Comments Thread For: DeGale on Facing Kessler Next: That's a Hell of a Fight!

[Dirk Diggler UK]

He seems like he's improved on that a little though. When I remember him slapping the most I literally think of the way he slapped Paul Smith all over the ring



There wasn't really many who scored the first fight for Froch either The scores were literally the same.

When was he close to getting stopped by Calzaghe? I don't remember that.

I don't think so at all. Kessler's textbook style would be enough to beat Degale.

There are plenty who scored the first fight for Froch. I'd say it was 50/50. Maybe not in Denmark but in the rest of the world. Not a soul thought Kessler won the rematch.

He got hurt badly by a Calzaghe slap to the body in the 8th round I believe and was actually saved by the referee who broke up the action for no apparent reason. He admitted after the fight that he was hurt.

Kessler's textbook style was never good enough to beat anyone with a similar style to DeGale so I don't know how you come to that conclusion.

[LacedUp]

There are plenty who scored the first fight for Froch. I'd say it was 50/50. Maybe not in Denmark but in the rest of the world. Not a soul thought Kessler won the rematch.

He got hurt badly by a Calzaghe slap to the body in the 8th round I believe and was actually saved by the referee who broke up the action for no apparent reason. He admitted after the fight that he was hurt.

Kessler's textbook style was never good enough to beat anyone with a similar style to DeGale so I don't know how you come to that conclusion.

I don't recall that. I was press row for that fight and nobody really thought Froch would get his hand raised incl. the british newspaper guys.

Oh yeah I remember he was hurt. But close to being stopped? That's a slight exaggeration I would say.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

I don't recall that. I was press row for that fight and nobody really thought Froch would get his hand raised incl. the british newspaper guys.

Oh yeah I remember he was hurt. But close to being stopped? That's a slight exaggeration I would say.

Well obviously because it was in Kessler's backyard and it was a close fight. They already had one judge in their back pocket as well - that guy who refereed Reid-Ottke . There is certainly a case for Froch winning. I remember him landing the cleaner shots throughout. There is no case for Kessler in the rematch.

He was hurt very badly to the body and Calzaghe tried to jump on him but the ref broke the action, saving Kessler.

I'd be shocked if DeGale dropped more than 2 rounds to Kessler if they fought now.

[alexguiness]

I don't think this is a great fight.

Kessler is shot.

Degale would UD him easily.

[HEND]

Lol what, they want to market Kessler as a credible opponent now? In 2015? "Hell of a fight" ahh hell of a bullshit. Why he just can't say: "I want a tune up with a guy who has a good name here,"? It would be more honest and more sympathetic than try to sell thisversion of Kessler as a dangerous opponent.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Lol what, they want to market Kessler as a credible opponent now? In 2015? "Hell of a fight" ahh hell of a bullshit. Why he just can't say: "I want a tune up with a guy who has a good name here,"? It would be more honest and more sympathetic than try to sell thisversion of Kessler as a dangerous opponent.

"Froch didn't want it, so we had to go with the next guy in line and that's Paul Smith" - Andre Ward

[kiaba360]

Why is Kessler's name still being thrown around by SMWs? I thought he was retired. I'd rather DeGale make a home defense against Medina or Jackson, then maybe come back to the U.S. and face Ramirez on a PPV under-card or an HBO main event.

[nacho daddy]

I always wanted to see this fight but Kessler didn't want it. DeGale beats any version of Kessler.

This ticks all the boxes for a homecoming fight seeing as Kessler is well known in the UK and will help build DeGale for bigger fights.

degale is a 3 round fighter who can barely throw 5 punches a round

[sunny31]

Obviously Kessler is probably not going to look good so its a good stepping stone/exposure fight for Degale. I think the flaws in Degale's style got exposed against Groves and for me he got a little exposed against Dirrell too. Obviously both good fighters, but there are big flaws in his game and I think they are still there. He was hit and hurt several times during his european title fight. Since then I think he has improved but also been matched well, and rose to the occasion in a career best performance against Dirrell which was a tough as hell fight and I give him full credit for what in my eyes was a bit of an upset, especially when you saw that Dirrell was back to near his best. He has improved but he has flawed technique and stamina, and I think his biggest improvement actually has been that he has realised that he is a bit of a puncher and he can hurt top guys, so that has given him more confidence and made him very dangerous in exchanges. He has also improved some defensively and gained experience.

He can punch hard and quick, but his footwork and technique when he is moving forward is poor and he can't seem to throw straight with the left hand, plus he squares up and falls in behind the left, he looks much smoother when his opponent moves on to him, where someone like Dirrell can do both which is why I think he outboxed Degale for periods. He has some of the same problems that Calzaghe had technique wise, but Calzaghe had a way better engine, and he was almost impossible to slow down. I think Degale has an average one for a championship level fighter.

In terms of facing a prime Kessler, I would back the Dane to win a competitive decision. Degale's not very effective from long range, he has a good jab, but he struggles there, he is best at mid range but I think Kessler would keep it long as Groves did, he is also not that difficult to hit and even though he would land good shots on Kessler (for the same reason) with his speed Kessler is not that vulnerable around the whiskers and I see Kessler keeping the fight long with his footwork. I also think Degale struggles to fight at a good pace as I mentioned above, which is why I think Froch would beat him, I think both Froch and Kessler would beat Degale down the stretch after a competitive first 8 rounds.

As Degale's career moves on at world level I fully expect lots of the above observations to become more clear.

[Weebler I]

Why is Kessler's name still being thrown around by SMWs? I thought he was retired. I'd rather DeGale make a home defense against Medina or Jackson, then maybe come back to the U.S. and face Ramirez on a PPV under-card or an HBO main event.

Kessler is retired, he said he'd only come back for Froch or Ward. Difficult to see him coming back to fight DeGale but he might fancy it, who knows.

I don't know Medina, but I know Jackson is Julian Jackson's son. He has no name-value in the UK and I'm guessing DeGale wants a high-profile fight to make some money. The British fighter Fielding would maybe get the nod over those two.

Ideally, I'd like to see DeGale unify with Arthur Abraham to establish the true #3 (or #2) in the division, but there's no chance of him leaving Germany.