Just another one of Wacko's Drunken Round by Rounds : Calzaghe vs Kessler

We’re back again for another installment of the forum staple…you guessed it…it’s time for yet another installment of Wacko’s Drunken Round by Round.

This one will go down as a tuff night for Wacko as I’ll be covering a bout with two of my most favorite fighters, two undefeated champions, two fighters that I don’t want to lose…Saturday November the 3rd, 2007 we will all have the pleasure of sitting in on what, quite possibly could be, one of the greatest unification bouts that the super middleweight division has ever beheld.

Whether you like him or loathe him…you have to respect him…Joe Calzaghe is currently the longest reigning champion of our sport. As far as ambassadors go…you couldn’t ask for a better chap than Joe Calzaghe…but constantly the media & boxing public drag him through the mud more than a mule does a plow.

The undefeated super middleweight champ from Newbridge, Wales is about to face, arguably, the toughest test of his career as he meets the other belt holder of his division….the only legit threat at 168lbs for Joe Calzaghe reign…the Viking Warrior.

Most of Calzaghe’s criticism comes from a lack of knowledge within the boxing circles. It’s easier to go with the general consensus (no matter how ridiculous as it may be…& it is!) that Joe is a protected feather fisted fighter with an overrated record.

Total BULLSHIT with a capital BULLSHIT…but everyone’s entitled to an opinion…& I have stood by mine for years…just as I have & will continue to stand by one of my favorite champions…or two of my favorite champions…

Which brings me to the other Super Middleweight titlist & competition Mikkel Kessler (39-0, 29 KOs) from Copenhagen, Denmark.

For years Kessler has been in the shadow of the great Jeff Lacy, whom after Calzaghe utterly & systematically destroyed over 12 humiliating rounds was deemed…“not so great” by boxing fans, writers, & fickle viewers world wide. Since the Lacy dispatch Kessler became the number 2 man & the number one contender for a shot at Calzaghe but money & promotional disputes would scuttle the one fight that every fight fan has been clamoring for.

After a year of negotiations & more finger pointing than a whore entering a church…here we are…November the 3rd, 2007 waiting for a 12 round unification bout that has pretty much everyone biting their nails & asking questions.

Is Calzaghe the real deal?
Is Kessler the real deal?

Easy answer there…YES to both.

Will everyone shit can one after he falls to the other?

Another easy answer…YES…many will.

Normally…I give a rundown of who I think will win, why, & how…but honestly…we’ve all been arguing over that little factor for months…and in all regards…I’m kind of burnt out spouting off all the reason why one will lose & one will not & how so many people feel that the top two world champions who, I might add, hold the bulk of the belts between them are two of the most overrated boxers on the face of this green earth.

Again…utter & total BULLSHIT with a capital BULLSHIT…but again…everyone’s entitled to an opinion.!!!

"The Pride of Wales" is coming off a series of dominating performances & one sided wins…actually a career loaded with them. Recently, on HBO’s World Championship Boxing, he stopped “the Contender’s” Peter Manfredo Jr. in the third round of their April 2007 fight. The fight, that left many fans wanting more, broke the indoor European boxing record of 35,000+ fans. This time the Millennium Stadium is set to hold 60,000 or more boxing fan as Joe will take on, arguably, his toughest test to date. Calzaghe will be making his 21st consecutive title defense against the one man that many are banking on either stopping Joe or bringing an end to his questionable reign.

Enter the Viking Warrior : Mikkel Kessler. Like Calzaghe, Kessler is the top rated man of 168lbs, is also undefeated, & holds two titles at Super Middleweight. Most fan’s of the Danish warrior argue that Kessler has taken on the more reputable opposition of the weight. He won his WBA super middleweight title in 2004 by destroying Manny Siaca bit by bit over the course of 8 brutal rounds. He would then successfully defend his title against worthy opposition such as Anthony Mundine, Eric Lucas, Markus Beyer, & Librado Andrade. Along the way Beyer was a stop on the trail of success & the WBC title was acquired in 3 rounds by another devastating knockout. Kessler has successfully defended his WBA title four times & his WBC three times.

Against Calzaghe…Kessler will put everything on the line.

Oddly enough, although Joe is only risking one strap…he has more to lose than Mikkel does at this late stage of his career. Joe has his 21st consecutive title defenses, 43 bouts undefeated, & his image on the world stage to consider. If the pressure is on anyone…in Wakco’s humble opinion…it’s on Joe.

Can Kessler do the unthinkable?

Maybe…maybe not. One thing is for sure…neither man has faced anything like the other & that my fellow boxing enthusiasts will provide us with plenty of drama & quite possibly another stellar performance from the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion of the world.

That being said…it could also be the breakout performance & an upset in the making from a future boxing star named Mikkel Kessler.

As far as who I pick on this one...I just can't make a pick. I truly believe that Calzaghe will win...but it's hard for me to want Kessler to lose.

Once again fellow forum goers I hope you’ll join me for another bout comin’ atcha straight from HBO & the fingers of the drunken one!

Toss aside all your troubles, break out the chips & salsa, toss aside that remote, crack open the caps, & pour up your beverage of choice as we settle in for some couch coverage…it’s time for yet another installment of Wacko’s Drunken Round by Round.

As always…I say to thee…cheers…& koneecheewah bitches.

CC Wack-maninov, you are the true composer of the Drunken Round-by-round, and I'm sure this one will be tuneful for all to hear.

I've cast the first vote towards a Calzaghe UD, although I don't rule out Calzaghe getting a stoppage down the stretch, as Kessler tires from an endless tirade of punches. To be honest, I don't rule out much of anything. You're right in saying that neither has faced opposition like the other before, but I truly believe that if Kessler is to win this fight he is going to have to demonstrate something which he hasn't shown us so far in his career, and that is pure naked speed. Joe is going to look to come in and out buzzing about him like a wasp, and we'll see whether Kessler can swat him.

Unfortunately I won't be here on the night of the fight, I'm going to be down at the stadium with 50,000 or 60,000 others eager to see one of the biggest fights of the decade, in what is without doubt the best year in boxing for a generation.

Roll on Nov 3, and roll on the Calzaghe bandwagon.

CC#3186 on me Wacks....

Is it Nov. already ???
Shit! I can't believe it man it's finally..... The fight that I've been anticipating the most in a long time.

I can honestly say I've been waiting for this one more eagerly then when I waited for ODLH vs. Tito or ODLH vs. SSM.

This ones gonna be for the ages regardless of the outcome and who the winner is bof these guys deserve mad respect.
I voted Kess UD. I think Joes gonna start off wining the early rounds pretty comfortably. Quite possibly take 2 maybe 3 in a row but I think as they get to rounds 6, 7, 8 and on Kess is gonna turn it out. I dislike that Kess fights flat footed and therefor needs to reset everytime and looses time and give his opponents time to throw. With that said I still think Kess is gifted enough to pull out the win by coming on strong in the later part of the fight.
If Kess can control himself and work at the same rate in which he did against Andrade he'll be just fine.

This is gonna be great. :)

CC Wacks, for the write up...

Im too busy to post much these days. Needless to say, I think Calzaghe gives us a quality showing.

Calzaghe UD

Rarely have two fighters had more riding on one fight. If either loses they will be seen as overrated by their detractors, the winner will be haled as probably a top 5 p4p fighter and one of the greatest 168 fighters ever. The winner will go onto massive superfights, whilst the loser will have to rebuild.

My pick is a close fight, and if its close Calzaghe will win any kind of narrow points decision in his hometown.

Once again great write up i am going for Joe UD ;D

I'm sticking with Joe Calzaghe by UD.


I know that Joe has a tendency to fight down to the level of his competition at times, but in the big fights, he seems to put on his best performances.

It's a shame that he's been fighting so long (and brilliantly) but didn't get too much exposure in the U.S. until after the Lacy fight, because IMO there isn't too many guys that are on his level.

I like Kessler too, but when Joe is in top form, he looks almost unbeatable.

You've got the analysis bang on Wack. I'm going for a Calzaghe stoppage late on.

Kessler by KO in round 9 or Calzaghe will stay i his corner,between 9 and 10,bleeding from to many cuts

I am so happy that this fight is finally here. I've been waiting for it for so long, it still seems a bit surreal to think it is actually only 10 days away.

Thanks for the analysis, it's pretty much how I see it (although I have to say I'm rooting for Joe all the way. I like Kessler but I've watched all of Joe's fights and I feel he has much more to lose)

I've picked Joe by decision. I think the hometown advantage just might come in to play and all those people booing Kessler might have some slight mental effect on the Dane.

Even if it doesn't I see Joe outworking Mikkel. Whenever Joe gets hit with a shot that hurts him he'll get angry and punch back in bunches. Add to that the fact that he'll be throwing them in bunches anyway and I just cant see the judges favouring Mikkels shots.

I don't think either man will KO the other, i think it'll end up a Calzaghe win by 2- 3 rounds.

At least I hope!

I actually feel kinda nervous about this fight. I think its all the hype!

Anyway I'd cc the other posters for good points but, being a part time poster, I'll have to do it when I hit that fabled 100 posts.

I think Kess ll nick it late on by KO i have a feeling that Calzaghe's hand are gonna go again like they have done in the past and he will go into his shell allowing Kess to come onto him. Its happened in the past but the quality of opposition hasn't been able to take advantage of it this maybe the end of the 21 defenses.

im going 4 Calzaghe by late stoppage(rd 11 or 12), I think Kessler's an excellent fighter though
and will cause Joe a few problems along the way. will be an awsome fight, can't wait!!

This for me is the best matchup of the year and the one us purists really wanted.
Joe's gonna have to fight his ass off but he will come out on top because he's the far better fighter with way more tools in the box plus he's twice as fast as Kessler and fights so much better on the inside.
Joe by a 3 round margin on points at the most.
Just don't see any way Kessler can beat him (unless of course Joe's hand breaks early).
Gonna be some fight this. ;)

That's probably the best pre-fight breakdown I've read - cc all the way. I get tired of hearing all the "overrated" crap, anyway-some people take it too far. Even though we all get in on a little beatdown of a fighter once in a while, they still get in the ring and give us something to talk about.

I really like Kessler, he's an outstanding boxer and seems like a good person, but I quit betting against Joe a while back. Calzaghe by UD.

That said, I wish both men the best - I think it'll be one hell of a fight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smashup

This for me is the best matchup of the year and the one us purists really wanted.
Joe's gonna have to fight his a** off but he will come out on top because he's the far better fighter with way more tools in the box plus he's twice as fast as Kessler and fights so much better on the inside.
Joe by a 3 round margin on points at the most.
Just don't see any way Kessler can beat him (unless of course Joe's hand breaks early).
Gonna be some fight this. ;)

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I know it could be a big factor....but could we please not mention Joe's hands any more...don't want to jinx them so close to the fight. ;)