Here are the weights from Herning, Denmark: Super Six World Boxing Classic, Second Round: – Carl Froch (WBC Champion) – 75.9 kg vs Mikkel Kessler (Challenger) – 75.8 kg
Mikkel Kessler: “I have had a great preparation and I am ready.. It was not the real Mikkel Kessler in the ring against Andre Ward. I have learned my lesson. In life, you have to bounce back from defeats, you have to get back up. That is what I am about to do. This fight means everything to me. There is a lot of pressure but that is no problem. I need a win. And I will get a win – I will get the first three points in the Super Six tournament.”
Jimmy Montoya: “Mikkel is in great shape. The Cobra will be in for a hell of a night and a hell of a fight. Mikkel is just too skilled and too powerful for him. And we have not seen the best of Mikkel yet. I expect a clear win on Saturay night.”
Kalle Sauerland: “This is the biggest fight in Danish history. Mikkel has become a mean fighting machine – he has learned from Oakland. He is like a wild animal. He is hungry for success, hungry for a victory over Froch. With 10.000 enthusiastic Danish fans behind him, he will knock Froch out. After all the trouble the Cobra has given me in the last days, I cannot wait for Mikkel to take revenge on Saturday night.”
Carl Froch : “Not sure if you have seen the news but Saturday’s planned trip had to be cancelled, due to the volcano erupting, the flight was ok but the landing was the roughest ever and me and Rob have been arguing over who was the most worried. I am here now and ready to defend my WBC title in style.”
Rob McCracken: “As always Carl has prepared in the same way, Mikkel is a very good fighter and I have been watching him fight for years, but Carl is a different type of fighter and has beaten three very good fighters on the spin, he hardly took any punches in the Dirrell fight. He is sharp, fresh and been training hard and he is here to defend his title.”
Mick Hennessy: “Carl’s representing the UK on the highest stage of all and I know he will make everyone in the United Kingdom very proud come Saturday night. This is a great fight and it is certainly one not to be missed, I am sure Primetime in the UK will be inundated come fight night.”
WBC Super-Middleweight Champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch finally arrived in Denmark on Wednesday afternoon to take on Danish national hero Mikkel Kessler in their eagerly-anticipated Super Six World Boxing Classic second-round meeting this Saturday. Froch´s delayed arrival – he was unable to fly in yesterday due to “private reasons” – has seen a whole country wondering about the real reasons for the hold- up. Whatever the delay was about, the Cobra arrived in style on Wednesday, flying into Flensburg Airport with a private jet that also carried his model girlfriend Rachael Cordingley and trainer Robert McCracken. Not only was his arrival covered live by Danish TV as well as the country´s leading webpages – Team Sauerland had also arranged for Danish racing legend John Nielsen to pick Froch up. “I am here to knock Mikkel Kessler out,” the Cobra said when leaving the jet. “He has never been in the ring with someone like me.”
Nielsen, who famously won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1990, took Froch and his girlfriend to a nearby race course where the Cobra drove two fast laps before being taken to MCH Herning to participate in the official press conference. “I like fast cars and I really enjoyed the ride,” Froch said. “I am here to take care of business, knock Mikkel out and take my belt back home.”
The Froch-Kessler fight has been front page news in Denmark for weeks, and there were dozens of media members in attendance to watch today´s face-to-face meeting. “I am in great shape,” the Viking Warrior said. “I am glad Carl made it here in good time so that I can knock him out. I have worked very hard with Jimmy Montoya. I am faster, better and stronger than ever. Saturday will be the biggest fight of my life and believe me, I am ready.”
After spending the better part of the last six days as Froch´s personal travel agent, Kalle Sauerland said he was eager for Mikkel to take revenge on Saturday night. “Froch got himself the biggest upgrade in history – from Ryanair to private air. He got a big reception at the airport but now the fun part is over. There is even more dust waiting for him – no Volcanic dust but ring dust when Mikkel knocks him out.”
Mick Hennessy believes the outcome will be different. “Carl Froch is the best super-middleweight fighter on this planet,” he said. “He is the undisputed, undefeated, reigning WBC Champion. He is 26-0 with 20 KOs. He has won on the road before and he will do it again on Saturday. Mikkel has never fought a fighter as good as the Cobra.”
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. 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.
Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler: Tale Of The Tape
NEW YORK, April 20th – “I will beat the hell out of him on April 24. I’m stronger, quicker, a champion, undefeated, and more elusive. My undefeated record means everything to me. Some people look at knockout ratios, but I fight to win. An unblemished record is very important to me.”………..Carl Froch
“I’m like a young warrior again. And I’m super hungry again. I’m very hungry. I’m back and I’m very sharp at this time. I made my mistake and I just want to get back up and show all my boxing fans from around the world that I am the best super middleweight in the world.”……….Mikkel Kessler.
On Saturday, April 24, the Super Six World Boxing Classic will return to SHOWTIME® with the Group Stage 2 matchup between undefeated WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch of Nottingham, England and former WBA 168-pound champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark for Froch’s WBC world title.
Froch, who enters this battle with 2 points in the tournament after a unanimous decision win over Andre Dirrell, is convinced he will defend his title in spectacular fashion. “I will beat the hell out of him on April 24. I’m stronger, quicker, a champion, undefeated, and more elusive. My undefeated record means everything to me. Some people look at knockout ratios but I fight to win. An unblemished record is very important to me.”
Kessler believes he will be victorious in front of his home town fans. “With the support of my great Danish fans, I will defeat Carl Froch and become world champion again. I’m like a young warrior again. And I’m super hungry again. I’m very hungry. I’m back and I’m very sharp at this time. I made my mistake and I just want to get back up and show all my boxing fans from around the world that I am the best super middleweight in the world.”
Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler (Group Stage 2) will air on SHOWTIME® Saturday, April 24th from MCH Messecenter Herning in Herning, Denmark at 9:00p.m. ET/PT, (delayed on the west coast).