Carl Froch vs Mikkel Kessler on Saturday

[Kevin D]

Deserves it's own thread. Predictions, articles, videos, stream and betting talk in here. George Groves and Tony Bellew both have different fights on the undercard, too. Is anybody going?

 

The first fight:

 

Carl Froch vs Mikkel Kessler 2010-04-24

 

What they've been doing recently:

 

[YOUTUBE]Ms5zyOeiO4A[/YOUTUBE] (11 minutes in)

 

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[YOUTUBE]QPkPJLgFHXU[/YOUTUBE] (20 minutes in)

 

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Just because I think it's a criminally underrated scrap and Carl's best fight:

 

[YOUTUBE]fjOuV-CdltM[/YOUTUBE] (15 minutes in)

 

Andre Ward tips Carl Froch to win rematch with Mikkel Kessler | Sky Sports

 

Andre Ward is tipping Carl Froch to emerge victorious from Saturday's rematch with Mikkel Kessler.

 

The American is the only man to have beaten both fighters and is rumoured to be set to fight the winner of the O2 Arena bout.

 

Ward believes Froch has faced a higher calibre of opponent than Kessler and says he would be "shocked" if the Dane wins.

 

"Carl Froch has been in some tough fights but I think he has more in the tank," Ward told Boxing News magazine.

 

"I think Kessler has kind of dipped a little bit since he and I fought, and even since he fought Froch the first time. Even though it's going to be a tough fight, it's going to be back and forth, I can't see Kessler winning this.

 

"Kessler's last two performances, he hasn't fought the best guys - a shopworn Allan Green then Brian Magee, who's very tough but limited - and he's going to look good against them but I don't know if he has the same fire as when he fought Froch the first time.

 

"I would be shocked if Kessler got his hand raised. I think Froch wins and I wouldn't be surprised if Froch caught and stopped him."

 

Carl Froch aims to land blow for decency in rematch with Mikkel Kessler - Telegraph

 

By the end of the first round, Froch had him on the floor. After the second, Mack was beginning to sway from side to side. By the third, he was there for the taking.

 

“The head was there for me to hit,” Froch remembers. “And I purposely didn’t go for it, because I thought: ‘Do you know what? He don’t need another head shot.’ So I threw a left hook to the body and finished him off.”

Froch hit Mack with a vicious crunch to the ribs, leaving the American gasping for air. A split second later Mack was on his knees, taking a count he had no intention of beating. And so even as Froch successfully defended his International Boxing Federation super-middleweight title for the first time, there was some small measure of mercy in his moment of triumph.

 

This essential human decency is a theme that recurs time and again in Froch’s life. When he was 17 and working in his mother’s pub, he came to the aid of four women who were being beaten up by a drunken punter. Froch weighed in with a right-hander, then a left, then another right to the ear, sending the man crashing to the ground.

 

“As he lay on the floor I could have finished him off,” he later wrote in his autobiography. “But I have never, ever done that when someone is down. I just think it is the wrong thing to do. If someone’s on the deck, kicking them is bad news. So I left him alone.”

 

 

Not everybody who steps into a ring is a Roberto Duran, who once promised to put an opponent in the morgue. Not every fighter is a borderline psychotic such as Mike Tyson or James Butler. But more than most sports, boxing indulges the cruel, tolerates the unhinged, rewards the sadistic.

 

Froch is not that sort of guy. “Controlled aggression,” he says. “When you put your opponent on the ropes, you’re not thinking: ‘I want to kill this guy, I want to break his face, I want to do some serious damage.’

 

“Well I’m not, anyway. Other fighters might, but I don’t. I just think to myself: ‘I want the referee to jump in and stop this fight, so I’ve won.’ I don’t want to cause the guy any harm.

 

“I made a conscious decision that I didn’t want to punch Mack in the head. I didn’t think it would have been fair. Other fighters might think: ‘What’s Froch doing? Why’s he like that?’ But I for one definitely am not in there to cause any damage. It’s just not in my nature.”

 

Does he ever have trouble reconciling the brutality of his job with his compassionate nature? “What do you think we are, monsters?” he asks.

 

“Boxers come through more discipline, self-respect and honour than most other sports. As fighters we learn the art of managing our anger and controlling our aggression. There’s not many sports that do that. Football players let themselves down on the pitch every day, setting bad examples for the young kids. We are gentlemen.”

 

Froch is here to promote his reunification rematch with Mikkel Kessler this weekend at the O₂ in London, not to defend his sport. But though he may not necessarily be aware of it, there is a certain quaint civility to Froch’s outlook that is rare in a world where clemency is so readily equated with weakness. Froch, like Kessler, is very much a gentleman boxer.

 

“We’re two of a kind, really,” he says. “We’re cut from the same cloth. We’re both fighting men. We’re not in there to try to con our way through the fight. We’re in there to land shots and give the paying public what they want. We’re both warriors, we’re both prepared to put it all on the line. Not a lot of fighters are prepared to do that. That’s how Andre Ward conducts himself: he’s messy and tricky and ugly to watch. You don’t really get any respect for that. Nobody’s excited about watching a Ward fight.”

 

Away from the ring, Froch and Kessler are good pals, sharing a deep mutual respect and a love of fast motorbikes. In the ring, though, the pair have unfinished business. It was in Herning, Denmark, three years ago that Froch suffered the first defeat of his professional career, an agonising points decision that Froch still feels would have gone in his favour had the fight been in his home town of Nottingham.

 

“When I boxed him, there were major problems with all the flights being grounded because of the volcanic ash cloud,” he says. “It meant that I flew out there late and overweight, and it was a big, big problem. This time I’m going to be a better fighter on the night, in a better place physically and mentally. If the same punches had landed in the same fight in Nottingham, I’d have got the nod. But that’s boxing. You fight away from home and it’s close, and you lose.”

 

The Kessler rematch gives Froch a chance to cement his legacy. At this stage of his career – he is 36 in July – only the biggest fights are of interest to him.

 

Victory would lead to a possible match-up with IBF light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, or a rematch with Ward. But at the same time, you sense he is not the sort of fighter who will cling to the fight game beyond his peak years. Other areas of life are growing in importance. His partner Rachael gave birth to their second child, Natalia, a couple of weeks ago. Then there are his burgeoning property interests. “I’ve got 101 jobs that need doing,” he chuckles. “It just so happens that when I beat Lucian Bute, I needed some floor going down in one of my bathrooms. I’m in a new place in the minute, and Rachael wants this wallpaper up, and she wants that wall painted in that colour, and she wants this TV on that wall, so I’ve got lots and lots of jobs to do. I’m slowly getting down the list. But I’ll be getting stuck in after this fight. I’m non-stop. Once I’ve finished boxing, I’m going to take a more hands-on role. I enjoy it.”

 

And that, essentially, is Carl Froch: a regular, decent bloke from Nottingham who simply happens to be tremendously good with his fists.

 

Boxing often gets an unfavourable press from those turned off by its more savage tendencies. But Froch is proof that a ruthless streak and a kind nature are not necessarily natural enemies; that you can will a man to go down, and will him just as keenly to get up again afterwards.

[Captain Turdseye]

Just said to a mate on Facebook that I think we're all hoping for another brawl but I believe Froch when he says he's gonna come out fast. If that works for him or not remains to be seen. I fancy Froch to stop him but I wouldn't put any of my own money on it. Proper pick 'em fight. Can't wait.

[ChrisM]

I reckon they'll end up scrapping.

[jackofdk]

I obviously hope for Kessler but honestly I think he is shot, too many injuries and too little motivation. Add to that Froch's thirst for revenge and home advantage and I can't see past a Froch win.

 

TKO in 8th.

[Kevin D]

 

[Brownie]

I reckon Kessler will win.

[DooooodekNo5]

A rare genuine fight to be excited about, good luck Froch.

[DooooodekNo5]

Froch to win in the 10th.

[Jairzinho]

I'm backing the Dutch lad.

[loadsoftrophies]

I have Froch winning this one, he started far to slow in the first fight, he gifted away rounds so noway will that happen again.

The only way i see Kesseler getting stopped is by injury or his eyes getting split open again, they could be still soft after Wards head banging against them several times.

Looks like it's made for the 12 rounds barring injuries.

[Flying Pig]

Kessler to win. I like his hair and like me he's half Danish.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*random lie.

[Fowlers God]

Froch TKO 6th.

 

Anyone know what time the ring walks are as the CL final is on too?

[Franny DelMucho]

Hoping that Kessler will knock frock the fuck out. Boring cunt that Frock. Always on telly talking about how fit he is for a 35 year old. Who's arsed?

[Captain Turdseye]

Froch TKO 6th.

 

Anyone know what time the ring walks are as the CL final is on too?

 

Think I read in the boxing thread that the fight should start at 11:15

[Flying Pig]

Hoping that Kessler will knock frock the fuck out. Boring cunt that Frock. Always on telly talking about how fit he is for a 35 year old. Who's arsed?

 

And he's happy to show his stupid face and give interviews to The S*N. Hoping for a great Kessler win too.

[Fowlers God]

And he's happy to show his stupid face and give interviews to The S*N. Hoping for a great Kessler win too.

 

Is he a red? If not then I don't see that as being an issue as such. It was our fight, not theirs.

 

If he's a read then he's a bad mongy cunt.

[Hand Shandy]

He's a massive Forest fan, therefore a bit of a tit...

[chrisbonnie]

I really like froch actually and think he's a good down to earth kinda fella. He's the sort of guy that would make you a cup of tea if you where doing a job in his house.

 

Kessler is the same, he comes across as a proper gent.

 

I'll be honest, I like both guys so I'm nut fussed who wins.

 

But if I was a betting win, I'd say froch on points

[Captain Turdseye]

Kal-El posted this in the other thread, it deserves a place in here...

 

 

 

Board to examine Froch 'kill' threat

Last updated 47 minutes ago

 

 

Britain's Carl Froch has apologised for threatening to kill Mikkel Kessler in their IBF super-middleweight fight on Saturday but will still face a British Boxing Board of Control investigation.

 

Froch, from Nottingham, tweeted: "I'm sorry if my comments offended anyone. This fight means so much to me and emotions are running high."

 

BBBC general secretary Robert Smith said the body would look into it.

 

"Carl's comments are inappropriate and we are disappointed," said Smith.

 

 

The rivals, who will meet at the O2 Arena in London, have been friends since their first bout three years ago, which 34-year-old Kessler won on points in his native Denmark.

 

But a desire for revenge led Froch, 35, to change his tune on Wednesday.

 

He told reporters: "On Saturday night, if I have to, I will kill [him]. It sounds brutal, it sounds horrible, but this is what it means to me.

 

"I'm going to leave it in the ring. And when I'm smashing his face in, I am going to go for the kill. I am going to go for the finish."

 

Boxing history is littered with similarly ill-advised threats, but Smith said he was particularly disappointed to see them come from a fighter like Froch.

 

But he also said that the comments would not jeopardise the fight.

 

Smith said: "They are very uncharacteristic from Carl, who is usually a very well-behaved and measured young man.

 

"We are surprised and disappointed in his comments. I have spoken to his management team of Rob McCracken and Eddie Hearn and we are looking into it and will deal with it accordingly.

 

"Carl is licensed by the Midlands Area Council and they will deal with it as quickly as they possibly can. Obviously we are not in a position to do anything about it before the fight."

 

While acknowledging the pressure Froch is under before the fight, Smith stressed that it was no excuse.

 

Smith added: "This is Carl's biggest fight of his career - if he wins this he carries on and if he loses what does he do? It is a difficult time two or three days before the fight and he is right on edge.

 

"But being highly strung at the moment is no excuse. Carl is a decent young man and he is well aware that he shouldn't have said it.

 

"Up until now all the publicity surrounding the fight has been superb and this has dampened it somewhat."

[Ian Sea]

Froch to stop him late on.

[Kevin D]

 

 

 

Will Froch get revenge versus Kessler? The experts weigh-in | RingTV

 

The hometown advantage can not be underestimated when it comes to super middleweights Mikkel Kessler, of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Carl Froch, of Nottingham, England.

 

"Kessler is 43-0 in Denmark, while Froch is 26-0 in England," said Lee Groves of RingTV.com. "If ever there were two fighters that feed off their home crowds, they are Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler."

 

On Saturday night on HBO (in the U.S.) at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, Froch (30-2, 22 knockouts) will attempt to defend his IBF 168-pound title against Kessler (46-2, 35 KOs) in what amounts to a shot at revenge, being that the fight is a rematch.

 

In April of 2010, Froch, 34, was dethroned as the WBC beltholder by Kessler, 35, via unanimous decision in their bloody first bout as part of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic. Still, it is Froch who is perceived to have the advantage, in part, due to the fact that he will be fighting in front of his partisan fans.

 

"I think that, in most people's judgement, at the end of the day, Kessler got the win in the first fight partially because it took place in Denmark, and he had the crowd support and the comfort of fighting at home," said HBO's ringside commentator, Jim Lampley.

 

"Froch made a big deal about it, sounded off about the distortion of him defending a title belt on the other guy's home turf, and, so now, it's entirely fair that the situation reverses... So Froch gets to fight Kessler in London before an English crowd...being as raucous and demonstrative a boxing crowd as you'll see. I think that you'll see the same kind of atmosphere on Saturday night."

 

Nicknamed "The Viking Warrior," Kessler has fought only five times outside his home country, including the loss to then-champ Joe Calzaghe by unanimous decision in Calzaghe's hometown of Cardiff, Wales, in November of 2007, and to current RING and WBA 168-pound titleholder Andre Ward in Ward's hometown of Oakland, Calif., in November of 2009.

 

Ward's victory ended a streak of three straight stoppage wins by Kessler, whose previous setback had been against Calzaghe. In addition, In August of 2010, Kessler had to pull out of the Super Six with an eye injury, canceling a September bout with Allan Green.

 

Nicknamed "The Cobra," Froch is 7-2 with three stoppage victories over the course of his past nine difficult fights, a group that has been called "a murderer's row" by Lampley.

 

For Froch, that run includes the decision losses to Ward and Kessler, a 12th-round stoppage win over former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor after having been floored in the third round, as well as knockouts of Philadelphia's Yusaf Mack and previously unbeaten IBF beltholder Lucian Bute in the third and fifth-rounds of his past two fights.

 

It also includes a split decision over Andre Dirrell, a majority decision over ex-beltholder Glen Johnson, as well as unanimous decisions over former titleholders Jean Pascal and Arthur Abraham.

 

Meanwhile, Kessler earned his fourth straight win and his third consecutive stoppage victory with December's third-round knockout of Ireland's Brian Magee in Herning, Denmark. Froch also owns an 11th-round knockout victory over Magee from May of 2006.

 

In defeating Magee, Kessler returned to Herning for the first time since defeating Froch, whose win over Bute helped him to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Ward in December of 2011 for the RING, WBA and WBC belts.

 

"I think that since Kessler's had an injury and a layoff and a schedule disruption, that may have robbed him of just a little bit. Froch, on the other hand, in his last two fights, has looked as good as he's ever looked in dismantling both Bute and Mack. Bute saw Froch at his best," said Lampley, a four-time Sports Emmy Award winning broadcaster.

 

"Ninety percent of the time, when it's a rematch of a relatively close fight won by decision by one of the two fighters, you find most pundits picking the guy who won the first fight to win the second fight. But in this particular instance, most pundits are picking Froch. I think that that's an acknowledgement that it's essentially an even matchup, and there's not a lot of difference between them...As you know, their crowds in England over there are great, and it was a terrific fight the first time."

 

RingTV.com sought the opinions of 21 boxing insiders as to their thoughts on what will transpire during Kessler-Froch II.

 

Mike Coppinger, RingTV.com/USA Today

 

Carl Froch UD 12 Mikkel Kessler: Since these two 168-pounders waged war in 2010 more than three years ago, they've moved on different trajectories. Carl Froch clearly established himself as one of the best fighters in the sport, his signature win coming with a stoppage of Lucian Bute.

 

Mikkel Kessler, on the other hand, has been mostly inactive, with three bouts coming against fighters outside of the top 10. Froch is much-improved, and I expect him to separate himself from Kessler in another excellent fight with a clear decision victory.

 

Record: 6-5 [Last week: Matthysse UD 12 Peterson]

 

Gareth Davies, The Daily Telegraph, London

 

Carl Froch KO 11 Mikkel Kessler: Carl Froch probably has more left in the cash register than Mikkel Kessler, but this is going to be one very tough fight for both men. Froch's comments to myself and five others on Wednesday that he is prepared "to kill" Kessler in the ring is both chilling, and telling, given that it was a peek inside the mind of a man hellbent on revenge after being defeated in 2010.

 

Froch has proven that he loves to go into the trenches, and there is a sense with Kessler that he wishes to go to those dark places to see if he still has it. Kessler is arguably just getting over the downside of the hump in his career, while Froch, though set in his ways, may have more legacy left to carve out.

 

It is the biggest fight of the year in the UK thus far no question, in spite of the battle pitching the No 2 and No 3 super middleweights in the world into the same square ring. But styles make fights, and this one melds beautifully. The 02 Arena sold out its 18,000 seats in three hours when tickets went on sale. There is great anticipation, and it has been a busy build-up.

 

Froch will start faster, and attempt to be busier this time around in the first third of the fight. Froch wants to draw Kessler into exchanges in the middle rounds, and then be emphatic with a finish. But it has to be controlled. If he makes mistakes, Kessler will capitalize. The Dane has said as much and is prepared for war. We await a classic,whichever man leaves triumphant. Verdict: Froch by 11th or 12th-round stoppage.

 

Record: 1-0: [Last pick: Mayweather W 12 Guerrero]

 

Doug Fischer, Editor of RingTV.com

 

Carl Froch UD 12 Mikkel Kessler: Carl Froch by close unanimous decision. I expect another closely contested distance bout that is very intense but tactical, at least during the first half. Later in the bout, as both veterans warm up, I expect more toe-to-toe exchanges. The difference in this bout will be Froch's mentality.

 

In the first fight, he seemed to carry a sense of entitlement, being the undefeated titleholder. He didn't fight with the sense of urgency that Mikkel Kessler had, fighting in front of his countrymen and having lost his title to Andre Ward in his previous bout.

 

Froch made the error of allowing the local hero to come forward in the majority of rounds, and although he landed his share of power punches, he seldom pressed his advantage after connecting. In this rematch, I expect Froch start faster and to go for it whenever he nails Kessler.

 

It still won't be easy. Kessler will enter this bout with the confidence of having won their first bout, and he's scored a few sweet knockouts in his previous bouts, so he believes in his power. I think his left hook can catch and hurt Froch on occasion, but I believe the British fans inside the O2 Arena will motivate the Nottingham star to dig deep and overcome any adversity.

 

Record: 7-4 [Matthysse late TKO Peterson]

 

Norm Frauenheim, Boxing News - Boxing, UFC and MMA News, Results, Schedule and Fighter Rankings | Late Breaking Boxing, UFC and MMA News

 

Carl Froch UD 12 Mikkel Kessler: Intangibles are the key. There's talk that Mikkel Kessler has been slowed by time and inactivity since his victory over Carl Froch three years ago in Denmark. But three fights, all tune-ups, since then have allowed him to shake off rust and re-sharpen some of the skill.

 

But Kessler, no matter how renewed, will have no counter for what he can't control. First, he'll encounter a soccer-like throng of Froch partisans at London’s O2 Arena.

 

Then, there’s Froch, who has momentum with two successive victories by stoppage, including a TKO of Lucian Bute. Froch also has motivation to avenge the Kessler loss, one of only two on his record. Yeah, it'll be close. A pick'em fight, Froch says. The judges will pick him.

 

Record: 8-3 [Matthysse KO 10 Peterson]

 

Jeffrey Freeman, KO Digest

 

Carl Froch W12 Mikkel Kessler: In addition to home field, Carl Froch will enjoy significant advantages in momentum and motivation for his rematch against Mikkel Kessler. While the fighting pride of Nottingham has been busy building a pound for pound reputation on the road, the injury-plagued Kessler has toiled with insignificance at home.

 

Three years after their first meeting in Denmark, the Cobra has now grown even more venomous by facing a variety of talented top rated super middleweights. Since winning a debatable decision over Froch in 2010, the quality of Kessler's opposition has been nothing to get excited about.

 

As a boxer, Kessler also appears to have lost a step during which time the resurgent Froch has stepped it up and improved as an all-around fighter. That's not good news for the Viking Warrior or his fans, especially in Froch's backyard.

 

It's difficult to imagine that Kessler's last three fights could've possibly readied him for this sequel in the way that competing against Andre Ward and defeating Lucian Bute has prepared Froch. Still, this should be another great fight. I'm picking Froch by unanimous decision but I'd not be surprised if the Cobra put him away late this time.

 

Record: 5-6 [Peterson TKO 10 Matthysse]

 

Robert Guerrero, welterweight contender

 

Mikkel Kessler UD 12 Carl Froch: I think Mikkel Kessler is going to out-box Carl Froch again. I'm picking Kessler to win a unanimous decision in a very close fight.

 

Record: 1-2 [Last pick: Donaire KO 8 Rigondeaux]

 

Keith Idec, The Record/BoxingScene.com

 

Carl Froch UD12 over Mikkel Kessler: You could argue Carl Froch won their first fight, and in the three years since, Froch has been the busier, better fighter as opposed to Mikkel Kessler.

 

Froch's supreme confidence, granite chin and awkward style make him difficult to beat. He'll win their rematch comfortably on points in front of a huge hometown crowd.

 

Record: 3-2 [Last pick: Mayweather UD 12 Guerrero]

 

Ryan Maquinana, CSNBAYAREA/BoxingScene.com

 

Carl Froch W12 Mikkel Kessler: Mikkel Kessler out-boxed Carl Froch in their first meeting, but it was a brutal encounter. This time, I expect Froch to use his awkward style to success, slyly pot-shotting with one and two at a time over 12 rounds to edge Kessler and set up a trilogy down the line.

 

Record: 5-5 [Last pick: Guerrero W 12 Mayweather]

 

Rich Marotta, KFI Radio, Los Angeles

 

Carl Froch UD 12 Mikkel Kessler: I think we're in for a very good, fan-friendly fight in this one. I'm picking Carl Froch to reverse his fortunes of the first fight because: 1) He is a little bit better now, and 2) Mikkel Kessler is not.

 

The first fight was close, and this one will be too. Kessler showed in his last fight that he still has gas in the tank and his body punching is tremendous. If he can bring that body punching to the fore, he may succeed in slowing down Froch.

 

Carl cannot be quite as reckless as he was when he overwhelmed Bute, because he's liable to run into a few of the body blows. Froch will find the right mix of aggression and boxing to stifle Kessler's attack. Carl is on a roll right now, I think it continues in this fight

 

Record: 7-4 [Matthysse TKO 10 Peterson]

 

Jack Obermayer, Fight Fax Inc.

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: I don't feel that Mikkel Kessler is at his best anymore, and has not been since the Andre Ward loss.

 

On the other hand, Mr. Carl Froch has basically gone about his business, and on top of that, I thought that he won their first match. This time, time and location put Froch in the driver's seat. Froch by decision

 

Record: 3-5 [Peterson KO 9 Matthysse]

 

 

Mark Ortega, RingTV.com

 

Carl Froch KO Mikkel Kessler: Though Mikkel Kessler edged their first encounter in a fight that could've gone either way, I think the two have gone in separate directions since that initial meeting. Carl Froch has fought the consistently tougher competitors, and outside of a loss to Andre Ward in the Super Six finals, has found a way to prevail each time.

 

Kessler has taken on lesser opposition in the time since, and shown at times that he may not be the fighter he was before that groundbreaking Showtime round robin began in 2009. Beatings at the hands of Andre Ward and Froch have Kessler a bit past it. In a 175 pound bout, he was dropped by Allan Green, though he stopped him a round or two later.

 

I think Froch has grown into one of the better finishers and has become a much more complete fighter since their 2010 bout while Kessler has maintained the same dimensions as he had three years ago. Froch will break Kessler down to the body and find a way to stop the Dane in the middle to late rounds, though Kessler will undoubtedly have his moments.

 

Record: 2-0 [Matthysse KO 6 Peterson]

 

 

 

Harry Pratt, RingTV.com

 

Carl Froch UD 12 Mikkel Kessler: Too hard to call? Well, no. But as both men say it's a 50-50 fight between two warriors. My only fear is the promised super-fight tear-up apparently one hundred per cent guaranteed this Saturday might not unfold in quite the way the pundits imagine. Especially, those in the UK being asked to tune in via Sky's pay-per-view service -- for the first title fight time since the Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye non-event.

 

Mikkel Kessler is a cagey individual, and from what he has been saying of late, will be a very different proposition from the one who overcame Carl Froch three years ago by a narrow if unanimous points decision. That suggests, the Dane will be not be diving headfirst into an all-out war. It may well take five or six rounds for this return to spark into action, with Froch likely to be frustrated by that comparative stand-off.

 

Yet "The Cobra" is also a better fighter now than when suffering the first loss of his career to Kessler in Denmark. Now, with the IBF title in the bag, the Englishman seems more mature inside and outside of the ring, and that is going to be key to him gaining revenge this weekend in London. As long as he bides his time and does not try to press the issue too soon, Froch will eventually get the fight he wants.

 

That's when he will be able to step up the pace, and confirm himself his position as THE RING's No. 1-rated super middleweight, second only to the magazine's unbeaten 168-pound champ, Andre Ward. It will be close, but with home advantage and an 18,000 sell-out roaring him forward, I expect Froch to turn the tables on WBA regular holder Kessler and take a unanimous decision.

 

Record: 4-2 [Matthysse SD 12 Peterson]

 

Matt Richardson, Fightnews.com

 

Carl Froch UD 12 Mikkel Kessler: This is yet another in a series of evenly matched, difficult fights to pick. However, Carl Froch has looked like a possessed man on a mission in his last few fights, and I doubt Mikkel Kessler has enough to stop that train.

 

Remember, their first fight was very close and could have gone either way. Since then, Froch has improved significantly while Kessler has arguably stagnated. A win against Allan Green doesn't count for much. Let's say Froch wins a unanimous decision in a competitive but clear victory.

 

Record: 6-5 [Peterson W 12 Matthysse]

 

Chris Robinson, Hustleboss.com/BoxingScene.com

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: I have to like Carl Froch in this rematch, although it should be another fine fight. I think Mikkel Kessler has slowed down just a bit more than Froch, despite being a little younger.

 

Froch seems as focused as ever at this point in his career, and I expect him to stay busy enough to win a tight decision over Kessler.

 

Record: 7-3 [Matthysse W 12 Peterson]

 

Cliff Rold, BoxingScene.com

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: I see this going a lot like their first fight with home field a factor in close rounds for Carl Froch over Mikkel Kessler.

 

The potential could be there for Froch to stop the oft-injured Dane late. I suspect a third fight will look appealing at night's end.

 

Record: 6-5 [Matthysse KO Peterson]

 

Michael Rosenthal, THE RING Magazine

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: This will always be a good, competitive matchup. But I think Carl Froch has progressed beyond Mikkel Kessler since their first fight.

 

The Englishman's confidence is soaring, and he has the ability to back that up. Froch by a clear decision.

 

Record: 6-5 [Peterson UD 12 Matthysse]

 

Joseph Santoliquito/THE RING Magazine/RingTV.com/CBS Sports

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: Carl Froch gets the better of Mikkel Kessler this time, though I thought Froch beat Kessler the last time they fought. I don't know how much either has left, but I anticipate a good fight.

 

Record: 8-3 [Matthysse KO 10 Peterson]

 

John Scully, former trainer of RING and WBC lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: I will go with Carl Froch on this one. It just seems like it is his time much more than it is Mikkel Kessler's time.

 

Froch is probably emotionally and physically still in the midst of his prime, and Kessler is not. I'm figuring on Froch winning a solid decision.

 

Record: 6-3 [Peterson W 12 Matthysse]

 

Ryan Songalia, RingTV.com

 

Carl Froch W 12 Mikkel Kessler: I see Carl Froch evening the score via decision. The fight being in Froch's backyard is an advantage, but more so, I think the fact is that Froch, at 35, seems to be hitting his stride.

 

In fact, Froch may be fresher than Mikkel Kessler at 34. Kessler is still a smooth operator, but I see Froch's cruder aggression being more impressive with the judges.

 

Record: 3-2 [Last pick: Mayweather UD 12 Guerrero]

 

Steve Stubbs, guest, Germantown, Md.

 

Carl Froch KO 5 Mikkel Kessler: I think it's going to be Carl Froch. I just think that Froch is hungrier, and that Mikkel Kessler's probably taken a little too much time off. I think that it's going to result in a knockout, and I'm going to say it's gonna happen in the fifth.

 

Record: 0-0

 

Bob Velin, USA Today

 

Carl Froch TKO 10 Mikkel Kessler: Two aging fighters in a revenge rematch -- at least for Carl Froch, and this time, in Froch's home country. Froch is a better fighter than he looked when he got his ash kicked -- volcanic ash, that is -- which disrupted his trip to Denmark to fight Mikkel Kessler three years ago -- and better than he looked against Andre Ward a year and a half ago.

 

His career seems to be on the upswing. Both fighters lost to Ward. I thought Froch looked a little worse in his loss, but Kessler fought Ward nearly four years ago, when Ward had much less experience. These days, Froch seems to have a renewed will to win, and showed just how much last year when he destroyed undefeated Lucien Bute.

 

Froch is not as good a technical boxer as Kessler, but he has other superior skills, including an indestructible chin. Kessler says if he loses he will retire. Expect an announcement shortly after the fight.

 

Record: 5-5 [Peterson SD 12 Matthysse]

 

By the landslide margin of 20-1, all but one participating insider believes that Carl Froch will successfully defend his IBF super middleweight belt and avenge his loss by vanquishing Mikkel Kessler.

[Jairzinho]

Fat cunts.

[SwindleThis]

Great thread.

Thanks for the vids.

 

Froch to win in later rounds by stoppage.

[Welsh]

Hoping for a Kessler win but I think Froch will unfortunately.

[lifetime fan]

How much are sly wanting for this?