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Team RSR Fight Picks: Andre Ward vs. Mikkel Kessler
Compiled by Brian Wilbur-November 21, 2009
This Saturday, November 21st, the much celebrated Super Six tournament continues. This tournament is showcasing the best six super middleweight fights against each other. In this round, WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler from Denmark will play the role of the veteran champ. Kessler, who employs a solid jab and has good power, is considered one of the favorites to win the tournament.
His challenger, Andre Ward, is an Olympic Gold medalist from 2004 who is fighting in his first world title fight. Ward is an exceptional natural talent, as proven by his amateur success, and is sometimes compared to Roy Jones, JR. for his raw speed and quickness. Although Ward is young and relatively inexperienced as a pro, he feels like his time has come and it is time to step up against the best in the world. Many experts feel that Andre has a long and fruitful pro career ahead of him.
Read on to see whom the team of writers at Ringside Report are picking to win.
Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett
I'm going with experience here despite the notion that Andre Ward may have the necessary intangibles to win this one. Mikkel Kessler by a very close and possibly controversial unanimous decision.
Gina Caliboso
As the only female feature writer on RSR, I was momentarily distracted with the good looks of Kessler and Ward. I always said I’d mention when a fighter (or fighters in this case) are good looking. Bear with me here as I make a pick – I don’t really want to. But in the footage I’ve reviewed, it is going to be a good fight with neither Kessler nor Ward backing down from what they know how to do – box.
Mikkel “The Viking Warrior” Kessler, 42-1, 32 KO’s is a clean, precise fighter with a great jab-cross-lead hand combination that has knocked opponents down. He has a great rear hand (either an overhand or a straight cross) that is executed cleanly with a lot of power. Five years older than Ward, his veteran ring time will only favor him. In order to win, Kessler must simply establish a pace that Ward cannot easily match and use his fight experience to win by points.
Andre “S.O.G” Ward, 20-0, 13 KO’s, a former 2004 Olympic Games Gold Medalist, fights both orthodox and southpaw. At 25 and with punches coming from everywhere, Ward’s strength comes from establishing good body punches in flurries. Ward must work the ring a bit more and use his rear upper cut. Ward cannot be tentative against Kessler and although he is adaptable to left and right leads, he may have to strategize quickly and fight a strong fight in one lead only.
My Pick: Kessler in 12 rounds – split decision.
Jeff Stoyanoff
Ward clearly has the capability to win this fight. I expect that he will fight very well and not be overwhelmed by the moment. His Olympic experience should at the very least have prepared him for the pressure of the big stage. Furthermore, his modest advantage in speed will present some problems for Kessler throughout the fight. It would not surprise me in the least if this turned out to be the sternest challenge for Kessler in the entire tournament.
Having said that, I expect Kessler to handle the speed and be very effective. Experience will likely be telling in this bout and Kessler has been in with the tougher competition by far. If Kessler wasn't completely done in by the speed of Calzaghe, he should not be shocked into submission by the speed of Ward. In the end, Kessler will emerge with a split decision win in a match up that we very well might see again when we get to the elimination portion of the Super Six.
Mike “Mykers” Boehm
Both fighters definitely have a challenge to overcome. Since they are relatively evenly matched, I believe it’s going to be a close fight. However, like in the Pacquiao vs. Cotto bout, speed will become a huge factor. Therefore my pick is Andre Ward, by a hard fought split decision.
Geno McGahee
Mikkel Kessler is too strong for Andre Ward. Expect Ward to do well for the first four rounds but then Kessler will find his groove and begin to break him down, eventually sending Ward to the floor from the punishment. Kessler by TKO in 10.
Daniel “Tex” Cohen
I have been overly safe with my picks lately, and this is one of those fights that probably has upset potential. Kessler is by far the better overall fighter, but Ward is all wrong for him. Even so, Kessler is hardly Edison Miranda, and Ward is no Joe Calzaghe. I see a boring fight, with Ward trying to get in and out while Kessler swings and lands some effective punches in spots. If Kessler can catch Ward and keep him from holding, he can score a knockout. However, we will more than likely see Arthur Abraham at the top of the leader board at the end of the day.
The X-Factor here is the judging. What style will the robed types appreciate? Will Ward have a home-town advantage when it comes to the cards? Expect a close fight, something very near a draw.
Another consideration is what will happen if and when Ward gets caught. If he responds well and continues boxing, he can keep Kessler off of him. If he crumbles just a little, Kessler will close the show. I'll be contrarian and run with Ward to take the upset the only way he knows how: By calculated decision.
Geoff “The Professor” Poundes
Kessler has the strength and experience, Ward has the skills and speed. In this case, the former trumps the latter, but not by much, so that Kessler wins a close, unanimous decision.
“Bad” Brad Berkwitt
Kessler by unanimous decision.
Brian Wilbur
Andre Ward is still pretty green. This is a huge step up for him and I think he is biting off more than he can chew. His immense physical talent will make things interesting but I look for Kessler to control with his jab and score a flash knockout in the middle rounds, getting to Ward’s chin.
Final Tally
Mikkel Kessler – 7
Andre Ward – 2
Compiled by Brian Wilbur-November 21, 2009
This Saturday, November 21st, the much celebrated Super Six tournament continues. This tournament is showcasing the best six super middleweight fights against each other. In this round, WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler from Denmark will play the role of the veteran champ. Kessler, who employs a solid jab and has good power, is considered one of the favorites to win the tournament.
His challenger, Andre Ward, is an Olympic Gold medalist from 2004 who is fighting in his first world title fight. Ward is an exceptional natural talent, as proven by his amateur success, and is sometimes compared to Roy Jones, JR. for his raw speed and quickness. Although Ward is young and relatively inexperienced as a pro, he feels like his time has come and it is time to step up against the best in the world. Many experts feel that Andre has a long and fruitful pro career ahead of him.
Read on to see whom the team of writers at Ringside Report are picking to win.
Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett
I'm going with experience here despite the notion that Andre Ward may have the necessary intangibles to win this one. Mikkel Kessler by a very close and possibly controversial unanimous decision.
Gina Caliboso
As the only female feature writer on RSR, I was momentarily distracted with the good looks of Kessler and Ward. I always said I’d mention when a fighter (or fighters in this case) are good looking. Bear with me here as I make a pick – I don’t really want to. But in the footage I’ve reviewed, it is going to be a good fight with neither Kessler nor Ward backing down from what they know how to do – box.
Mikkel “The Viking Warrior” Kessler, 42-1, 32 KO’s is a clean, precise fighter with a great jab-cross-lead hand combination that has knocked opponents down. He has a great rear hand (either an overhand or a straight cross) that is executed cleanly with a lot of power. Five years older than Ward, his veteran ring time will only favor him. In order to win, Kessler must simply establish a pace that Ward cannot easily match and use his fight experience to win by points.
Andre “S.O.G” Ward, 20-0, 13 KO’s, a former 2004 Olympic Games Gold Medalist, fights both orthodox and southpaw. At 25 and with punches coming from everywhere, Ward’s strength comes from establishing good body punches in flurries. Ward must work the ring a bit more and use his rear upper cut. Ward cannot be tentative against Kessler and although he is adaptable to left and right leads, he may have to strategize quickly and fight a strong fight in one lead only.
My Pick: Kessler in 12 rounds – split decision.
Jeff Stoyanoff
Ward clearly has the capability to win this fight. I expect that he will fight very well and not be overwhelmed by the moment. His Olympic experience should at the very least have prepared him for the pressure of the big stage. Furthermore, his modest advantage in speed will present some problems for Kessler throughout the fight. It would not surprise me in the least if this turned out to be the sternest challenge for Kessler in the entire tournament.
Having said that, I expect Kessler to handle the speed and be very effective. Experience will likely be telling in this bout and Kessler has been in with the tougher competition by far. If Kessler wasn't completely done in by the speed of Calzaghe, he should not be shocked into submission by the speed of Ward. In the end, Kessler will emerge with a split decision win in a match up that we very well might see again when we get to the elimination portion of the Super Six.
Mike “Mykers” Boehm
Both fighters definitely have a challenge to overcome. Since they are relatively evenly matched, I believe it’s going to be a close fight. However, like in the Pacquiao vs. Cotto bout, speed will become a huge factor. Therefore my pick is Andre Ward, by a hard fought split decision.
Geno McGahee
Mikkel Kessler is too strong for Andre Ward. Expect Ward to do well for the first four rounds but then Kessler will find his groove and begin to break him down, eventually sending Ward to the floor from the punishment. Kessler by TKO in 10.
Daniel “Tex” Cohen
I have been overly safe with my picks lately, and this is one of those fights that probably has upset potential. Kessler is by far the better overall fighter, but Ward is all wrong for him. Even so, Kessler is hardly Edison Miranda, and Ward is no Joe Calzaghe. I see a boring fight, with Ward trying to get in and out while Kessler swings and lands some effective punches in spots. If Kessler can catch Ward and keep him from holding, he can score a knockout. However, we will more than likely see Arthur Abraham at the top of the leader board at the end of the day.
The X-Factor here is the judging. What style will the robed types appreciate? Will Ward have a home-town advantage when it comes to the cards? Expect a close fight, something very near a draw.
Another consideration is what will happen if and when Ward gets caught. If he responds well and continues boxing, he can keep Kessler off of him. If he crumbles just a little, Kessler will close the show. I'll be contrarian and run with Ward to take the upset the only way he knows how: By calculated decision.
Geoff “The Professor” Poundes
Kessler has the strength and experience, Ward has the skills and speed. In this case, the former trumps the latter, but not by much, so that Kessler wins a close, unanimous decision.
“Bad” Brad Berkwitt
Kessler by unanimous decision.
Brian Wilbur
Andre Ward is still pretty green. This is a huge step up for him and I think he is biting off more than he can chew. His immense physical talent will make things interesting but I look for Kessler to control with his jab and score a flash knockout in the middle rounds, getting to Ward’s chin.
Final Tally
Mikkel Kessler – 7
Andre Ward – 2
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