Why didn't Arum go for Mikkel Kessler?

[Sir_Joe]

Kessler called Pavlik out not long ago and Arum mentioned Kessler was on their short list... What happened? Is the Viking Warrior being ducked for the 44 year old Hopkins instead?

Surely they could have made this fight happen.

[Muttley85]

Mikkel has to defend his title against Danilo Haussler next or be stripped and not having a title and participating in one of the worst ever rated primetime HBO shows (calzaghe-kessler) he is not much of a name in the US.

[Sir_Joe]

He'd drop the belt and Kessler is a huge name in Denmark which makes up for it.

This fight could EASILY be made, don't underrated Kessler's fan base.

[MELLY-MEL...]

but it was ok when joe fought bhop! **** off!

[Muttley85]

He'd drop the belt and Kessler is a huge name in Denmark which makes up for it.

This fight could EASILY be made, don't underrated Kessler's fan base.

Im not, no one in the US watched Kessler before so i doubt that he has the slightest amount of name recognition with casual fans over there and the last time Pavlik fought a european no one tuned in either. Hardly the making of a PPV or big fight.

[Sir_Joe]

Kessler's danish fans will watch, Brits who know of Kessler will watch and many american viewers will watch (Pavlik fans). It wouldn't take much work to hype this fight at all.

[jmah]

Kessler's danish fans will watch, Brits who know of Kessler will watch and many american viewers will watch (Pavlik fans). It wouldn't take much work to hype this fight at all.

They'll watch for free, but would they pay?

In the US:
Pavlik-Kessler = HBO WCB
Pavlik-Hopkins = HBO PPV

[daggum]

hopkins will never lose to 2 whiteboys is what he meant to say.

[Muttley85]

Kessler's danish fans will watch, Brits who know of Kessler will watch and many american viewers will watch (Pavlik fans). It wouldn't take much work to hype this fight at all.

HBO are really in charge so only american ratings really matter and Cal/Kess had the lowest primetime regular HBO ratings in history.

[Sir_Joe]

Really, who is going to buy Hopkins vs Pavlik?