14.10.06 – 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.”