Mikkel Kessler Can Still Become #1 SMW Ever

[Roger Mellie]

Even with his loss to Calzaghe if he wins this tournament he can end up with wins over Taylor, Abraham, Froch, Ward, or Dirrell. And even after its over he can get wins over Pavlik, Bute, Green, Jacobs. The pool is so deep right his resume @SMW will surpass Calzaghe who refused a rematch after their close fight.

Just winning this tourney alone wont really do it.Kessler undoubtedly had the potential,but lets not forget that he lost to a 30 something Calzaghe whilst he was in his prime,so its very unlikely.

Kesslers biggest enemy has been inactivity, which is a shame because I rate the guy very highly, and I think this period of little or no top class competition will have harmed him. I would rate froch as the favourite to win this tourney because of this and also because Ward and Dirrell have really not mixed in a decent class yet.

That said,If Kessler still has all he had before and comes out on top in this,then I will be delighted as on the face of it he is clearly the most rounded of all taking part.

[120]

mikkel kessler is a great fighter and this tourney will be great. Whoever ends on top will be no.1 no doubt and will end up fighting bute(at least i hope so), BUT, he won't be rated higher than Calzaghe. I'm a Kessler fan and i rooted for him to beat Calzaghe but Calzaghe had an answer for everything, he just kept on shifting gears throughout the fight. too many title defenses, retired undefeated, has good names on his resume, beat kessler in an outstanding fashion.

You have some guys here saying that whoever doesn't rate him higher than "calslappy" is a hater by the end of the tourney. Codeword calsplappy, showing hate for the guy. How can that opinion be credible?

[kayjay]

The Calzaghe fight was not close. Kessler had a few solid rounds early but got a lesson in losing seven straight from 5-11.

[Scary]

I don't see Kessler topping Calzaghe if he wins this tournament, however I believe that it is possible if he wins and takes the hardest competetion afterwards, imagine if he took Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones and Paul Williams (Who's so f****** overrated!) that would probably top Calzaghe.

If he wins the tournament and gets a deal with Hopkins, if he then beats Hopkins convincingly, he's the best SMW of all time, even though Hopkins will be a LHW. Remember he had hand problems against Calzaghe, or so says the rumour, that might affect his reputation if he really beats everyone. I saw his hand in real life, he had a big scar on the wrist, so I guess there's something to it.

But damn, Calzaghe's resume is hard to top.

[120]

I don't see Kessler topping Calzaghe if he wins this tournament, however I believe that it is possible if he wins and takes the hardest competetion afterwards, imagine if he took Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones and Paul Williams (Who's so f****** overrated!) that would probably top Calzaghe.

If he wins the tournament and gets a deal with Hopkins, if he then beats Hopkins convincingly, he's the best SMW of all time, even though Hopkins will be a LHW. Remember he had hand problems against Calzaghe, or so says the rumour, that might affect his reputation if he really beats everyone. I saw his hand in real life, he had a big scar on the wrist, so I guess there's something to it.

But damn, Calzaghe's resume is hard to top.

contradicting urself there buddy

[.Mik.]

Of course not. Calzaghe beat the top contenders at SMW his whole career, not just in a tournament. INCLUDING a prime Kessler himself.

[Scary]

contradicting urself there buddy

Not really, you gotta admit that fighters reputation plays a role when you look at resumes. Beating Paul Williams would upset a lot of people, and play a big role on Kesslers resume, even though I think he's overrated. I'm not saying that Paul Williams is a bad fighter, I'm just saying that he's the most overrated boxer on the planet.

[crold1]

I don't see that ****. Look how long it's taken him to even consider a tough fight since gettin beat by Joe C.

The loss to CXalzaghe will always hurt but to say 'consider' is ridiculous when considering the war he waged to get out of his contract and fight a real fight.

[catalinul]

Yes he can.

Just like Ward,Dirrell,Bute,Froch or Abraham.

Will he be?I doubt it.

[number6]

Interesting debate.

If Kessler goes through this tournament undefeated then goes onto beat Bute, it would be hard to say he didnt have a more impressive resume than Calzaghe.(providing he doesnt pick up a L before he retires.)

Then again he lost to Calzaghe head to head when he was in his prime.

If Kessler does go through all these names undefeated i would say he has the best resume of any 168 fighter but not the best fighter at 168.