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© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing
WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark and undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland participated in the final press conference Wednesday for their Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 1 showdown this Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.
The presser, which emanated from the Frank Ogawa Plaza at downtown Oakland City Hall, included a performance from the cheerleaders and band of Ward’s alma mater, Hayward High School, and a presentation by Hayward High Vice Principal Andrea Hayes, who gave Ward a Hayward High T-Shirt and an “honorary diploma’’ for his outstanding work in and out of the ring “on behalf of the students and staff at Hayward.’’
Kessler will enter the ring for the 12-round match in three days with a record of 42-1 with 32 knockouts. Ward is 20-0 with 13 knockouts.
This is the first Super Six fight in America. The Europeans held serve in the opening Group Stage 1 fights Oct. 17 on Showtime, Arthur Abraham knocking out Jermain Taylor and Carl Froch outpointing Andre Dirrell in Germany and England, respectively.
What the fighters and their promoters had to say Wednesday:
Mikkel Kessler: “I’ve been here before so I am loving it in California. I have thoroughly enjoyed my entire stay here, living in a nice house and training in Sacramento.
“I want to thank everyone involved in making this fight possible and for the nice words from their camp. But now I am ready to fight. I didn’t come all the way from Denmark to lose and I am fully prepared and 150 percent ready. I’m in better shape now than I’ve ever been.
“I have had only one defeat and that was to Joe Calzaghe and it still eats at me today. Even thinking about that fight makes me even more motivated. That’s why I am looking at this fight as a second chance to prove that I am the best.
“I hurt my hand and had only two weeks to spar for Calzaghe, but there will be no mistakes or excuses after this one. I may be 30 but I have a lot of fight left. Saturday night can’t come soon enough.’’
Andre Ward: ”It’s about time. I approach all my fights the same. Every fight I had as an amateur, I took seriously. But obviously the stakes are much higher. I have prepared for a fight like this since I was nine years old.
“To see this kind of turnout today and the tremendous support I am getting only confirms what I know, and that Saturday will be a special night for me and the city of Oakland. There was a lot of buzz before my last fight here (in May on SHOWTIME), but there is a lot more excitement going around for this one.
“To have my alma mater come out today is extremely invigorating and I thank them very much. I go to the school and talk on occasion but I plan to go more often from now on.
“The feeling I get looking in the kids’ eyes, the feeling I get from them maybe thinking that, “hey, if he can make it, I can make it, too’’ is inspiring. It is more than just about boxing; it is about life and doing the right things to inspire kids, or fire them up, to make oneself want to be successful.
“If I can make a few change, it has been worthwhile. But it is also a two-way street. I thank God every day. That is who I am.
“No one expected me to win the Olympics. No one expected to me to get this far as a pro. But, now, if I win, it is because I’m supposed to, and if I ever lose, it’s a huge thing.
“I’m thrilled for everybody Saturday night and really anxious for the fight to be here.’’
Tickets for this Saturday’s event, priced at $300, $150, $65 and $35, are available at the Oracle Arena Box office Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and fight day starting at 10 a.m., online at Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, or through Ticketmaster outlets at the following outlets: select Macy’s stores and select Ritmo Latino stores. All information can be obtained at www.ticketmaster.com
The event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Sauerland Event in association with Antonio Leonard Productions. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. PT. The first non-televised fight is at 5 o’clock.
