Boxing

Mikkel Kessler Destroys Beyer In Three!

COPENHAGEN--Just minutes after he brutally destroyed WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer, probably knocking the German veteran into retirement, two-belt champ Mikkel Kessler stood and spoke with the media and well-wishers near his dressing room at Parken Stadium.

Someone mentioned that the now 38-0, 29 KOs Dane had picked a good fight for his American television debut (HBO) and Kessler said, "It is not television. It is HBO. Now I can say I am on the same television network as 'The Sopranos.'"

Using his rifle-like left jab to keep Beyer at bay, the man who nows owns both the WBA and WBC 168-pound belts seemed not miss a single punch against 34-3-1 Beyer.

Promoter Mogens Palle, normally a very tough critic of his own fighters, could find no fault with this classic performance under pressure.

"Mikkel fought almost perfectly," the 49-year boxing veteran said. "If this fight did not impress HBO, then nothing will. Mikkel did more than dominate. He was a wrecking ball from the opening bell. His right hand was powerful and accurate. Now we will look at all our attractive options."

Kessler said he has no qualms about facing 42-0 world champion Joe Calzaghe.

"I would be glad to fight Joe under the right financial conditions. I would go to England or he could come to Denmark. I will beat him in either place. I had said that Floyd Mayweather is boxing's best pound for pound and that I am the second best fighter in the sport. I think I demonstrated that to some people here tonight. I will fight anyone who is out there."

Promoter Bettina Palle was in agreement with her father.

"That was an outstanding showing by Mikkel," Ms. Palle said. "It must be a bit frightening for opponents but Mikkel seems to be getting better and better each fight."

Michael Marley, American agent working with the Palles and Kessler, said HBO was to be complimented for having the sagacity to be the first to showcase Kessler on U.S. television.

"I think it was a brilliant stroke by Ross Greenburg and Kery Davis and Luis Barragan at HBO to put three world super middleweight champions, all of them non-Americans, on their airwaves in one night so American fight fans could compare and contrast their merits. Calzaghe won his title bout, yes, and he is a great champion but Mogens Palle predicted that Kessler would "look like a million dollars" and he sure did just that. There can be no doubt as to who stole the HBO show on this night."


Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler: Get it on

By Ted Sares: Calzaghe, W 42 (31 ko's) - 0 vs. Kessler, 38 (29) ko's) -0 is a fight that has to be made and someone's O must go! Off their respective fights with Sakio Bika and Markus Beyer, Mikkel Kessler must be given a solid chance to slow down the Welshman's express train. Joe had to battle his way to the final bell of a very hard night’s work with the game Australian (by way of Cameroon), Bika, who came to win.On the other Hand, Kessler brutally destroyed WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer in three rounds and now owns both the WBA and WBC 168-pound belts.

As for fighting Calzaghe, the Dane said he has no qualms about facing the 42-0 world champion either in England or Denmark.

Though I am much more impressed with the Pride of Wales' overall level of opposition, Kessler has never suffered anything less than a UD. If you did a won-lost analysis of Joe's opponents (coming in) the result wold be astoundingly impressive. Fighters like Jeff Lacey, Mario Veit, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Evans Ashira, Byron Mitchell, Richie Woodhall, Omar Sheika, Chris Eubank, Robin Reid and Mark Delaney came in with either unblemished records or just one or two defeats. But the fact that he has fought much better opposition, combined with his age, might just have taken something out of him.

The "Viking Warrior" is 27 years old compared to Calzaghe's 34 and that disparity seemed to show a bit tonight against Bika. Kessler's ko percentage is a handsome 76%, while Calzaghe's is just as impressive at 74%. Yet I keep coming back to age vs. Youth and the fact that Kessler may be peaking while Joe has already reached and possibly passed his. If so, this could spell trouble for the "Italian Dragon."

Calzaghe won his title bout tonight in undisputed fashion and remains a great and undefeated champion. But as Promoter Mogens Palle predicted, Mikkel "looked like a million dollars" as he stole the HBO show on this night of sensational Euro boxing.

At this point in time, I see the fight between the pretty even (though I believe most others will make Calzaghe the clear favorite coming in). The bout's location will be a factor in my final handicapping of this one...if it comes off......and for the sake of fight fans throughout the world, it must!

 


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