Kessler predicts Calzaghe win!

[dansweeney]

By Craig Watt

WBA 168 pound champion Mikkel Kessler was at today's weigh-in at the Midland Hotel in Manchester for the WBO/ IBF unification match up between unbeaten champions Joe Calzaghe and Jeff Lacy. He took time out to talk after the ceremony about the upcoming fight and his position in the 168 pound mix. The unbeaten 27 year old from Denmark is himself 37-0 and wants to fight the winner. He stated, "I am here in Manchester with my promoter Morgens Palle and would love to fight the winner of this exciting fight. I predict it will be an excellent match but if the fight goes past six rounds Joe Calzaghe will be victorious. Whilst Lacy has obvious power I think Joe has too much experience and too much boxing ability for him. If Calzaghe stays away from the obvious power of Lacy early on he will come out victorious and Mikkel Kessler would like to put his WBA title on the line to find ultimate champion at 168 pounds who would own all three belts. A champion who holds WBA, IBF and WBO could then be considered the best in the division and I would love that opportunity to come later in 2006." Kessler confirmed they were still looking for an opponent for a voluntary defense in the next few months. He comes off an impressive title defense with a 10th round stoppage of former WBC champion Eric Lucas in January.


*hmm.. can't help but think Kessler is pulling for Calzaghe for a reason

ya, who cares what he says? he's a stablemate of thomas daamgaard, probably not any better than he is, he was also 37-0

[PBDS]

....Oh my god!!!! A Euro fighter predicts a Calzonie win!!! ****ing headlines for sure. Man, Lacy has the Euro fighters so nervous that they are hand in hand **** stroking each other like I have never seen before. I thought everybody hated this guy. WTF?????

[jangeorg]

ya, who cares what he says? he's a stablemate of thomas daamgaard, probably not any better than he is, he was also 37-0

Kessler took his title against a world-champ ranked no. 2 by the Ring (Manny Siaca). Kessler went to Oz in his first defence and defeated easily Ring's no. 3 (Mundine) - both Siaca and Mundine were in their primes.

Lacy has never faced a prime top boxer and has never defeated a defending world-champ nor has he had a title fight abroad

[DaWayne]

Where you getting all this info from, man? This is impressive.

To the Quote on the bootom of your page.How many times even when he was the challenger did he leave Eourpe.When was the last time he had a serious contender.Mitchell Was a Don King never was and Brewer was old so I don't no why he would or you would bring up the black fighter thing.Because he if felt he never could beat at that class he should have moved up a long time ago.All that talk about about fighting Sven was bull.He Know's his time is coming to a end and he wants a big payday or two just like a great black fighter (Roy Jones}.

[PunchDrunk]

Kessler and Calzaghe are not from the same country. I get your point though. They are both European.

But that doesn't mean they have anything in common. Maybe they do from your american point of view; "those Euro's are all the same"-type of thing, but that is YOUR mistake. In Europe, we don't think like that at all. For a Welshman like Calzaghe, a Dane might as well be from Mars, and the other way around.

Personally, I just think Kessler maybe has a bit more to base his opinion on than all you armchair warriors, since he's seen the guys fight live, and probably sparred some of the same guys as them etc. That doesn' mean he can't be wrong, though...

[dumdane]

But that doesn't mean they have anything in common. Maybe they do from your american point of view; "those Euro's are all the same"-type of thing, but that is YOUR mistake. In Europe, we don't think like that at all. For a Welshman like Calzaghe, a Dane might as well be from Mars, and the other way around.

Personally, I just think Kessler maybe has a bit more to base his opinion on than all you armchair warriors, since he's seen the guys fight live, and probably sparred some of the same guys as them etc. That doesn' mean he can't be wrong, though...

Wouldn't be in Kessler's interest for Joe to win.
Joe has made it very clear, that he won't fight at 168 again. Kessler knows this.

So for Kessler to have any hope of facing the winner for a unification shot of his own - he'll have to hope Lacy wins.

I think Kessler is just calling things the way he sees it.

[Peder]

exactly nwhat i was thinking of. kessler knows that joe will be easier for him than lacy

I would think heŽd like Lacy to win, but just thinks Calzaghe is going to win. Kessler has the technique to fight Lacy at distance, and Lacy would not get past his japs. Again, we can se who the hardest opponent is - tonight!!

[DIEGO DA HITMAN]

I think Kessler and a lot of other fighters in general, not just Europeans, have doubts about Lacy having an all around fight game. They think that he's just a power puncher who allows himself to be hit. However, "Left Hook" is actually a good boxer, and I think has more skill than he's shown in the past. I think if he does win, that he will fight Kessler. His confidence would be at an all-time high, and it would be another step up the P4P ladder. I would love to see Lacy-Kessler, and think it would be an excellent fight, as well. I don't think Kessler's biased, just that he's seen more of Joe, and hasn't seen Lacy against the upper tier of fighters. That being said, I think Kessler will be surprised when Lacy takes Joe out...