Ward open to fighting Froch in the UK

ward54 WBA super middleweight champion super middleweight champion Andre Ward says he’s open to a rematch with IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch this year, whether in the UK or the United States, as long as Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn shows him how badly he wants to make that fight happen.

Ward said to HBO: “At this point in my career I’m open to any fight that makes sense. A rematch makes sense. I don’t know if it’s going to be in the UK or the United States, but Froch’s promoter needs to show how bad he wants it. He [Froch] has a big fan base here, but he has to understand that I don’t have to come here. If I come here it’s because I want to reward the UK fans. He’s come off two big wins over Lucian Bute and Mikkel Kessler.

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Analysing the career of Chris Eubank

By Matthew Mellan: Chris Eubank Sr, from the fighting Eubank family – that includes elder twin brothers Peter and Simon, cousins Bobbie Joe Edwards and Frank, and sons Chris Jr and Sebastian – was one of the most successful non-U.S. fighters in the history of the sport of boxing.

The first time I remember watching Eubank fight was as a teenaged, Bronx-based Englishman taking on teak-tough Eric Holland on SportsChannel America in what was the pro debut for ‘The Rock’ Holland and also the first and last time he would ever go down – in the gym, amateurs or 59 pro outings; Eubank knocked him down in the 4th round of a four-round boxing masterclass in which he jabbed his opponents face off (not literally), moved nicely and flurried nicely.

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

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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Froch beats Kessler, avenges his previous loss

IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) avenged his earlier defeat to WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) by beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight in front of a packed O2 Arena in London, England. Both fighters ended getting hurt with big shots before the fight was done, but in the end Froch did enough to win a 12 round unanimous decision.

After the fight Froch said “He was there to hurt me on a couple of occasions he did hurt me, but I hit him with the bigger shots and I was close to the knockout in the end. I’m really, really happy. I just kept at range with the jab all night long.”

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Froch decisions Kessler

IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) labored to a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night over WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) at the O2 Arena in London, UK. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. The last score was the more accurate score compared to the other two.

Froch barely beat Kessler. Had Kessler won the 12th round, I would have scored it a draw. It was pretty sad scoring of the fight. Neither looked good. You can’t say Froch looked good because he spent the entire night missing punches and throwing a limp jab that would have been easily countered by a good fighter like Andre Ward.

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Groves wants Froch-Kessler winner

Undefeated George Groves staked his claim to the winner of tonight’s fight between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler by destroying #11 WBC super middleweight contender Noe Gonzalez by an impressive 5th round TKO. Groves landed a booming right hand to knock Gonzalez out.

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Atlas picks Froch to beat Kessler

ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas is picking IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KO’s) to defeat WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 35 KO’s) in their fight tonight at the O2 Arena in London, UK.

Atlas’ reasons for going with Froch echo a lot of the same reasons others are picking Froch. He feels that Froch has improved considerably in the three years since he last fought Kessler in 2010, and sees him as a more confident fighter at this stage in his career despite being a year older than Kessler.

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Froch maybe favourite but Kessler has a bigger point to prove

Conventional boxing wisdom seems to dictate that Carl Froch will tonight avenge his 2010 defeat to Mikkel Kessler in their much-anticipated rematch in London.

Froch, who still disputes his loss on Danish soil, insists if their first bout had been on home territory, he too may have been seen to have eked out a narrow victory akin to Kessler’s in Copenhagen. I respectfully disagree.

What is undeniable however is that the first clash between Froch and Kessler was a certifiable classic, boasting one of the most fervid and frantic 12th rounds in recent boxing memory. While there are those who evidently doubt Kessler’s ability to win a second bout, there are few who doubt the rematch will pick up right from where the first fight left off, in impassioned fashion.

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Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch II: Expect a great fight!

The long awaited rematch between Mikkel “The Viking Warrior” Kessler (46-2, 35KOs) and Carl “The Cobra” Froch (30-2, 22KOs) will take place this Saturday, May 25th at the O2 Arena (Millennium Dome) in Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. The bout will be televised on HBO at 6:00p.m. ET and Kessler’s World Boxing Association World Title and Froch’s International Boxing Federation World Title will be on the line.

The last time these two men meet in the ring was in Herning, Demark, on April 24, 2010, as Kessler earned a hard fought 12 round unanimous decision during the Super Six Showtime Boxing Tournament by three scorecards of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112. This was a great, competitive, back and forth bout in which both fighters had their moments. Kessler slightly outland and outpunch Froch, however, the fight was a bit closer than the scorecards indicated.

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Froch vs. Kessler 2: Legacy and a date with the Legend of Longevity are on the line

Although few fighters if any can match the quality of opponent that Carl Froch has faced since his introduction to the big time in his 2008 fight with Jean Pascal, make no mistake about it, his legacy is on the line. Not only legacy but a fight with the legend of longevity Bernard Hopkins, is waiting in the wings in what would be a hall of fame sealer for Carl “The Cobra” Froch. There is only one problem. The Viking Warrior is standing in his way and Mikkel Kessler has plenty of skill along with grit to make his “Warrior Call” be heard to the roof tops of the O2 Arena in London. Another week, another 50-50 fight and win-win for boxing fans across the world.

According to the some betting lines Carl Froch ranges from an almost 2-1 favorite, all the way up to an astronomical 4-1 or 5-1 on a betting website in the U.K. Carl Froch has been the more active fighter since their fight in 2010, as well as facing the better opposition. Meanwhile, Mikkel Kessler was forced to take two separate breaks, one over a year and one almost a year, to heal his eye injuries that nearly forced him to retire from the sport. What if anything is different besides location from the first fight and will this fight play out in similar fashion?

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