How Great Was Mikkel Kessler?

03/01/2023 James Slater

While you may point to Battling Nelson when it comes to the greatest boxer ever to have come from Denmark, others may say the distinction … continue

Ten Years Ago Today – Mikkel Kessler Defeats Carl Froch In A Classic

04/24/202004/24/2020 James Slater

A decade ago today in Denmark, super-middleweight rivals Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch met and thrilled fans with a great 12 round fight that was … continue

Ten years ago today: Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler in his “finest fight”

11/03/2017 James Slater

Joe Calzaghe, arguably the finest super-middleweight in history, scored a huge win a decade ago today when he decisioned Danish hero Mikkel Kessler over 12 gripping rounds. Today when looking back, Calzaghe, who of course retired at a perfect 46-0, has a number of fights to look back on and feel very, very proud.

But Joe has one fight as his pick for his finest, his best; the one he is most proud of. It is the win over Kessler that took place in Cardiff in front of around 50,000 fans. Some fans may point to Calzaghe’s great win over Jeff Lacy as his finest showing, some to his win over Bernard Hopkins.

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Froch-Kessler III? In light of Kessler’s comeback, “The Cobra” says maybe – but at light-heavyweight

04/01/201704/01/2017 James Slater

As fans may have read, news broke earlier this week that Danish great Mikkel Kessler, one of the best super-middleweights of the past decade or so, is coming out of retirement after almost four years out. Now aged 38 and last seen losing a great rematch battle with British great Carl Froch, Kessler is coming back at 168 pounds.

This news caused quite a stir all by itself, but Froch could be about to make even bigger news: by agreeing to a third fight with the warrior he is currently 1-1 with. Writing in his column for Sky Sports, “The Cobra” said Kessler’s comeback has “really got me thinking!”

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Mikkel Kessler makes comeback

03/31/2017 Wasserman Boxing

Danish boxing legend Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KOs) announced his plans to return to the ring at a press conference today at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers Hotel.

The former five-time World Champion, who retired following his May 2013 rematch with Carl Froch at the O2 in London, will make a sensational comeback later this year with a date and opponent to be confirmed.

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Mikkel Kessler Retires: “The Viking Warrior” Sails Off into the Sunset

02/04/2015 Andrew Huntley

This past weekend, as boxing fans focused their attention yet again upon the question of whether Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would finally meet inside the ring, former super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler took to Facebook to address a question of a different sort. This question concerned Kessler’s future as a competitor, and within the space of a few short paragraphs, “The Viking Warrior” provided his answer:

“I have thought long and hard over the options, which have been made available, but none of these options are enough to get me motivated” stated Kessler. The Danish boxer then added “I am always in training, it is part of my life, but I consider myself in a state of retirement.”

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Kessler: I’m sitting by the phone waiting for Froch to call; I want to fight him in a decider

10/06/2014 Bill Phanco

35-year-old Danish fighter Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KOs) says he’s waiting by the phone to get a call from IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) to be his next opponent on January 31st next year in a fight that would be staged in London. Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn is saying that he’s looking to match the 37-year-old Froch against either Kessler or James DeGale, Froch’s IBF mandatory challenger.

“I am sitting by the phone, hoping something is going to happen soon – I want a decider with Carl,” Kessler said to Ringside.

The problem with matching Froch against Kessler is that it’s a fight that some boxing fans would see as a rip-off considering that Kessler hasn’t fought since May of 2013 when he was beaten by Froch.

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Mikkel Kessler: “I still feel I have something to prove”

05/07/2014 Wasserman Boxing

Following months of speculation, today, former five-time World Champion Mikkel Kessler announced his intentions to continue boxing and fight his way back to the top of the sport he loves.

“I’ve thought a lot about whether I should continue my career,’’ said Kessler. ‘’I became a father and I have a life outside of boxing that I really appreciate. I’ve got a special responsibility. So it was not a decision I took lightly.

‘’But I still feel I have something to prove. I hate to lose! And I lost my last fight against Carl Froch. Many thought that I would quit, but I owe it to myself and my fans to finish on top. My last performance showed that I still belong at the top. And I know that my fans believe in me.’

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Froch Wins and Will Again, but Not Against Ward

05/26/201305/26/2013 Paul Strauss

froch644 Froch dominated Kessler, and will again if they have a third fight. Kessler’s style is too predictable and not busy enough. He lost because he failed to manage distance very well. He failed to take advantage of his hand speed and straighter punches. Ward did not and will not make those mistakes.

Froch got away with his unorthodoxy, because (to use a baseball phrase), Kessler failed to keep his eye on the ball. Froch hardly ever makes that mistake, and Ward never does. He is always focused, and ready to take advantage of miistakes at an instant. Froch gets away with throwing looping shots, because someone like Kessler’s defense is too simple. He either tries to block the punch, and many times unsuccessfully, or duck under it.

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Froch wants third fight with Kessler next, a tie-breaker

05/25/201305/25/2013 Rob Smith

froch301 Having beaten WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight to take his WBA 168 lb., the victorious IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) is kicking around the idea of fighting Kessler again in what would be a tie breaker.

Both fighters have one victory a piece in their two fights together, and a third bout between them would be one that would prove without a doubt who the better fighter is.

Froch said after the fight: “It’s one [victory] a piece. Who knows? You [Kessler] fancy a third one?”

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