Who else gained respect for Mikkel Kessler?

[-----------]

Kessler gets all my respect, truly great boxer!!!

I have to admit, in the Fourth i was crapping myself and thought the fight was going to follow that way throughout.

But Joe Calzaghe, well, he was totally amazing.

He knew exactly what he was doing, and after he got hit with a few of Kesslers GREAT uppercuts, he avoided them.

Towards the end of the fight, he had worked Kessler out and Kessler couldn't touch him.

Also Kesslers post fight interview was great, he acknowledged Calzaghe as the no 1 Supermiddleweight, and was one of the best fighters in defeat.

I hope Kessler will reign and last for years to come at supermiddleweight after Joe moves up to Light Heavy to defeat the legendary B-Hop.

[Moon]

*WARNING* THIS IS NOT A CALZAGHE BASHING THREAD

in the 12th round, kessler did something spectacular: he knew he was behind and he went for the knockout.

Four rounds earlier he was hurt by that body shot and could have taken a knee, but did no such thing. He just tucked his left elbow a bit lower and tighter as Calzaghe came following-up with that shot to the back of Kessler's head. Still no complaints from the viking guy.

Gotta' love that.

Now, imagine the minds of those Middleweights who can't seem to make weight so easily these days. They love the idea that Calzaghe might move to LightHeavy, but now dread the thought of Kessler waiting for them at Supermiddle. Gotta' love that too. See you later Jermain Taylor. I

[Pugilistic™]

i have much respect to both of the fighters tonight.

[Moon]

Kessler was "Owned"?

Yeah did you see him get owned? oh **** lol.

Prince Naseem Hamed to this very day remains the "Owned Poster Boy" of the boxing world. Saying Kessler was "owned" shows your lack of understanding and appreciation for the fight game.

[Jim_Davis]

Prince Naseem Hamed to this very day remains the "Owned Poster Boy" of the boxing world. Saying Kessler was "owned" shows your lack of understanding and appreciation for the fight game.

Always have to bring Naz into it

[QuCongee]

Goddamn.. What a fighter!

I'm very proud of what he gave. Very proud.

An excellent effort. He gave everything he could give.

[The Weebler]

*WARNING* THIS IS NOT A CALZAGHE BASHING THREAD

in the 12th round, kessler did something spectacular: he knew he was behind and he went for the knockout.

in today's world of phonies, quitters, and crude brawlers, we have no shortage of shutouts and boxing lessons. we've seen it a thousand times: a fighter takes a beating and gets outclassed for almost the entire fight and silently admits defeat as soon as he finds that his opponent is truely better than him. even though he has a chance to go for a knockout, he doesnt go for it. his only option for victory and he doesnt choose it.

this was not the case with mikkel kessler. going into the 12th round, he KNEW he was behind, he KNEW he was outclassed, he KNEW he needed a knockout, he KNEW it was his only chance of winning, and he KNEW that if he tried hard enough, it could happen. kessler went swinging for the fences, desperatly trying for the last second knockout victory. although he did not obtain his desired stoppage, he tried for it anyway and goddammit we should love him for that. that's something everyone can respect.

he was a good sport about it, he admitted defeat and admitted getting hurt, and was even proud enough to suggest a rematch. thats professionalism. thats true class. in a world of phonies, front runners, and paper tigers, mikkel kessler showed REAL heart, REAL desire.

im not taking anything away from calzaghe. with this win, he has cemented his claim as the true SMW champion, and he did it convincingly and he did it as a champion. joe calzaghe is undoubtedly the greatest SMW champion of all time.

calzaghe's made his mark, but kessler's showed something unique. he showed the true desire to win. props to both men. calzaghe made history and kessler never stopped trying to win. this was a great night for boxing.

Kessler should've went all out in the 11th, he would've won imo.


Edit: its too much to say 'would've', 'could've' is better. Joe might've responded but he was rocked at the end.

[Addison]

I concur

That was one of the most pleasing fights I have ever seen.. I have MEGA respect for both guys.. I am sorry someone had to lose..

I'm with you, Welter!!

Both were sensational.

[Jim_Davis]

There's something cool about the fact someone can lose their undefeated record but be a much more highy rated fighter than they were when they were undefeated. A great thing for boxing.

[Wiley Hyena]

There's something cool about the fact someone can lose their undefeated record but be a much more highy rated fighter than they were when they were undefeated. A great thing for boxing.

Kessler's a class act. Joe is going to retire pretty soon and Kessler will have the division to himself. Then we'll probably see him reign. FYI, I still believe Kessler is top 15 p4p. I had Joe #2 and Kessler #10 in my personal list before the fight. I just don't see how this fight should drop him in the estimation of the boxing establishment.