jermain taylor vs michelle kessler

[abadger]

^^ There are plenty of guys, especially former champions who don't have belts that have no trouble getting big fights. This is because they've made a name for themselves, which is what Kessler would have further accomplished if he had beaten Miranda, who is a bigger name in the U.S. than Andrade. His fight with Calzaghe, for whatever reason, did not do big numbers in the U.S. and he was on the losing end regardless.

I hope you're right, that at some point someone like Taylor comes after his belt. But that's a waiting game that may take a while, especially when there are other, more respected belts to go after, and are probably easier to get.

As I pointed out though, whomping Andrade did not 'make Kessler's name', nor did his fight with Calzaghe, nor did his title wins and defences, nor has the fact that he is the world's #1 SMW. How would beating up Edison Miranda be any different? Is Arthur Abraham now a big star in the USA?

I am simply pointing out that beating Miranda would have left Kessler in exactly the position he is in now. Well regarded, well known in boxing circles, but ultimately relying on others to agree to fight him. Why would further proof of his dangerousness make Pavlik, Taylor or any other US boxer more eager to fight him? It wouldn't.

With the WBA title under his belt so to speak, Kessler has ensured that at some point, someone will have a very compelling reason to fight him. It may be someone in a title shot, or it may be a WBC champ Froch or Pascal in a unification bout. Beating a single, already beaten opponent of something short of top class ability may promise much, but thats all it is, a promise, and in boxing, what are promises really worth?

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Kessler could have easily chosen NOT to chase after the WBA belt and had a career-boosting fight with Edison Miranda, but no, instead he goes after the easier (on paper) fight with Sartison for a paper alphabet title that is "forcing" him to fight even ****tier mandatories.

So please stop acting like Kessler hasn't chosen his path. If he doesn't want to fight Haussler, he should ****ing vacate.

Kessler chose to fight Sartisan yes. Whether Miranda is better than Sartisan is up for serious debate. Miranda is shockingly bad.

I agree that it wouldve been better for him to KO Miranda. Profile wise.

And he would vacate if people were willing to offer him bigger fights. Pavlik for example was more interested in securing Paul Williams.

[Landshark]

MICHELLE Kessler will lose a decision to JT!

[Addition]

As I pointed out though, whomping Andrade did not 'make Kessler's name', nor did his fight with Calzaghe, nor did his title wins and defences, nor has the fact that he is the world's #1 SMW. How would beating up Edison Miranda be any different? Is Arthur Abraham now a big star in the USA?

But he may get a shot at Pavlik if Calzaghe does retire, and that's probably down to beating Miranda.

[abadger]

But he may get a shot at Pavlik if Calzaghe does retire, and that's probably down to beating Miranda.

He may, but there are no guarantees. Note that in that fight, Pavlik has something to gain, Abraham's belt and MW unification, would Pavlik take on such a dangerous fight with nothing to gain but another W on his list of defences? Would a beltless Abraham even be considered a worthy challenger, or would it be a case of Abrawho?

[dstew]

As I pointed out though, whomping Andrade did not 'make Kessler's name', nor did his fight with Calzaghe, nor did his title wins and defences, nor has the fact that he is the world's #1 SMW. How would beating up Edison Miranda be any different? Is Arthur Abraham now a big star in the USA?

I wouldn't say AA is a big star now, but the Miranda KO definitely raised his profile to where he is probably AS well known as Kessler (if not moreso) where that was probably not the case before his second Miranda fight. I still contend that it would've raised Kessler's profile as well - you have to understand that Miranda gained name recognition when he gave America's new golden boy, Pavlik, a tough fight on HBO PPV before being KO'd. Andrade's claim to fame was not so obvious.

I am simply pointing out that beating Miranda would have left Kessler in exactly the position he is in now. Well regarded, well known in boxing circles, but ultimately relying on others to agree to fight him. Why would further proof of his dangerousness make Pavlik, Taylor or any other US boxer more eager to fight him? It wouldn't.

Beating Miranda would've not only left Kessler more well regarded and well known than he is now, it would've made him a shoe-in for a WBA or WBC title shot against a paper champ, which he would probably win, leaving him with a higher profile AND a belt. In other words, better off than he is now.

With the WBA title under his belt so to speak, Kessler has ensured that at some point, someone will have a very compelling reason to fight him. It may be someone in a title shot, or it may be a WBC champ Froch or Pascal in a unification bout. Beating a single, already beaten opponent of something short of top class ability may promise much, but thats all it is, a promise, and in boxing, what are promises really worth?

Again, I hope you're right that someone big will eventually come after Kessler's belt, but still think he made a mistake by not pounding on Miranda first.

[dstew]

He may, but there are no guarantees. Note that in that fight, Pavlik has something to gain, Abraham's belt and MW unification, would Pavlik take on such a dangerous fight with nothing to gain but another W on his list of defences? Would a beltless Abraham even be considered a worthy challenger, or would it be a case of Abrawho?

With Abraham's resume, if he didn't have a belt he would definitely be a worthy challenger for Pavlik's title, if not a mandatory. Kelly had to fight Gary Lockett for chrissakes. And Marc Antonio Rubio is his current #1 ranked challenger by the WBC. No doubt Pavlik would be fighting AA at some point.

[Motofan]

Kessler stops him. He is like a bigger, more active Pavlik. Taylor would fold.

[dstew]

Kessler stops him. He is like a bigger, more active Pavlik. Taylor would fold.

Kessler is shorter than Pavlik with a shorter reach. He may have more muscle mass than Pavlik (so did Taylor), but there is no evidence he hits harder, and Kelly is actually as active if not moreso than Kessler over 12 rounds.