Mikkel Kessler-Daniloa Haussler Moved To Oldenburg

[Kris Silver]

His only loss is to #2 P4P but the HBO numbers were bad and Calzaghe is just now himself getting big money fights.

I know money's a factor and all that, but you make out like it's the only one. Some boxers are driven by the sport itself you know, and the respect, reputation, career growth it gives them and so on. Ok they might take a bigger paid fight at certain points in their career but you can't every time. They lose respect and reputation if that happens, which ultimately can effect their earnings.

You can't avoid top guys non stop for several years when they've called you out and everything else is near saturated. Kessler has called Pavlik out, and Hopkins once I think. He's had pretty much no response, now that's ducking, which ironically is what you kinda criticise Calzaghe for. I spot a slightly double standard, and, as if we need to be over emphasising the money as a factor in boxing today, they do it on their own just fine and it's often not good for the sport.

[MWMerlino]

This is attempting to rewrite history, I'm sure Lacy had his critics but he was widely expected to destroy Calzaghe and was a heavy betting favourite in the fight.

The expectation to destroy Calzaghe had more to do with no one paying attention to Calzaghe because his career was spent fighting shut-outs against nobodies. At any rate, Lacy was unproven though regarded.

Kessler's record is not padded, his career thus far represents 1) rise through the ranks, 2) title win, 3) elimination of pretty much all viable contenders plus another title, 4) failed attempt at unification 5) capture of another title, 6) upcoming mandatory defence. If Kessler continues fighting boxers of Hausslers stature then it will start to become padded, until then it isn't.

Ok--padded is the wrong word. I'll call it "pulp" until he continues to fight Hausslers. You are completely correct here.

Kessler is a three time world champion and ranked as the #1 SMW on earth. His only loss is to the P4P #2. If this does not qualify him for big fights, what does?

When you say that--it sounds really good. "Three time world champion". World Champion means you beat the best the world had to offer. Well, in the SMW division the best isn't that great. Its been a very thin division and Kessler hasn't made moves to fight at higher/lower weights to draw in better competition.

His only loss is to #2 P4P but the HBO numbers were bad and Calzaghe is just now himself getting big money fights.

[abadger]

No, he was considered a promising prospect by some.

This is attempting to rewrite history, I'm sure Lacy had his critics but he was widely expected to destroy Calzaghe and was a heavy betting favourite in the fight.

My "lame" argument really isn't even an argument. I wasn't trying to prove/disprove anything other than this: If Kessler keeps fighting weak competition then people should hold him accountable for his padded record and complacency.

Kessler's record is not padded, his career thus far represents 1) rise through the ranks, 2) title win, 3) elimination of pretty much all viable contenders plus another title, 4) failed attempt at unification 5) capture of another title, 6) upcoming mandatory defence. If Kessler continues fighting boxers of Hausslers stature then it will start to become padded, until then it isn't.

The two variables in this land solely on Kessler's marketability--which is very low and was the same as Calzaghes for most of his career. The biggest paydays come from fighting in America--Kessler hasn't accomplished anything to get the attention necessary to fight the big fights. He was in 39 pro fights before taking on Calzaghe (the worst HBO numbers of all time). His previous fight was against Librado Andrade--a boxer relegated to Wednesday Night Fights in the states. American prospects have faced stiffer competition in 20 fights than Kessler has in 40. He needs to step up and get on with it.

Kessler is a three time world champion and ranked as the #1 SMW on earth. His only loss is to the P4P #2. If this does not qualify him for big fights, what does?

[Kris Silver]

I believe Kessler has publicly announced that his goal is a fight with Pavlik. Don't have a quote, but I'm pretty sure that that is correct.

Your quite right sir, all from this very site:

"I would like to fight Pavlik in the fall"

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=14476

And as a special bonus...

"I will kick Joe Calzaghe's arse"

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=9554

[MWMerlino]

First - Lacy was considered great by the Yanks. Denial isnt a river in Egypt

No, he was considered a promising prospect by some.

Second - your lame argument is based on something hypothetical - Kessler's next fight. We're not even close to knowing who it is yet but you're already writing him off.

My "lame" argument really isn't even an argument. I wasn't trying to prove/disprove anything other than this: If Kessler keeps fighting weak competition then people should hold him accountable for his padded record and complacency.

And BatTheMan is spot on, its not as if any high profile Yanks were willing to step up and tempt Kessler into dropping his strap. Its telling that Kessler is actually criticising his own fight yet Taylor is trying to sell his as an attraction whilst admitting he's avoiding stiffer comp.

The two variables in this land solely on Kessler's marketability--which is very low and was the same as Calzaghes for most of his career. The biggest paydays come from fighting in America--Kessler hasn't accomplished anything to get the attention necessary to fight the big fights. He was in 39 pro fights before taking on Calzaghe (the worst HBO numbers of all time). His previous fight was against Librado Andrade--a boxer relegated to Wednesday Night Fights in the states. American prospects have faced stiffer competition in 20 fights than Kessler has in 40. He needs to step up and get on with it.

[abadger]

Well no I stated previously that his real mistake was backing out of the Miranda fight at a time where Miranda was still considered dangerous. He chose to fight Sartison and get the WBA title. O.K. Now he has a title that ties him to mandatorys like Haussler. But, also, he hasn't done any calling out and as far as I know, any reaching out to get a fight. You have guys like Froch that are doing all they can to get a bigger fight and move up. Kessler put himself into a corner where he isn't calling out anyone and because he isn't popular or well regarded--therefore Kessler is on a path of weak competition and his career isn't doing anything.

I believe Kessler has publicly announced that his goal is a fight with Pavlik. Don't have a quote, but I'm pretty sure that that is correct.

[MWMerlino]

??????????
So you tell me exactly why Kessler wont fight any yanks in the above post. It appears that you agree with me: He is fighting Haussler because he cannot get any yank to share the ring with him. So it's not exactly because he's scared to fight the best, but rather that the best are scared to fight him to use your own logic.

Well no I stated previously that his real mistake was backing out of the Miranda fight at a time where Miranda was still considered dangerous. He chose to fight Sartison and get the WBA title. O.K. Now he has a title that ties him to mandatorys like Haussler. But, also, he hasn't done any calling out and as far as I know, any reaching out to get a fight. You have guys like Froch that are doing all they can to get a bigger fight and move up. Kessler put himself into a corner where he isn't calling out anyone and because he isn't popular or well regarded--therefore Kessler is on a path of weak competition and his career isn't doing anything.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Taylor hasn't said anything about avoiding stiffer competition - that was his promoter. AFAIK Taylor hasn't uttered one word about Froch. Not being a huge boxing fan himself, he probably doesn't even know who Carl Froch is. Sad, but to be fair his job is to fight his fights, not watch other guys fight.

Also, Jeff Lacy is still a bigger name than Daniloa Haussler, and insult Lacy all you want but a win over him will actually serve to boost Taylor's resume while a win over Haussler doesn't mean **** for Mikkel and he knows it, which is why he's criticizing his own fight. So at least Taylor's management is moving in somewhat the right direction, while Kessler's time is being wasted.

Thats neither here nor there. I assume Taylor has some say in who he fights and Im sure he wouldnt have his promoter saying "'we're taking an easier fight" if that hadn't been the case. I admire their honesty if anything in that sense.

Although they arent as honest as Kessler who is clearly frustrated and writing off his fight with Haussler. Yet Taylor vs Lacy will be sold as a big attraction on HBO. Kessler is clearly being forced into his waste of time fight whereas Taylor has chosen to take his.

[BattlingNelson]

I agree that when you look at it in such an idealistic way it's silly.

But when you look at it from a business standpoint, some of Kessler's best prospective opponents are in the U.S., the money is in the U.S., but I question Kessler as a commodity in the U.S. since casual fans haven't had proper exposure to him. I would sincerely hope that the networks would see his appeal and back him for a big money fight, but I'm not sure that's reality at this point.

As much criticism as Joe Calzaghe is getting for fighting "old men", he at least has decided to play the game over the last year by traveling to the U.S., and he's getting paid handsomly for it. He could also pick anyone he wants for his next fight. Kessler may have to play that game as well.

I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt I am. I personally work with boxing fans who get most PPV events and follow main events on HBO and Showtime, and have had to explain to them who Mikkel Kessler is because they have no idea. Not a good sign.

The sad truth.

[dstew]

My view is simple. Kessler is as credible a SMW boxer as you are likely to find, being as he's #1 in the division, three time champion and a fringe P4P contender. I have to take issue with the idea that he somehow needs to 'earn' a shot at the other top boxers around his division, its a bit silly.

I agree that when you look at it in such an idealistic way it's silly.

But when you look at it from a business standpoint, some of Kessler's best prospective opponents are in the U.S., the money is in the U.S., but I question Kessler as a commodity in the U.S. since casual fans haven't had proper exposure to him. I would sincerely hope that the networks would see his appeal and back him for a big money fight, but I'm not sure that's reality at this point.

As much criticism as Joe Calzaghe is getting for fighting "old men", he at least has decided to play the game over the last year by traveling to the U.S., and he's getting paid handsomly for it. He could also pick anyone he wants for his next fight. Kessler may have to play that game as well.

I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt I am. I personally work with boxing fans who get most PPV events and follow main events on HBO and Showtime, and have had to explain to them who Mikkel Kessler is because they have no idea. Not a good sign.