Calzaghe vs. Kessler?

Question

I am one of the biggest fans of Joe Calzaghe out there, but it seems that Kessler could probably take care of him. I mean, after his last fight he took some punishment and didn't look like good old Joe. But who knows, maybe Mikkel isn't such a tough opponent after all, any thoughts?

Answer 1

I like Calzaghe. I was surprised as hell when he drilled Lacy the way he did.
Two things counting against him, though; his age and quality of opposition he's fought. He's fought really good guys, like Charles Brewer and Robin Reid, but never really been tested by anyone great.
Now, at 34, with the boxing world sitting up to take notice of him, he's going to have to fight younger, stronger and better guys as he steps up in competition.
However, he is unbeaten and he's a tough, tenacious ring technician. He should be able to handle Kessler.

Answer 2

Bald Turkish this is an excellent question. These are two truly outstanding fighters, by far best super middleweights in the world today and match between them would basically be too close to call. I must say, I am a big fan of Mikkel Kessler and I think that he would definitely be the biggest test of Joe's career and, if there ever was a man to beat him, Mikkel is probably it. He is undefeated in 38 matches, very strong and fast fighter with perfect technique and excellent knock out power as well. He is also seven years younger then Joe. I don't know if you've seen it, but the way he dominated and dispatched Markus Beyer, of all people, in his last match inside 3 rounds was really beyond belief. And Joe, it must be said, really hasn't looked too good in his last outing. At his best, there is no way he would have taken more time then 3 or 4 rounds probably against an opponent like Bika, and yet he struggled all the way to a decision in that match. He did get that cut early on, but non the less. But then again, if he were to bring the shape he had in the Lacy fight, Kessler would have some real problems on his hands.
So... who knows. If the match does happen soon I think that Joe objectively should be considered a slight favorite but there definitely is a very strong possibility of Mikkel pulling off an upset and becoming the undisputed champion. As a big fan of his, I really hope he does.

p.s.
Brent F, your troll jobs and such arrogant and blatant bashing and disrespecting of European boxers should really have no place here.

Bald Turkish excuse me for moving away from the given topic but I must answer some things that are being sent at me.

Santana first of all I am not an Englishman, just so we're clear. Secondly, who exactly is Joe Calzaghe (or Mikkel Kessler for that matter too) supposed to take on from United States to prove him self a worthy champion. Bernard Hopkins? Without a doubt one of the greatest boxers in the history of this sport. But the man is also 41 years old, never had a serious match in super middleweight division in his life and not to mention retired from professional boxing. (Don't even bring up his last fight with Tarver as a counter argument here because these are two completely different caliber of fighters). Are you that desperate to undermine Joe's talent and achievements of his career? The only man who Joe really has something to prove against today is Mikkel Kessler and you know that very well.
Further more - European boxers have to: "Come to America and fight the best to be the best". I don't know if you are keeping up with current events but times are changing friend. Americans are loosing their domination, not just in heavyweight division, and are no longer the best. European fighters are starting to take over. Boxers like Wladimir Sidorenko, Ricky Hatton, Arthur Abraham, Tomasz Adamek, Joe Calzaghe, Mikkel Kessler, Wladimir Klitschko, Nikolay Valuev and so on are at the very top of their divisions, you just don't want acknowledge that, but that's your problem really.

Brent F you, much like any other boxing fan in the world, know perfectly well that Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler are without any question the best two super middleweight boxers today and that the rest of the competition (excluding Denis Inkin perhaps) isn't even on their level. Yet you so arrogantly bash them for no other reason except that they are not Americans (troll job is just an expression I picked up on SHERDOG commonly used for something like this). I'm sorry, but I can not help but tell you what I think about such rude behavior.
And what's this thing about holding grudges?! I don't hold no grudge towards you! I don't even know you man. And by the way, don't call me sir.

Answer 3

i'd like to see the fight. i pick ring experience that being Calzaghe over kessler.

Answer 4

Two overrated fighters going at it over in Europe. Here we go again. I guess I'll pick Kessler in an upset. Joe's getting old.

a p ribafish - I once again I have not attacked you personally. Why do you persist in attacking me on a personal level? I hold no grudges sir. I will once again state as I have stated before, we disagree, and that is all. There have been and will continue to be fine boxers coming out of the European arena. These two I feel are overrated. They need to fight more globally and as champions put themselves out there, and they will gain many fans of the sweet science's well earned respect.
a p - From here on out I will tone down my sarcasm about the fighters from Europe as long as you make an effort not to be so sensitive and take things so personally.
a p - One other thing. Read Santana's last sentence of his answer, It says all that needs to be said, and is quite on point.

a p - You hold no grudges? You take offense when I call you sir, and you bring up the point that I disrepect European boxers. As much as you'd like not to admit it, you have got to come to the good 'ol U.S. of A to obtain the moniker "excellent or great" as a fighter. That's where the money and fame are at in boxing. That is not something I'm making up. Fighter's have to risk their title here to be called great. Kessler and Calzaghe have not done that. Some names of fighter's that left the safe confines of their home countries to fight in the U.S.A and took their shot at greatness:
Azumah Nelson, Alexis Arguello, Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez, Lennox Lewis, Max Schmeling, Ingemar Johansson,
Victor Galindez, Dick Tiger, Mike McCallum, Jose Napoles, Emile Griffith, Ted "Kid" Lewis, Jimmy McLarnin, Kid Gavilan, Luis Rodriguez, Ricardo Lopez, Felix Trinidad, Pipino Cuevas, Julio Cesar Chavez, Antonio Cervantes, Kostya Tszyu, Roberto Duran, Ismael Laguna, Freddie Welsh, Ken Buchanan, Vicente Saldivar, Wilfredo Gomez, and others that would take too much of my time to list. Not all on this list achieved greatness but they came here to the States and put themselves out there and put their title on the line. I don't see your favorite "great" fighters doing that, with the exception of Hatton who is cutting his safety net and fighting for the second consecutive time outside of Manchester or London. Wake up a p and listen to me and you will learn so much more than you already know about the sweet science! And by the way try to grow up a little this forum is about agreeing to disagree. Boxing is one sport that is more subjective than all the others.
a p - If Joe or Mikkel ever got the b*lls to travel outside of Europe and decided to fight Hopkins they'd both get a ticket to the school of boxing and Bernard is 41 and thinking of retiring, or challenging Maskaev for his title. If Bernard is thinking about that your Russian heavyweights can't be that great. I'll bet your a fan of one of those four heavyweights champs and you probably consider them "great" also.

Answer 5

Bald Turkish ~
In my opinion, you have every reason to be worried about your boy Joe. In in his last outing he looked less than stellar. The one thing you have to remember is that England is pushing for Joe to be "Great", he keeps fighting these fighters that are unheard of here in the States look at the names on his resume' Pudwill, Jimenez, Torres, Hanlon, Stowe and Manners to name a few but who are these guys that propelled Joe to Greatness?
Joe Calzaghe beat a very one dimensional Jeff Lacey, anyone who could stay away from his left hook and his left hook and his left hook could beat him. The English fans were quick to call Ricky Hatton "Great" but looked what happened to him once he didn't have his English supporters here to pick the referee (usually Micky Vans) and Judges at their disposal. Do you remember Hammed (Naz) his outing was a classic with Barrera running him head first into the corner pad, he too was "Great"
Joe is a good fighter, I take my hat off to anyone who has the gumption to get in there and mix it up, but he's going by what the English fans and press are feeding him. Could you imagine him in there with the likes of Taylor, Wright (I know different weight class) or Echols? It doesn't look so good for Joe.
Kessler is indeed a tough cookie on paper, but look at the likes that he has fought D'Alessandro, Menedez, Sorbal, Zolziarski, Rubes and Hall who are these guys? Calazaghe and Kessler should indeed fight each other and the winner should leave their comfortable confines and come to the Untied States and step up and see if they are remotely close to good instead of "Great"

a p ~
In defense of Brent, RESPECT is earned and not given. The European fight fans especially the English are quick to call anyone who holds a belt "Great" Hatton "Great", Naz "Great" Khan "Going to be Great" give me a break, now Joe "Great". They must come to America and fight the best to be the best. How can they even consider hailing them as "Great" fighting the fighters they have been. Don't give me "Joe beat Lacey" anyone who could avoid Jeffs left hook could beat Lacey. You want to throw Beyers name out there too? Everybody you mention in your rant to my friend Brent has had hand picked scrubs to build their records on.
English fighters are very ordinary fighters at best, just ask Collazo and Barrera of what they think of the "Great" fighters from England.

a p ~
You throw around words like "Excellent" "Outstanding" and wrote "Best in the World" when writing about Calazaghe and you have the gall to mention Hopkins who mentioned anything about Hopkins being "Great"? He isn't, he defined his career by calling out Jr. Middleweight De La Hoya and Trinidad. He's a joke.
The United States is where the money is at and regardless of the current mix of "Champions" all greatness has to come to our shores, if not you end up with the "Great" fighters from England who all looked nothing but extremely ordinary in their last fights, and that's nowhere near "GREAT"

Answer 6

kesslar

Answer 7

i agree with brad m