49. ANDRE WARD
Super Middleweight 21-0 (13)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Ward breaks the Top 50 on the strength of his startling whitewashing of established Super Six tournament favorite Mikkel Kessler (W 12). Ward did everything he said he was going to do, outboxing Kessler from the outside and roughing him up inside. If you’re wondering why Ward isn’t rated higher, remember -- Kessler is the first guy he’s beaten who could stand up for three rounds under his own power. Let’s not go crazy over him yet.
Future: Next for Ward is Jermain Taylor on April 17. Ugh.
25. MIKKEL KESSLER
WBA Super Middleweight Titleholder 42-2-0 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 20
Status Report: Up until his disaster against Andre Ward (L 12), Kessler looked to have recovered from the schooling he took against Joe Calzaghe, beating Danilo Haussler (KO 3) and Gusmyr Perdomo (KO 4) before heading into the super middleweight tournament against Ward in California. That he didn’t win a round demonstrates his complete and utter helplessness against a fighter with real speed.
Future: Carl Froch in April, who he’ll find much easier to hit than he did Ward.
Super Middleweight 21-0 (13)
Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Status Report: Ward breaks the Top 50 on the strength of his startling whitewashing of established Super Six tournament favorite Mikkel Kessler (W 12). Ward did everything he said he was going to do, outboxing Kessler from the outside and roughing him up inside. If you’re wondering why Ward isn’t rated higher, remember -- Kessler is the first guy he’s beaten who could stand up for three rounds under his own power. Let’s not go crazy over him yet.
Future: Next for Ward is Jermain Taylor on April 17. Ugh.
25. MIKKEL KESSLER
WBA Super Middleweight Titleholder 42-2-0 (32)
Last Year’s Ranking: 20
Status Report: Up until his disaster against Andre Ward (L 12), Kessler looked to have recovered from the schooling he took against Joe Calzaghe, beating Danilo Haussler (KO 3) and Gusmyr Perdomo (KO 4) before heading into the super middleweight tournament against Ward in California. That he didn’t win a round demonstrates his complete and utter helplessness against a fighter with real speed.
Future: Carl Froch in April, who he’ll find much easier to hit than he did Ward.
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