to the limits. Word is that both of these guys are on the way down. Taylor has been horribly out of shape and Lacy is just...Lacy. No, that's not what I want to see Kessler doing.

After Taylor beats Lacy I would LOVE to see Kessler-Taylor. I think both fighters would be pushed to the limits.

well froch isn't busy neither is miranda... i don't know about the rest but surely one of the bigger names will be looking to fight him because of his status in the division... i honestly can't belive that he can't find a top 5 opponent... sure he's said that he would, but i haven't even heard rumours of negoitiations with one of the better guys Miranda just got KTFO by another eurofighter. I'm sure he's looking for softer touches. Froch is in line for WBC laurels. Kessler is unranked by that alphabetorg. Next proposals please.

I said it a few pages ago and I'll say it again... it would be a cinch for Kess to snag a fight with Alan Green right now. Green's got good name recognition in the U.S., is 26-1 with his only loss coming to Edison Miranda, and his condition in that fight being questionable as he was just coming off of GI surgery. Plus Green's not fought since January, has since screwed the pooch on a deal with Pavlik, and has nothing on the horizon. He keeps bitching and moaning about needing a title shot, and Kessler's got a belt. Perfect situation for both fighters. Even if Green were to lose to Kessler (which is likely), if he puts on a good show he stands to gain some respect. Yeah, I see how that benefits Green but not Kessler. Green isn't the type of name that'll garner any serious respect. But, like I said, there are a whole lot of names Kessler could look for. The winner of Dawson-Tarver Glen Johnson The winner of Pavlik-Hopkins LET'S SEE WHAT HE DOES.

I said it a few pages ago and I'll say it again... it would be a cinch for Kess to snag a fight with Alan Green right now. Green's got good name recognition in the U.S., is 26-1 with his only loss coming to Edison Miranda, and his condition in that fight being questionable as he was just coming off of GI surgery. Plus Green's not fought since January, has since screwed the pooch on a deal with Pavlik, and has nothing on the horizon. He keeps bitching and moaning about needing a title shot, and Kessler's got a belt. Perfect situation for both fighters. Even if Green were to lose to Kessler (which is likely), if he puts on a good show he stands to gain some respect.

Kessler just has to pick up the pieces - seek out a major fight. The SMW division is barren - it's been that way for YEARS now. Mikkel can either wait and perhaps catch an inexperienced Andre Ward or Anthony Dirrell, or he can seek out fights against the LHW's Dawson, Johnson, etc. (funny how no one even DARES bring up the prospect) or he can searcg for Pavlik. What's so hard about that? You think Glen Johnson wouldn't take a fight with Mikkel Kessler? Or Chad Dawson? Or Antonio Tarver? There are plenty of things he can do.

Yawn. More ignorance from a Calzaghe Boxing fan. What a shock. Just cause a bunch of idiots were high on Lacy does not mean he's suddenly great. LOL bunch of idiots the whole press was saying lacy was dangerous, his record indicated this so for you to turn around and suggust that he is over hyped when calzaghe did a job on him is predictable LOL.... it smacks of after timing when u imply that lacy was a bag of shite!!!! and who said i was a calzaghe fan, am one of his harshest critics actually!!!! dont assume in future - and who said lacy was great what my arguement is he was built up to be great and every one thought he would do a job on calzaghe but then the harsh reality of him getting a boxing masterclass everyone suddenly said he was over rated blah blah!!!

DiegoFuego, daggum, Sitai and others: Who and where should Kessler fight next to gain respect?

well froch isn't busy neither is miranda... i don't know about the rest but surely one of the bigger names will be looking to fight him because of his status in the division... i honestly can't belive that he can't find a top 5 opponent... sure he's said that he would, but i haven't even heard rumours of negoitiations with one of the better guys

do you consider him to be more skilled than pavlik and dawson who are both younger more accomplished fighters? if so in what way? i'm not a huge dawson fan but i find it funny that he gets so overlooked... kessler clearly showed his limited ability against joe, not only because of joe's skill but his complete inability to adapt and his lack of versatility showed.. he is definetly strong but is he stronger than pav or dawson? he's not even young in boxing terms.. he'll be 30 by the next time he fights whereas pavilk and dawson are 26!!! thisw is what they mean when they talk about padded european resume's and he defintetly isn't chasing another elite fighter in the near future Very well said. We shall see what happens with Kessler. For now, he is what his record says he is. The rest is just speculation.

do you consider him to be more skilled than pavlik and dawson who are both younger more accomplished fighters? if so in what way? i'm not a huge dawson fan but i find it funny that he gets so overlooked... kessler clearly showed his limited ability against joe, not only because of joe's skill but his complete inability to adapt and his lack of versatility showed.. he is definetly strong but is he stronger than pav or dawson? he's not even young in boxing terms.. he'll be 30 by the next time he fights whereas pavilk and dawson are 26!!! thisw is what they mean when they talk about padded european resume's and he defintetly isn't chasing another elite fighter in the near future He's already said he's willing to fight Pavlik or Hopkins, with no response. Sometimes it's not through complete fault of the fighter that big fights aren't made, especially euro ones whom often aren't as well known or profitable as some others. He wants some of the big names but it's not being entertained either by the sanctioning bodies or the potential opponents.

I'm a Joe fan, and I like Kessler too. For me its very simple, he was the most talented pure boxer Calzaghe ever faced, he combines speed, power and skill. I enjoyed watching him fight so I went back and looked at some of his other fights and found some more excellent performances that indicate he is one of the top young boxers around. He KOd Beyer with one shot, he gave Andrade an incredible boxing lesson. Kessler's brand of clean crisp performance is something I'm not seeing from any other young boxer at the higher weights right now, so he's one of my favourite boxers. To those who say that Joe fans only hype Kessler to make Joe look better, I say that while that may be true in some cases, its mostly wrong, because thinking that way presupposes that Kessler isn't actually any good. He is, he's the top guy at SMW and proved it by taking everyone elses belts up until he met Joe. You only have to look at him to see the amount of potential he has and what a difficult prospect he would be for anyone at SMW/ LHW. He's not without flaws and its easy to understand why some feel Hopkins is a better win, because of all Hopkins achievements, but Kessler is the young prime champion that Calzaghe needed to get onto the US radar. The manner in which Calzaghe defeated Kessler is always going to make that fight a favourite with Joe fans. do you consider him to be more skilled than pavlik and dawson who are both younger more accomplished fighters? if so in what way? i'm not a huge dawson fan but i find it funny that he gets so overlooked... kessler clearly showed his limited ability against joe, not only because of joe's skill but his complete inability to adapt and his lack of versatility showed.. he is definetly strong but is he stronger than pav or dawson? he's not even young in boxing terms.. he'll be 30 by the next time he fights whereas pavilk and dawson are 26!!! thisw is what they mean when they talk about padded european resume's and he defintetly isn't chasing another elite fighter in the near future