Because of what?
Not 100% sure, but he very well could.
Taylor breaks down when keept under pressure for 12 rounds.
Abraham is no pressure fighter. He's an explosive counterpuncher who takes entire rounds off. If Abraham doesn't knock Taylor out, I believe he loose on points..
Injuries may cause some delays, but you are wrong about everything else, and failing to give the participants the respect they deserve.
No two fighters of this tourney fight the same style, and an impressive win doesn’t duplicate that easy.
That is my biggest concern for him. He is going from no fights to fighting some top level guys right off. That ring rust could cost him.
He has to fight Gusmyl Perdomo (WBA mandatory) prior to the tourney. But I agree, allot can happen in two years.
To me Taylor is a gifted technical boxer, who just doesn't do well under 12 rounds of constant pressure.
I don't think he is that far from his best, style wise he just faced some very difficult opponents lately.
It's a tough one to call.
I don't know Ward and Dirrell besides from what I could find on youtube.
Besides that, I can find possible weakness in everyone off them.
1: Kessler. (But I'm waiting to see what 2 years without strong opposition has done to him. Good fighters have faded in less time)
2: Abraham. (Tight defense, Damn good counter boxer, but he does slow down, and his style depends upon a power advantage he might leave behind in mw)
3: Froch. (You have to rate him high, he has proven to be tough to beat, even if he is likely to loose a lot of rounds, he a major hazard especially to the newcomers - But he's only ahead of Taylor by some 14 seconds)
4: Taylor (Came close to beating Froch the last time, has a fair chance against Abraham and i question Ward and Dirrells 12 stamina just a much as Taylors)
5: Ward (Based on the limited info I've got. He had some preperation for the tourney in the 12 round Miranda fight, but looked tired towards the end. I think the step up will be to fast for him. Like his style, and I wouldn’t mind eating my words)
6: Dirrell (Same as for Ward, except he hasn't been in a hard 12 rounder.)
I feel Showtime have done this smartly, they know the tourney won't end until 2011 at which time Kessler, Froch and Taylor will be ageing, and they don't see Abraham as a massive threat, but they have thrown these 2 young American up and comers, undefeated and hungry who in 2 years time as the tourney reaches the finals will be at their prime. Very clever....
I can't argue their talent, and I do agree they will improve along the way.
That aside I still think it would be difficult to make it to the semi’s, Dirrell never went 12 rounds, Ward looked tired in his late rounds, while Kessler, Froch and Abraham all show excellent stamina, with lots of late ko's.
And stilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, the undisputed middleweight champion of the worllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllld... Kelly, The Ghost! Pavvvvvvvvvvvvlik.
Who needs to take care of Abraham - Now he can shut up about Joe..
Kessler better start fighting some quality opponents
Team Palles last statement before the fight was on the 21 of Juli, and stated it was a pathetic mismatch, and they didn't want part of it.
http://www.teampalle.dk/
Palles comments in today’s news was "this victory impresses nobody".
Just to point out - nobody has ever tried to talk this fight up, except the Germans, and only WBA is to blame for this ever taking place..
Kessler earned the freedom to negotiate for his future last night, something he hasn’t been able to do since the JC fight.
He's "the Ring #1", meaning either you rate him, or dismiss the entire division....
What I don’t get is the Pavlik hype. I mean the whole Taylor, Pavlik and Hopkins (BH over the top as was pointed out) soap we have seen the last years? Taylors questionable wins over Hopkins and Pavliks gift decision in the rematch against Taylor?? Now what makes Pavlik so damn special?
Abraham is the king at MW in my book.
so taylor beating bhop, or pavlik beating taylor is not as good as what abraham has done? yeah, ok. furthermore, pavlik was given a gift, and taylor robbed in the 2nd fight? what exactly makes abraham so special in regards to pavlik, or taylor? was or is he undisputed? did he beat bhop? or taylor? oh right, he beat miranda. i forgot, i guess that makes him the best. yeah, i think you should find a new hobby, or get better glasses as you are either blind, or incompetent! perhaps both?
Simple.
Abraham has made 8 defenses of his IBF belt. Kelly recently took the belt from Taylor, who didn't look convincing in his previous against B.Hop ("over the top" as stated by the thread starter). I like Pavlik, and I'd like to see more, but the hype is just to much.
Would Kessler look better if Andrade, who he brilliantly outclassed, took the IBF belt from Bute in Okt.?
Thanks to the brilliant brains running the alphabet title rankings, we get to watch Taylor beat shot Lacy, Froch beat somebody I cant remember the name of and Kessler defend against the equally mighty Haüsler..
It's difficult to rate Andrade, I'm looking forward to him vs. Bute. Anybody who looses steam against Andrade will get KO´d.
i rewatched kessler/calzaghe earlier this week and second time around i seen it a closer fight with cal still slapping his way to victory.
i keyed in on his corner inbetween rounds. poor kess.
most the time it was like they where in church! very little said. here he is sitting on his stool with a bewildered look on his face and they don't help him! commentators point out that they weren't even putting a coldpress on his swollen eye.
of all the euros iv'e seen i think kess needs some proffesional handlers.
hope he takes on pavlik or an abraham fight looks good.
Regarding the Calzaghe fight, I was disappointed Richard Olesen ordered Kessler to continue the defensive approach until the final round. The consequence of thatwas also seen when Kessler acquired his new coach Jimmy Montoya, who focuses on the offensive part. It made it a bit confusing listening to his corner the last fight, with RO telling Kessler to fight safe, use the jab, secure the win and so on, and then over to JM who continues with 30sek. of fast furious KO strategy, but I guess this is Kesslers way of securing two plans to choose from, the next time he finds his defensive style isn’t enough to win.
Andrade has a decent chance at winning in what ever fight he gets, since beating fighters with more technical skill than himself is his trademark.
I believe Andrade could be the perfect veteran killer with his style, even prime Bute ran out of steam, and that is the one thing you cant do against Andrade.
I like him, and a match up with any of the top rated guys at 168 would be very entertaining. Yes I believe he could win a belt, but I doubt he could hold on to it for a long time.
I would pick Bute, Taylor and Kessler, to outbox him. Andrade vs. Froch would be great, I'd like to see how he would do against that monster, who IMO can't be beaten without excellent footwork and a good jab.
Mogens Palle says that it is possible this fight could happen in march. The two fighters have unfinished business, in 2004 Larsen was set to face Manny Siaca for the WBA World title, but just one week before the fight Mads Larsen hurt his hand and was unable to fight. Instead Mogens Palle gave the fight to Kessler who demolished Siaca in 21 minutes.
Mads Larsen refused to fight for Mogens Palle again, but it took him more than 3 years to get out of his contract.
Now my boy Mads Larsen is back:boxing:
His next fight will be against either Bute or Kessler.
Both Bute and Kessler would destroy him. So would Bika, Andrade, Froch, and many more.
This 7th round ko of a technically very limited guy, with only 9 wins on his record, is his best performance in 5 years. His best result ever is either a narrow point defeat to Ottke, or beating Haussler on points.
Finally got past the joke of a WBA mandatory, and now this... ****