SUPER MIDDLE TOURNEY BEGINS WITH ANDRE WARD-MIKKEL KESSLER
July 6th, 2009 By Pedro Fernandez
TAYLOR, FROCH, DIRRELL, & ABRAHAM TO MOVE UP
Oakland, CA- With Showtime footing the bill, the super middleweight (168 lbs) division will hold a tournament that is set to commence November 7. On that evening Andre Ward, 25, 2004 Olympic gold medalist, now 19-0 (12 KOs) will meet the man considered the best in the division, WBA champ Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) at the Oracle Arena here in Ward’s hometown.
WATCH CLOSELY AND YOU WILL SEE GREATNESS
Ward is coming off a career high win with a UD 12 win over Colombian strongman Edison Miranda (32-4, 28 KOs) in April. Kessler, 30, last fought and beat Danilo Hausler (29-4-1, 7 KOs) with a TKO 3 October 25, 2008. The Viking Warrior has fought only twice since losing (UD 12) to then recognized world titleholder Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) in November 2007.
JERMAIN TAYLOR, ABRAHAM, FROCH, & ANDRE DIRRELL
The six fighters pegged for this tourney in addition to Ward & Kessler, Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs), ex-middleweight king and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist meets WBC champ Carl Froch (30 years of age, 25-0, 20 KOs). The third scrap matches widely ducked (ask Kelly Pavlik) middleweight titleholder Arthur Abraham (34-0, 15 KOs) and Andre Ward’s Olympic teammate Andre Dirrell (25-0, 16 KOs). AA last fought in June (TKO 10) Mahir Oral (25-2-1, 9 KOs). Dirrell, like Ward a Showtime product of sorts, is 18-0 with 13 shorts. Dirrell feasted on limited Derrick Findley (13-3, 8 KOs).
WARD IS CERTAINLY THE GUY TO BEAT HERE
Although this tourney in the minds of some might be considered a tossup, but I think that if when Ward gets by Kessler, he will then be recognized by the masses as a superstar in the making. The Europeans will back Kessler with big bucks, so the price on betting Ward should be a good one if you’re like me and think he is as special a boxer as they come.
ANDRE ON “RING TALK RADIO” NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT
Andre Ward will appear on “Ring Talk Radio” next Sunday night at 8:05 PM PT. Airing live from San Francisco on Extra Sports 860 AM, the show can heard both on the radio and live here at www.RingTalk.com Check the front page for show information.
Pedro Fernandez
This tournament means nothing without Allan Green. Not saying he would win it but he deserves to be in any tournament at 168
Im definately looking forward to this tournament, I think Froch or Abraham is taking it, but dnt count Ward out, the way he got Miranda was good. Good stuff for the fan.
Am I reading this correctly, Froch will face Taylor again?
Congrats on the new web site.(took long enough:)I think this tourney is excelent IF it all comes off the way we hope and that’s a big if. I also have to disagree that mr. WARD is the man to beat in this tournament. All others have just as good a chance and although WARD just beat a live and credible opponent, he still has a way to go to impress me but he’s on his way nonetheless. Anyway, it will be a great tournament and i can’t wait to see who rises to the top. ALL THE BEST DAVE
If I were Andre Ward I would have chosen to fight Jermaine Taylor not Kessler. But I guess he is supremely confident in his abilities. I haven’t seen a lot of Kessler but he also must be supremely confident because he’s chosen to fight in Andre’s back yard. If Jermaine loses his fight with Kroch I’d have to think he’s on the way down. Dirrell/Abraham should be very interesting. Dirrell has a ‘very’ lethal uppercut. I just saw Abraham for the first time about a week ago. He’s a tough guy but he’d best not underestimate Dirrell. Could be a very explosive fight.
You just love Andre because you’re both from Frisco.
He is “certainly not” the guy to beat. He is a good prospect who’s best victory is over a trail horse who everyone else has also beaten, but more impressively. I would say 1) Kessler 2) AA 3) Ward
HBO kept salivating over his hand speed against Miranda. I didn’t see it.
Kessler-Ward will be an entertaining match.
Pedro I know you are high on Ward being a Norcal fighter but I still make Abraham the front runner and Kessler my #2 choice to win this tourney. If JT actually trained he has the talent to win this whole thing but from what I have heard from insiders is that he is more interested in 4 wheeling and video games than he is in doing his road work.
If Ward is the certainly the guy to beat he has a tough task against Kessler. He gave Calzage more trouble than Hopkins and Jones and is in his prime. No one has ever taken the fight to Ward. I believe Kessler will wear down and stop Ward late.
I’d like to see Kessler take it all.
Vegas Mike… Are you an idiot? Kessler gave a better showing against Calzaghe than Hopkins??? A lot of people, myself included, believe Hopkins deserved the nod against Calzaghe. The only thing Kessler did was show up. Please know what you’re talking about before you talk at all…
Man this tourney is going to be sick! From what they said on Fri. night fights, its going to be
Carl Froch vs Andre Dirrel (Oct. 10 England)
Jermaine taylor vs Arthur Abraham (Oct. 10 in germany)
and Mikkel Kessler vs Andre Ward (Nov. 7 possibly in Oakland)
IMO, Kessler is the man to beat. Hopefully if any of these guys get injured, Alan green gets to step in. Plus we got outside of the tourney the andrade vs bute rematch! much props to bute takin this rematch considering he almost got ktfo the last time around and IMO, andrade got robbed. 168 is starting to get red hot now! Great time to be a boxing fan!
kessler is the champ – looking forward to travel from Copenhagen to Oakland in november to see him knock Ward down in round 3
Jonny, seems you are the one who has no idea what he’s talking about. Hopkins as usual fought in his own backyard and still got spanked by Calzaghe. Kessler boxed in Calzaghes backyard with 70000 spectators and still put on a good performance. It is interesting how US boxers rarely dare to go to Europe to box (knowing the importance of home court advantage I guess). However, they (and their fans) never seem to put much importance to this fact when they always box at home. Then for some reason suddenly it does not matter it is their backyard. they are scared to go overseas to box unlike the european fighters
Kessler is gonna teach Ward a lesson. Ward has only fought inferior opposition and that he’ll find out on 11/21