Does prime-Kessler beat Ward?

I think Kessler clearly won the fight against Froch, but he didn’t look as good as he did against Andrade or Calzaghe. In my opinion Kessler looked a bit gun shy against Froch (who - as Kessler stated afterwards - hit a lot harder than Joe C.), but he undeniably looked determined to win. It's no surprise though, ‘cuz it must be real tough to go up against a world champion just after you’ve taken the worst and biggest beating of your entire boxing career. Especially since he had a very big layoff before going into the tournament with only one tune up fight against Perdomo. Given the abovementioned circumstances I think Kesslers performance against Froch was better then excellent, but the question lingers in my mind, whether he can get himself up on the next level and even further then that. Can “present-Kessler” get on par with “prime-Kessler” and if he gets back to his prime, can he then beat Ward say in the finals? With adaptability and the right tactics applied by Montoya in the Corner, I’ll rate the chances of Kessler beating Ward as 50/50, but I’m a fan of Kessler, not Ward.

Comments (10)

ghost_deini

kessler was a great fighter a gallant champion but he never ventured out of denmark to fight the best he would've been exposed by someone along the way american fighters are often very slick but you need to be tough aswell especially mentally to beat a guy like kessler in all truth ward has all those attributes needed to beat kessler you could'nt have designed a better fighter if you tried

15y ago

nachorjj

I see Kessler wining by 1 point against Froch, but I dont see the best Kessler, the Kessler who fight against Calzaghe. I dont know if he is at his prime, Ward probably ruined his career. Ward win against any version of Kessler

15y ago

nb_out_king

That was a prime Kessler. Ward beats him on the inside and on the outside. Froch didn't press him like Andrade and Calzaghe which is actually abit out of his comfort zone he had to pursue Froch. Let's not get caught up in a discussion about when you're prime vs. when you are not. What matters (and probably more precise: what I meant ;-)) is that Kessler might not have been the same in the Froch fight, because he took such a beating in the Ward fight, but in my mind the question is, will he ever be as good as he once were. For me this question is relevant, because I truly believe that he could've beat Ward and Calzaghe too with a decent trainer (Montoya, Roach, et.c.) before and during the fights (I’m a fan so of course I supposed to think so, but nevertheless).

15y ago

MarcusArkane

That was a prime Kessler. Ward beats him on the inside and on the outside. Froch didn't press him like Andrade and Calzaghe which is actually abit out of his comfort zone he had to pursue Froch.

15y ago

Thread_Stealer

No. The younger, more active Kessler of 2005-07 who threw more snapping right hands (rather than pushing them like he often does) may do better but still clearly loses a decision to Ward.

15y ago

Heeb

Kessler is still is in his prime. The headbutts are what made him look like he did against Ward. If there was a rematch I think he would still lose, but he'd look a lot better.

15y ago

ChampBoxPR

Kessler is still prime. He got dominated, Mostly by headbutts but he did got sonned. End off. In a rematch he might actually win

15y ago

Heru

Ward virtually shut him out first time around. What would be so different from that version of Kessler to in his prime? Ward would still be faster, he still wouldn't be able to keep up with Ward on the inside, etc. Kessler doesn't look the same as he did before, but he's fighting a different caliber of opponents. Seriously, after Calzaghe, Ward, and Froch are his best opponents.

15y ago

Jack_Napier

prime Kessler got sonned by Ward

15y ago

nb_out_king

Anyones input?

15y ago