SUPER SIX TOURNEY SATURDAY: WARD VS. KESSLER
November 19th, 2009 By RingTalk
San Francisco, CA- While some of you are still in a state of euphoria (or shock) from the beating Manny Pacquiao threw down on Miguel Cotto, we have another fistic specialty on the calendar for this Saturday as Andre Ward challenges World 168 lb. champion Mikkel Kessler. Kessler, a well established fighter that has become Denmark’s Manny Pacquiao, lost only once to Joe Calzaghe via decision. Having trained for almost a month here in California, the Dane has become acclimated to the terrain in which he will face Ward, a 2004 Olympic Gold medalist who will be fighting at home at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA.
WARD POISED TO DELIVER BIG ON SHOWTIME!
Unbeaten at 20-0 with 13 whacks, Ward’s ascension to the upper echelon of the 168 lb. weight class was slowed by injuries. Now that he is there, it doesn’t look like he’s going away anytime soon. Just turned 25, ‘Dre as he’s referred to at home, will pull out his entire arsenal against Kessler. Even though he’s beaten 42 of 43 foes, Kessler hasn’t faced somebody of Ward’s makeup.
OLYMPIC KING HAS IT ALL!
The movement, hand speed, the ability to adroitly go back and forth from right to left handed, it dismayed Edison Miranda, a 32-3, 28 KOs, fighter from Colombia who was supposed to eat Ward for lunch. That didn’t happen as Ward beat him handily on points after 12 rounds. The Kessler-Ward fight will be televised LIVE on Showtime this Saturday at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.
“Ring Talk News”
Well, I do not know if Ward will beat Kessler…More i do not believe..but in boxing you never may say never!
Somethings even you cannot say at all. I sent the following comment to Eastside Boxing and was rejected. (what it is strange is that the fun’s talk in this side is heavy loaded with foul language) Maybe it will get it in. I use quotation marks in order to emphasize that i am quoting myself:
“Do Americans stink too? It was for years peddled the rumor that it is impossible to win in Europe, I mean for a foreigner fighter. Maybe it was true…But, the nomination of three judges from California has certain smell, gross while the fact that the Californian Boxing Commission cannot be reached by (in our ultra-communication times) the WBA discharges really a nasty stench…It is that good for boxing? The respectable Ring on line maybe has something to say? Pedro Fernandez? You?”
I consider this to be Ward’s toughest fight to date. Kessler is a much better fighter than the faded Miranda.
I think Kesslers robotic style will show here. Wards more fluid style I feel wins this. He’s alike a jazz musician in there, much like Joe Calzaghe. I think the improvisational style of Ward will give Kessler fits. Too many dimensions. Kesslers the champion, but there’s a reason that Ward won a gold medal. He’s a damn good fighter. If it becomes an inside war of wills, Kesslers in trouble. Kessler’s only edges are pro experience and punching power.
>>”Even though he’s beaten 42 of 43 foes, Kessler hasn’t faced somebody of Ward’s makeup.”
Not sure I agree with that. Calzaaghe is as good or better than Ward. Then again, Kessler lost to Calzaghe.
I did not think Ward looked all that impressive against Miranda. Look what Pavlik and Abraham did to Miranda for comparison.
Note too that by ethnicity, Kessler is at best half Dane–his mother is English. Too, “Kessler” does not sound like a Danish name. My mother’s grandparents emigrated from Denmark and I’ve done a lot of research on my roots so know what typical Danish names look like. Most end in a “sen.” Kessler sounds more German like my surname. Perhaps a German father that immigrated to Denmark and married a Brit?
Whatever Kesslers’ ethnicity, he’s a good fighter and so is Ward so this should be a good fight as will most of the fights in the Super Six tournament.
I believe it would be Ward that would be in trouble if it became an inside war of wills. Kessler hits harder and has proven he can survive a rough type of fight as shown in his fight against Andrade. True Kessler has not fought anyone with Andre Ward’s style, but he has vast more experience and has had way tougher competition as opposed to wards opponants. Kessler mixes up his punches well and I see it being more effective against Wards unorthodox style of mixing it up. But man, Ward is fast! This is probably going to be the best fight thus far regarding the super six. and like someone said above, you really never know, so its best settled in the ring.From Edison Miranda to the number one smw seems like a steep jump in comp.I think Kessler’s #1 for a reason and will show us why come saturday as much as I would love the Americans to make it at least 2-1 (even though Dirrel arguably tied it up at this point.)
How can you say Ward is better than Calzaghe? That is asinine.
1200 TECHS, my point was Kessler is not known for infighting, much like the majority of european fighters and if the fight is dictated at that range it favors Ward. That’s what I was referring to. Kessler needs distance to land effectively with his power. Ward on the other hand has the better technique on the inside. Also Kessler’s only number 1 because Calzaghe moved up to fight Hopkins. Kessler did looked good against the ultragressive and rugged, but limited Andrade, but styles make fights and Ward and Andrade are cut from a different cloth. Kessler’s best win besides Calzaghe was Mundine, and that was years ago. He hasn’t faced any opponnents recently that prepare him for the dynamic style of Ward. It should be a good fight, and close, but I am going with Ward. He seems to get better with every fight, and just because he has less expereince in the pro’s doesn’t take away from the fact that that he’s been boxing most of his life.
Once Ward gets a taste of Kessler’s power he will start running.
Kessler has 2 make Ward fight. Ward will box all night long if u let him. Kessler cannot win a boxing match here, as he does not want it to go to the cards. Wards wins 5-6 rounds here BUT,
Its the case of seeing the guys as horses, and the better horse wins 9 out of 10 times.
My Analysis is that Kessler is the Thourobread horse, while Ward is the unproven Babe.
I see Wards unproven Legs here collapsing under the pressure of a premium horse in Kessler. Kessler will win coming down the stretch because he has the extra gear, or horse power if u will, and Ward is a 6 cylinder that needs more power which may come in time like a Hopkins or Tarver who are late bloomers like i think Ward will prove to be, but for now he is too fresh, and legs not strong enough yet.
I like Kessler to stop Ward in the 11th round, as he catches up to Ward and the accumulation of punches takes their tool on the Babe.
What leads you to believe that? Nothing in his earlier fights would lead me to believe that. I think Andre is being underestimated here. Name one elite fighter that Kessler has beaten? Mundine? I know people think highly of Kessler and so do I, but considering the level of opposition Kessler has faced, especially recently this won’t be a walk in the park. Ward is a much better fighter than he’s been given credit for. I know his ascension in the pro’s has been slow, but much of that has to do with injuries…I don’t see a one-sided fight here, and considering Kessler couldn’t KO the tricky and slick Mundine, I don’t expect he to be able to rely on his power to beat Ward. If he does win it will be because he’s a better boxer, not because of his power.
I will try to make my points short:
1. I like Andre Ward. For me, his last name is “Potential”. But let’s be clear, he is not even close to Calzaghe’s class at this point of his career.
2. Kessler seems to be somewhat robotic, but he has an ultra effective jab, hard and fast. I think this will give Andre a lot of problems.
3. Kessler is, in some way, like Wlad Klitschko: jab-jab-right, all night long, with a different punch here and there. Not very versatile, but very effective. The only difference is that Kessler is willing to fight hard, is not very careful like Wlad, and seems to have a granite chin.
4. Ward has talent and skill. If he can give angles and avoid Kessler punching power, I do think he has a shot.
Bottom line: I do see a very competitve fight, but at the end, the dane will come on top based on efficiency and strong will.
KP: while kessler was taking on the best that smw div. has to offer, dre was fighting 8 rd. fights against soft opposition…although kessler did not k.o. mundane, he still showed that he has what it takes to beat a slick boxer. calzhaghe retired so kessler IS NUMBER 1 at smw so my point stands. this is quite a jump from edison miranda. there are plenty of boxers that have been boxing all there life, but only few prove to be effective against different styles at the higher levels. kessler is proven. ward has a chance to prove it tonight. i agree that it will be kessler being a better boxer, not his power that wins him the fight.
KP u can anaylyze guys to death, but they are what they are in the end. They are guys who are fighting, which is being closer to an animal than a man.
Looking at the fight like that makes me see them as horses.
If your argument is that Kessler hasnt beat anyone, well then at least he fought an elite fighter and hung with him. Where as Ward has fought nobody and been buzed by never was beens.
So when its all said and done KP its a fight, and nothing more, and the better horse wins.
Ward is a babe, and Kessler the premium horse here. In time Ward will mature but here he gets a taste of a real RACE, and doesnt finish it.
KP the one thing u need to ALWAYS remember is that it is a FIGHT. Boxing only happens when both men comply to not hurt each other. Ward will not hurt Kessler, but damn it if Kessler doesnt try to murder Ward in there.
all I can say is wow! this is one I’m glad to be wrong on! I will never doubt Andre Ward again! He beat the crap out of the dane and then some! I also like the fact he never let up on kessler for one round and tried to finish him. he was simply to quick. Wards going to be a problem for everyone in this tourney and now i see the light…this man can take the whole thing!