Mikkel Kessler doesn't believe he'll get a chance to avenge his loss to Andre Ward. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Though there has been some talk about a 2012 rematch between Mikkel Kessler and super middleweight world champion Andre Ward, Kessler says that he doesn't expect the fight to happen, and has advised his promoters to not spend too much time on the effort. From Sporten (translation via Oscar Nielsen):
"I cannot see Ward leaving the United States for a fight. You can see that a lot of boxing fans are blasting Ward because he hasn't got the guts to leave his home base. I've told Kalle (Sauerland) not to involve me too much [in fight discussions]. My main focus is Robert Stieglitz on April 14."
Ward (25-0, 13 KO) has reportedly been interested in rematching Kessler (44-2, 33 KO) this year because Sauerland Event was rumored to be offering about $10 million for Ward to go to Denmark for the fight, where it would be a major seller.
Of course, Ward, who holds the legitimate championship, plus the WBA and WBC belts, doesn't owe the 32-year-old Kessler anything. When they met back in 2009, Ward's dominance over Kessler was shocking to the vast majority of boxing fans. It was the first real jaw-dropper of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, and pretty much set the tone for the remainder of the tournament: Others came in with more name recognition, fame, and big fight experience, but none were actually on the level of Andre Ward in the ring.
The only thing mildly controversial about that fight was something else that became familiar, Ward's Holyfield-like use of his head. The "accidental" headbutts led to cuts on Kessler, and Ward winning via wide technical decision technical decision after 10½ rounds.
Kessler is set to challenge WBO titleholder Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23 KO) in his next fight on April 14. The challenger will have homefield advantage in Copenhagen, and the title shot is as much a result of political backing as anything, as his only fight and only win since April 2010 was his June 2011 trouncing of Mehdi Bouadla.
Ward is rumored as likely to return in May, following his Super Six victory over Carl Froch on December 17.
0 recs | 16 comments
So Kessler wants Ward to add another belt (WBO) to his WBC and WBA belt collection? Because if Kessler beats Stieglitz and he rematches Ward, Andre’s going to most likely beat him again. Sour grapes and denial are unbecoming of Mikkel Kessler.
CollegeDropIn - January 27, 2012
accidental
why put quotes around “accidental”?
Do you really think Ward was like: “I know, l’ll add insult to injury by throwing a few deliberate, premeditated headbutts to cast a slight pall over what otherwise would be an unmitigated and uncontroversial victory.”
Deliberate headbutts are dead obvious. See Zinedine Zidane and Victor Ortiz.
Pernell - January 27, 2012
Ward uses his head, same as Holyfield always has, same as Tim Bradley does. When you do it well, as Ward does and as those two did/do, it’s another thing for the opponent to worry about, and no, they’re not always “dead obvious,” and they never look like what Ortiz did. To even suggest that what Ortiz did to Mayweather is the standard is absurd. There’s a massive difference between blatantly and dangerously fouling someone, as Ortiz did when he jumped at Mayweather with his hands on the ropes, and doing what Ward does. It’s no accident when Ward’s head gets involved.
If you truly can’t see the difference, watch the video linked below. Or here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Puxp2Lv6QU
Scott Christ - January 27, 2012
By the way, I’m not trying to lessen what Ward did in that fight, or does in general. Kessler could have adjusted, but didn’t, and frankly appeared totally incapable of doing so.
Scott Christ - January 27, 2012
Or watch Ward vs Bika. That fight was full of the rough stuff from both fighters.
Pretty entertaining.
Im_a_fun_haver - January 27, 2012
not in his interests to headbutt anyone
Wad’s style (or at least the “close the distance” style that he employed with Kessler) might make the likelihood of headbutts increase. But headbutts per se are not a strategic choice or even desirable in Ward as case.
Or are you saying that Vigil and Andre make strategic effort to cause cuts using headbutts? i.e. do the practice it in the gym? “OK, Andre, next drill. Lets work on the seemingly-inadvertent-but maybe-not-depending-on-your-vantage headbutts for an hour and then we break for lunch”.
Pernell - January 27, 2012
There's a Distinction Between "Intentional" and Ward Using His Head
Did Kessler ever inadvertently headbutt Ward? Did Alexander ever inadvertently headbutt Bradley? Ward frequently leads with his head. He may not intend his head to connect with his opponent’s head, but a result of leading with your head often will be that it hits your opponent. Same goes for Bradley. In a way you are both right, I guess. In all likelihood, Ward doesn’t practice headbutting opponents. However, it’s no accident that it happens in his fights and leading with your head often results in headbutts. Again, same goes for Bradley.
Make no mistake about it though. Ward beats Kessler again even without any headbutts. Same goes for Bradley and Alexander.
rantcatrat - January 27, 2012
Have you seriously never heard this about Andre Ward? Have you never heard it about any fighter?
Scott Christ - January 27, 2012
I guess mostly we’re arguing about what you see as a stylistic coincidence and what I see as a trick of the trade, one Ward is very good at (among many other things), and what the true meaning of “accidental” would be here. I can agree to disagree on both counts, and I won’t hammer on about it.
Scott Christ - January 27, 2012
Some guys lead with their heads
And Ward is one of those guys. He’s not intentionally headbutting anyone, but he’s also not trying to avoid it either.
Brickhaus - January 27, 2012
also andre the giant.
well-done deliberate headbutts aren’t obvious in boxing.
Victor Schultz - January 27, 2012
It's called being crafty
And fighters have been lauded for it since the early days of the sport.
Brickhaus - January 27, 2012
Let's go to the tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Puxp2Lv6QU
lol@ The Billy Goat Chronicles.
Im_a_fun_haver - January 27, 2012
Are that many boxing fans really “blasting” Ward on this? It was annoying when he wasn’t even leaving Oakland, but as the recognized #1 or #1a in the division, the conversation doesn’t really seem so loud.
Kessler fought a gutty fight against Froch, but it very well might have been the last classic left in his tank, never mind that Ward’s style gave Kessler headaches with way more than just his head.
El Destruyo - January 27, 2012
Who wants to see this again?
Kessler was out classed by a wide margin just like the rest of the Super 6. Ward would dominate Bute and I think he is in no hurry to completely wipe out the division and have no other fight options above or below 168? I think him vs Dawson would be a good matchup dont know if it would be an entertaining fight? And why would he go over to the UK unless it was for some huge pay day which is not really an option, plus they would try and rob him on the score card over there anyway. Stay in the eastbay and keep laying them out SOG.
DL3 - January 27, 2012
Headbutting is illegal, not an admirable quality, and fighters who “lead with their heads” have to be trained not to do that. I think that this is transparently clear. The same goes for holding
Having said that, I think that Kessler would have almost no chance against Ward, and I can’t really think of a reason why they would fight again, unless it was a sort of “clear-the-slate” affair, in which Ward neither held nor headbutted. But he would still win, I think.
DrRck - January 27, 2012
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