Mikkel Kessler won the WBC super middleweight crown from Nottingham´s Carl Froch in a sensational fight at the MCH Messercenter in Herning, Denmark on Saturday night. Kessler won by scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112, all in favor of the 31 year old Dane, who becomes a three-time world super middleweight champion.
The fight was part of Showtime TV´s Super Six World Boxing Classic, and was the most exciting fight in the series so far.
After a cautious opening round, Kessler (43-2, 32 ko´s) proceeded to set a ferocious pace, and Froch, hands held low, chose to box from the outside and attempt to pick the Dane off. Froch had his successes in the early rounds, and the Dane took a tumble in the fifth, though it was rightly ruled a slip. By the sixth Kessler began to pull away. Time and again he caught the 32 year old Froch with right hand blockbusters, but Froch proved he should hail from Sheffield, not Nottingham, such was the steel in his chin.
Kessler was cut in the ninth, but although deep, the wound was never a factor. In the final two rounds, the Dane looked completely exhausted, yet somehow kept going. Froch tagged him several times, but was himself way too spent to capitalize on the flagging Kessler. The crowd at the MCH Messercenter exploded at the final bell, and Kessler´s corner looked far more confident of the outcome than did Froch and his corner.
In the end, Kessler, a former two-time WBA super middleweight champion deserved the win, but Carl Froch covered himself with glory. Froch (26-1, 20 ko´s) always looked dangerous, displayed a cement chin, and was the stronger man at the finish. After the fight, he was somewhat bitter about losing his title, but gave praise to Kessler;
“I feel terrible that I lost my title, absolutely gutted,” said Froch. “I don’t want to make a mockery of anything but I feel it it was at home in my town, the decision would have gone the other way.”
Froch added: “I took some big punches off a big puncher and I’ve got to give Kessler the credit he deserves. He stayed in there and is a strong, proud warrior.”
Despite losing his title, Froch will remain a real threat in the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic. Next up in the series will the June 20th clash between the man who took Kessler´s WBA crown from him last time out, tournament favorite Andre Ward, and Super Six newcomer Allan Green, who replaced original entrant Jermain Taylor.
Upcoming Big Fight Odds; Andre Ward 1/6, Allan Green 4/1 bet365
