Mikkel Kessler admitts no hand problem after Calzaghe loss

[BattlingNelson]

He has only recently been saying that he had a hand problem. Sour g****s perhaps? Kinda annoys me when boxers do that. Like when Shane admitted he lost to Cotto, now hes saying he got robbed.

Kessler himself has to my knowledge never used it as an excuse himself. I've seen his trainers Ricard Olsen and Jimmy Montoya use it as part of an explanation for the defeat. But if you can find a link to Kessler using it as an excuse I'll be happy to read it.

[Kris Silver]

I've heard that one before. He has later reiterated that his hand was fine DURING the fight because it was 'treated' (sedated?).

Before the fight when asked if he had the handinjury he also said no and that he wouldn't have any excuses. So give Kessler credit for giving Joe credit.

This doesn't change the fact that he didn't spar and that the hand was indeed injured as reported by boxingscene. The only thing that's up to interpretation is how much of an impact the injury had.

Here's a pic of Kessler where you can see some of the scar on the surgically repaired hand:

They spoke of any issues with the hand leading up to the fight and during when speaking to him in that clip, and he simply commented no problems no. Why would he not even at least mention missing some significant sparring, say I felt a bit sluggish, I couldn't land hard. Even just playing it down? Nothing, not a thing!?!?

The scar, well, is a scar. It's from after it being surgically repaired. It's not of it before. Even there it doesn't look that bad, though I know you've linked worser ones before.

It'd be good to see a pic of Calzaghe's hands post Kessler, as often within 8 rounds his hands are buggered. He can't land solid in sparring often. I've seen post fight video's of his hands bright red, bruised, shaking, aching post fight and him describing that as normal.

[BattlingNelson]

They spoke of any issues with the hand leading up to the fight and during when speaking to him in that clip, and he simply commented no problems no. Why would he not even at least mention missing some significant sparring, say I felt a bit sluggish, I couldn't land hard. Even just playing it down? Nothing, not a thing!?!?
The scar, well, is a scar. It's from after it being surgically repaired. It's not of it before. Even there it doesn't look that bad, though I know you've linked worser ones before.

It'd be good to see a pic of Calzaghe's hands post Kessler, as often within 8 rounds his hands are buggered. He can't land solid in sparring often. I've seen post fight video's of his hands bright red, bruised, shaking, aching post fight and him describing that as normal.

As I said in the above post I believe that he didn't say anything because he very clearly before the fight said that there'd be no excuses. But that's just guessing...

There's really no debating whether he was injured or not. The only issue would be how much of an impact the injury had on Kessler's performance.

[Freddy Krueger]

Calzaghe has had hand problems all through-out his career, and probably had hand problems of his own during his fight with Kessler. You don't see Calz making excuses.

[NillerDK]

Just wait until you see Kessler's fight against Ward.

IMO the victory in SuperSix will be between Kessler, Froch, and Abraham.

None of the Americans have the skills and tecnique to fight guys like especially Froch and Kessler. Abraham is a hard-hitter, and has insane endurance, but nothing special besides that.

NOTE: It would be just AWESOME if they replaced Dirrell and Taylor with Lucian Bute and Kelly Pavlik. Unlikely - but I hope so!

Calzaghe, on a tv-interview, once said that he would not even consider fighting Froch because of his big mouth. He actually said (quote):
- "Give him a real figher, give him a fighter like Mikkel Kessler, and let's see how he copes, I know what the result of that fight is going to be".


This is how the SS i gonna go down:
1. Kessler (he will then be WBO, WBA, IBF and WBC unified champion!)
2. Froch
3. Abraham

PS.: Mikkel Kessler had an injured hand. Look at the scar on his middle knuckle. You dont get that from cutting vegetables - that is a surgery scar!

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Kessler himself has to my knowledge never used it as an excuse himself. I've seen his trainers Ricard Olsen and Jimmy Montoya use it as part of an explanation for the defeat. But if you can find a link to Kessler using it as an excuse I'll be happy to read it.

He was being interviewed after the Jones-Calzaghe fight fishing for a rematch and mentioned something about having a hand injury the first time. I'll try find it.

[hookoutofhell]

just watched the video and herees a brief transcript:

REPORTER: mikkel, there were reports of hand problems, how were your hands tonight

MIKKEL - fine, no problems with the hands

to a certain degree id rather break my hand in the course of a fight than during training. why because once youve buggered it in training you are then setback in your training schedule. padwork, the heavybag and sparring is literally put on hold until the injury recovers, this affects the fighters accuracy, timing and sense of distance etc.

this was apparent come fight night - joe is a Southpaw and the best punch against a southpaw is the straight right. mikkel has a great straight right and yet he never really landed and i believe its because his timing and accuracy was slightly off.

i dont want anyone to think im making excuses for mikkel because i dont think a prime kess beats a prime joe. but im just highlighting what i think are pretty obvious points.

[The_Demon]

kessler lost fair and square
but hes a hell of a fighter and still think this tourney is his too be won

[Dan...]

I'm not sure what to make of the hand injury business but regardless it wouldn't have mattered.

Kessler was beaten tactically that night. He looked the better fighter until Calzaghe did what he always does so well and adjusted superbly. Once Joe found the formula to beat Mikkel it was all one-way traffic. Kessler didn't have the tactical abilities to pull it back. Its nothing to be ashamed of, Joe is tactically extremely good.

The main thing for Kessler is that he is now getting on with his career and fighting the best out there, and that is what we have always wanted.