Former WBA 168-pound Champ Mikkel Kessler participated in a light workout on Monday in Herning, Denmark, just five days before his Super Six World Boxing Classic showdown with WBC super middleweight champ Carl Froch on Saturday, April 24 on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m., ET/PT, same-day coverage) from MCH Arena, in Herning, Denmark.
Denmark’s Kessler will be counting on the support of his home fans when he challenges Nottingham, England’s Froch for the WBC 168-pound crown, a title he previously held before losing it to the retired Joe Calzaghe. Kessler is hoping that home-field advantage prevails for the fifth straight fight in the super middleweight tournament.
A packed crowd filled the Shopping Centret Herning, one of the biggest shopping centers in Denmark, located just a few kilometers from the site of Saturday’s world title fight..
After one round in the tournament, Froch (26-0, 20 KOs) has two points, while Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), who has never lost a fight in his hometown of Denmark, needs a victory to get on the board. Froch would become the tournament points leader with a win over Kessler.
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Schmeichel on Froch-Kessler: “Whoever prevails has excellent chances of winning the Super Six”
Copenhagen/Nottingham (16.04.2010) – Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who now works as a TV host for Danish pay-per-view giant Viasat, admitted he is impressed by Carl Froch´s fitness level ahead of the WBC Champion´s meeting with Danish hero Mikkel Kessler on April 24. Schmeichel paid a visit to the Cobra´s home base in Nottingham last weekend to interview him for Viasat´s pre-fight coverage. “My visit to Carl Froch once again convinced me that he is truly a great fighter,” Schmeichel said.
He is a highly likable person as well as a skilled and very dedicated fighter. I got a first-hand look at how well he is prepared for the fight against my fellow countryman Mikkel Kessler. Mikkel really needs to be at his very best to beat Carl on April 24.
“Being Danish myself, I do of course support Mikkel and hope he wins, but having spent a big part of my life in England, where I have had so many great memories, I’m not afraid to say that Carl Froch is a great champion. I wish him all the best in the tournament.
“It is going to be a great fight in Herning. I have met both fighters and they have great personalities and are both fantastic warriors in the ring. The thousands of fans in Herning as well as the millions on TV can truly expect an exciting evening because neither Kessler nor Froch will give anything away. Whoever wins this fight will have excellent chances of winning the entire Super Six tournament.”
Schmeichel believes the tournament is the best thing that could have happened to boxing. “The idea is great,” he added. “We have already seen great fights, spectacular events and some great boxing. I call the Super Six the Champions League of Boxing and I am sure that Team Sauerland, Hennessy Sports, Viasat and SHOWTIME will set up another great evening in Herning on April 24.”
The fight will air on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT as a one-fight card (same-day delay). In Denmark, the fight will be distributed pay-per-view on the satellite-, cable- and IP TV-platform by the following operators: Satellite and IP-TV operator Viasat, cable TV- operators YouSee and Stofa, and IP TV operator TDC. Price per ticket is 499 DKR and tickets can be ordered by phone (70 11 20 60). The starting time for the fight will be around 22.30 Danish time. Tickets for the show at MCH Herning can be purchased at www.BILLETnet.dk.
For information on all SHOWTIME Sports telecasts, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries from its events and complete information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at http://www.sports.sho.com.
Tennis ace Wozniacki to support Mikkel Kessler ringside on April 24
Up-and-coming tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki, the world number two and 2009 U.S. Open finalist, will be ringside on April 24 to support fellow Danish superstar Mikkel Kessler in his must-win Super Six World Boxing Classic clash with WBC Super-Middleweight Champion Carl Froch.
Wozniacki and Kessler have been good friends for a long time, and despite a very tight tournament schedule, the 19-year-old sensation will travel to Herning to cheer for the “Viking Warrior” in the most important fight of his career. “Mikkel is a very good friend of mine,” Wozniacki said. “He is a great athlete who works very hard for his success. I really look forward to watching him beat up Carl Froch in Herning on April 24. Even though it will be a tough fight, I am sure Mikkel has got what it takes to leave the ring as the winner. I will do my very best to cheer and support him from ringside. He has had a great career and I am sure we haven´t seen the best of him just yet.”
Also in attendance will be Michael Maze, the Danish European table tennis champion, who is also a good friend of Kessler and Wozniacki.
The fight will air on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT as a one-fight card (same-day delay). In Denmark, the fight will be distributed pay-per-view on the satellite-, cable- and IP TV-platform by the following operators: Satellite and IP-TV operator Viasat, cable TV- operators YouSee and Stofa, and IP TV operator TDC. Price per ticket is 499 DKR. The starting time for the fight will be around 22.30 Danish time.
Tickets for the show at MCH Herning can be purchased at www.BILLETnet.dk.