Only six weeks to the fight

Here is a thorough analysis of how this fight plays out, utilising past fights from Kessler as an example.

The idea that Ward has this remarkable handspeed is frail. He hasn't been in a fighter who is able to counter punch as well as Kessler can.

Kessler made Calzaghe fight a completely different gameplan off the fact that if you try to throw punches in bunches against Kessler, he is very good at creating enough distance to slip in either the right cross, the right uppercut or a very stiff series of jabs.

This made Calzaghe change his gameplan and effectively engage in an outside jabbing contest with Kessler which most people are too ineffective at analysis to see.

Calzaghe going into Round 4 knew he would be in trouble if he kept attempting to land in combination and rely on handspeed - because one thing above all else beats handspeed - Timing. Kessler has impeccable timing.

Ward does not have the game that Calzaghe does to realise this, adapt mid fight and then beat Kessler at a game few people thought before hand he would - jabbing from the outside.

Therefore, this fight comes down to a simple formulae. Can Ward's handspeed and combination punching beat Mikkel's defensive work, timing and impeccable technique.

The simple answer is an 85% No, with a 10% "Maybe for a few rounds, but can he do it late" and a 5% "For the whole fight"

If the Calzaghe fight was not enough to show why Kessler will beat Ward, go back in time to a much better fighter than what Ward is and better physical tools than Ward has, in Anthony Mundine - who Kessler dismantled by, what the class says? Timing.

The few difficulties he had with Mundine will be ironed out these days

Ward's only hope is somehow KO'ing Kessler. This is about as likely as Wladimir Klitschko being KO'ed by De La Hoya.