Kessler: "He's Faster, I Hit Harder"

[dumdane]

Im not really trying to discredit Kessler hear although you will proabably think i am but has he really fought any Top Top quality opostition and looked impressive how many ex World Champion's has he actually fought im not sure but id hazzard a guess not many apart from Beyer

Kessler has fought the following former (or present at time of fight) champs (one of 4 major belts): Beyer, Lucas, Siaca, Cesar Green and Thobela. Mundine only held a so called regular belt so guess he doesnt count.
That's 5 anyway, without Mundine.
How many Joe has on his resume? More, i'm sure - but is it so many more as to reflect his much longer stay at the top? I doubt it but havent bothered counting.

Just did count anyway. I make it 6 for Joe. Great case you make here :P

[Mike_R]

lacy was so dependant on being able to change the fight with one hammering shot- he was practically doomed from the start (and i was actually thinking he might win the fight before hand).

but kessler from what i've seen is a hell of a lot better at offensive combinations and getting inside on people. but joe is fast. much faster than kessler is, this fight is going to be tremendous, i really can't wait.

all that said, i'm picking joe for a UD, or maybe a SD

[Dynamite Kid]

Kessler has fought the following former (or present at time of fight) champs (one of 4 major belts): Beyer, Lucas, Siaca, Cesar Green and Thobela. Mundine only held a so called regular belt so guess he doesnt count.
That's 5 anyway, without Mundine.
How many Joe has on his resume? More, i'm sure - but is it so many more as to reflect his much longer stay at the top? I doubt it but havent bothered counting.

Just did count anyway. I make it 6 for Joe. Great case you make here :P

i apologise dude

I was not trying to discredit Kessler just trying to balance the book's a bit as apose to the lack of respect Calzaghe gets and compared to Kessler

i am still inclined to suggest that Calzaghe has fought the better oposition and he has beaten every SMW put in front of him for the last 10 years and that alone in my eyes should at least generate enoguh respect to rival the respect Kessler is recieving

[dumdane]

i apologise dude

I was not trying to discredit Kessler just trying to balance the book's a bit as apose to the lack of respect Calzaghe gets and compared to Kessler

i am still inclined to suggest that Calzaghe has fought the better oposition and he has beaten every SMW put in front of him for the last 10 years and that alone in my eyes should at least generate enoguh respect to rival the respect Kessler is recieving

I don't dissagree that Calzaghe has overall fought better opposition, but only marginally so. (looking at more recent opposition, Kessler has the edge IMO)The same goes for what other ppl are saying. Most who are being hard on Calzaghe aren't quite saying he's done worse than Kessler. They're just saying that given his much longer tittle run, it's surprising he's not more ahead than that.

If it seems to you that Joe is getting less respect than Kessler - it is perhaps because ppl expect more of Calzaghe, given his 10 year run.

[Knicksman20]

Kessler is a solid technical fighter. Although he's not a power puncher, he still hits hard. He has a good fast jab & an accurate straight right hand. That straight right is his best punch which I think is going to give JC hell like he's never experienced before. Kessler also knows how to fight tall & use his range very effectively; & that's something else JC hasn't had to go up against. JC has beaten some decent taller fighters but none of them knew how to use their height & length as well as Kessler.

[.Mik.]

Realistically the worst thing that Kessler can do is to hurt Calzaghe with a knockdown and not knock him out. Either superior tactics or a one-punch knockout are Kessler's best way of winning. Otherwise Calzaghe will either flurry all night and pick up the points on the judges cards, even if he doesnt really hurt Kessler much. Alternatively, if Kessler knocks Joe down, but not out, Joe will likely get back up, throw caution to the wind and start ****ing. From what we've seen of that in the past, that usually involves taking some hard shots, going head on, absolutely brawling and generally giving a greater volume of harder shots than his opponent until his opponent drops, or until the fight is stopped.

Kessler, to me, hasnt shown himself capable of out-boxing Calzaghe. Though I may be wrong. He may be capable of knocking out Calzaghe, but nobody has come close to doing it yet, so I dont know. I've never even genuinely seen Calzaghe hurt so far in his career and he's fought heavier hitters than Kessler in my opinion.

[dumdane]

Realistically the worst thing that Kessler can do is to hurt Calzaghe with a knockdown and not knock him out. Either superior tactics or a one-punch knockout are Kessler's best way of winning. Otherwise Calzaghe will either flurry all night and pick up the points on the judges cards, even if he doesnt really hurt Kessler much. Alternatively, if Kessler knocks Joe down, but not out, Joe will likely get back up, throw caution to the wind and start ****ing. From what we've seen of that in the past, that usually involves taking some hard shots, going head on, absolutely brawling and generally giving a greater volume of harder shots than his opponent until his opponent drops, or until the fight is stopped.

Kessler, to me, hasnt shown himself capable of out-boxing Calzaghe. Though I may be wrong. He may be capable of knocking out Calzaghe, but nobody has come close to doing it yet, so I dont know. I've never even genuinely seen Calzaghe hurt so far in his career and he's fought heavier hitters than Kessler in my opinion.

This myth that if Calzaghe gets flored, but gets up, he turns into an unbeatable moster is pure wishfull thinking. All we can say is that so far it's worked for him. But he hasn't tried it against an opponent of Kessler's class. I think Kessler would revel in a situation where Calzaghe throws all caution overboard.
Due to Kessler almost always having to "make" his fights (Andrade fight the obvious exception), it's very much overlooked that Kessler prefers to be the counterfighter - and is damn good at it. Kessler's timing and accuracy would make this "all in" tactics of Calzaghe's extremely dangerous. Far more dangerous than against any previous opponent.
Yes - it has worked in the past. But by no means does it mean it will work now against Kessler.

[Dynamite Kid]

one thing i obserevd against Marcus Beyer was that Kessler was suspect to Beyer's right hands he was never hurt but he did get tagged by it occasionally and with Beyer being a Southpaw this could be something that Calzaghe camp may have took notice of

[Dynamite Kid]

Kessler prefers to be the counterfighter - and is damn good at it. Kessler's timing and accuracy would make this "all in" tactics of Calzaghe's extremely dangerous. Far more dangerous than against any previous opponent.
Yes - it has worked in the past. But by no means does it mean it will work now against Kessler.


i agree to a certain extent about throwing caution to the wind would be a very dangerous tactic to employ ,but Joe is no where near easy to hit as Andrade was and Joe has an advantage regarding his defence he is a southpaw

[RodBarker]

The difference here is in only a few years Kessler has won two legit titles , defended his title in far away places against top competition , and now if that aint enough he is fighting Calzaghe in his own back yard ,, he chased and cornered this fight not Joe , remember that .

As far as comp goes they about even , Joe has one bigger name Eubanks , and Chris was a shell of his best and was coming out of retirement fighting a weight that was above his best weight , all off and I say again all off the name fighters on Joes resume were faded and at the very end of their careers and were beat by others just before Joe fought them , the thing with comparing resumes is the time factor , Kessler has achieved more in a much shorter time frame and if he beats Joe and is undisputed champ what is Kessler then , Kessler is the one stepping up to the plate here going to the Joes backyard ,, he publicly said he will fight Joe anywhere and Joe would not come to Denmark , proof is in the pudding , where is the fight !

Bika has fought Joe and went the 12 , he spared Kessler here in Aus as did Soliman and claims Joe dont hit as hard as Kessler ,, another bit of trivia , Mundine owns Bika in sparing , make of this what you like but remember Bika went 12 with Joe , Manfredo also said Joe dont hit hard .

Joe has only 2 KOs on his entire resume and fought 22 nobodys that had lost 80% of their fights before he stepped in with Eubanks , those 22 are not worthy of bragging rights .

People that keep bringing Lacy up ,, Kessler is so far above Lacy it aint funny , Lacy was a product of hype and got exposed , after the fact is Lacy anything special , no quite ordinary really , hind site is 20/20 .

The other point is Joe is 36 , same age Kostya was fighting Hatton , and I think the age will come into this if its a good paced tough fight .

Kessler wins by TKO or UD .