Mikkel Kessler Named Mandatory Official Challenger For WBA Super Middleweight Title

[Diane]

Mikkel Kessler Named Mandatory Official Challenger For WBA Super Middleweight Title!

Press Release
Team Palle
4/1/2008

Former WBA and WBC super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler, whose only loss in 40 pro bouts was a close decision at the hands of undefeated Joe Calzaghe, now knows what will be at stake in his next fight.

The WBA announced Tuesday that it has designated the Danish fighter as the “official challenger” for its super middleweight title, an honor now held by controversial Australian Anthony “The Man” Mundine. Kessler won the WBA crown by stopping Manny Siaca Jr., and, in his first title defense, went Down Under to unanimously outpoint Mundine in Sydney.

“Mundine is a very tough customer,” Kessler said. “He comes to fight and I respect that. I look forward to another rugged match against him now. I think it’s fair to say he’s a fellow who keeps improving which is understandable since he switched to boxing after being a big star in Australian Rules football. He’s not the type to run away from a challenge.”

Kessler, who turned 29 on March 1, has not fought since his November 4 bout against in Wales against Calzaghe drew more than 50,000 fans. Kessler went into that mega bout with a broken right hand which has since been completely repaired by surgery. It was the 21st successful title defense for Calzaghe who is boxing's longest-reigning champion.

Kessler, who has knocked out 29 of his foes, has a record of 5-1 in world title bouts, having also beaten Eric Lucas, Markus Beyer and Librado Andrade. Kessler knocked out Beyer to win the WBC version title and then made a mandatory defense against Andrade.

“I am more than ready to get back into the ring and to what I do best,” Kessler said. “I asked my management team to seek out a world title opportunity. Now it is up to me to take a world championship belt. I don’t plan on stopping at one but I will take each fight as it comes. I believe I am the world’s best at 168 pounds and I would be thrilled to fight Joe once again. But he has business with Bernard Hopkins and I must focus on my next step which is competing for the WBA belt.

“I would like to thank Bettina and Mogens Palle and agent Michael Marley. I sent them on a mission, to get me a title chance, and now I’ve got it. I must, of course, also thank Executive Director Gilberto J. Mendoza Jr. and the entire WBA leadership for their careful consideration of my application to be the Number One, mandatory challenger. I had confidence in my team and they delivered the goods.”

Mogens Palle, one of Europe’s leading promoters over 50 years, will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, New York, on June 7.

[Lance Uppercut]

I love how the story never mentions that Joe C. is also WBA super middleweight champ and that Mundine actually holds the ultra bogus "regular" title.

The WBA has become the biggest joke of all the alphabet gangs. Although the WBC still retains its titles as most corrupt.

[Deanrw]

I love how the story never mentions that Joe C. is also WBA super middleweight champ and that Mundine actually holds the ultra bogus "regular" title.

The WBA has become the biggest joke of all the alphabet gangs. Although the WBC still retains its titles as most corrupt.

Gotta grab that fake alphabet title!hehe It is almost like those belts are a security blanket. So much for making a name for himself in the U.S. I guess treading into his old footsteps is the favored route for him.

[Wayne]

Mikkel Kessler Named Mandatory Official Challenger For WBA Super Middleweight Title!

Press Release
Team Palle
4/1/2008

Kessler went into that mega bout with a broken right hand which has since been completely repaired by surgery. It was the 21st successful title defense for Calzaghe who is boxing's longest-reigning champion.

So Kessler lied to me?

[DaxxKahn]

Mikkel Kessler Named Mandatory Official Challenger For WBA Super Middleweight Title!

Press Release
Team Palle
4/1/2008

Kessler went into that mega bout with a broken right hand which has since been completely repaired by surgery. It was the 21st successful title defense for Calzaghe who is boxing's longest-reigning champion.

So Kessler lied to me?

I have to admit I am a bit disappointed in Kessler and his team for coming out with that after the fight...I am a Kessler fan but he got beat plain and simple...It was a good figt one I would not mind seeing again but fact is he lost...Maybe the hand was broken maybe not I will not make assumptions but why after the fight does this come out?....I thought Kessler was classier then that...

I am still a fan and IMO he will beat Mundine but he lost a peg in my book for the hand crap

[Mikkel_K]

I love how the story never mentions that Joe C. is also WBA super middleweight champ and that Mundine actually holds the ultra bogus "regular" title.

The WBA has become the biggest joke of all the alphabet gangs. Although the WBC still retains its titles as most corrupt.

Gotta grab that fake alphabet title!hehe It is almost like those belts are a security blanket. So much for making a name for himself in the U.S. I guess treading into his old footsteps is the favored route for him.

Kessler (and Palle) seemingly has the conviction that the alphabelt titles matters more than being on US tv. At least that's the impression they've always given in interviews, so there is not really anything new to this.

Are they correct in their conviction? Probably not. However, being European and all the legacy here isnt really defined by appearing on HBO or Showtime. They'll probably make more money by going the tay-at-home and/or go-after-belts way as well. This is true for Mundine as well - and Mundine-Kessler will generate more money for both fighters set in Australia or Denmark than Miranda-Kessler would anywhere in the world.

And as I've stated here before, there is a very good shot that the title will be 'upgraded' in due time, and there is a decent shot that this fight will actually be for The Ring title as well. In that case Kessler will become the first ever Danish Ring Champ - and no matter what the US fans say, I would be one happy camper with that!

[Preme]

Mikkel Kessler Named Mandatory Official Challenger For WBA Super Middleweight Title!

Press Release
Team Palle
4/1/2008

Kessler went into that mega bout with a broken right hand which has since been completely repaired by surgery. It was the 21st successful title defense for Calzaghe who is boxing's longest-reigning champion.

So Kessler lied to me?

I have to admit I am a bit disappointed in Kessler and his team for coming out with that after the fight...I am a Kessler fan but he got beat plain and simple...It was a good figt one I would not mind seeing again but fact is he lost...Maybe the hand was broken maybe not I will not make assumptions but why after the fight does this come out?....I thought Kessler was classier then that...

I am still a fan and IMO he will beat Mundine but he lost a peg in my book for the hand crap

i kinda know what you mean; but IF IF there was a hand problem coming into it, its hard for a fighter not to bring it up tho, lossing must really fucking hurt and you look for any excuse so you don;t have to admit to your self you are seconed best.

[thewhale]

Well there is nothing new about Kessler had a hand injury before the fight against Calzaghe, but as Kessler said afterwards it did not effekt him during the fight, so I guess it total bull that it was broken .

Anyway I came to saddoboxing as a Kessler fan and im still one, I truly believe that Mundine is a bigger challence than Miranda, but in all fairness I hope Kessler will give one vountarary defense against Miranda instead of a no name, when he graps the bogus title from Mundine.

Looking forward to this fight.

And before I truly believe this I need 2 c this confirmed as this is Aprils fools day

[Preme]

It might be a "bogus title" now, but if joe stays at LHW or retires then it will be the only and main WBA title for SMW

[Pugilistic]

kessler will beat mundine again

[DaxxKahn]

So Kessler lied to me?

I have to admit I am a bit disappointed in Kessler and his team for coming out with that after the fight...I am a Kessler fan but he got beat plain and simple...It was a good figt one I would not mind seeing again but fact is he lost...Maybe the hand was broken maybe not I will not make assumptions but why after the fight does this come out?....I thought Kessler was classier then that...

I am still a fan and IMO he will beat Mundine but he lost a peg in my book for the hand crap

i kinda know what you mean; but IF IF there was a hand problem coming into it, its hard for a fighter not to bring it up tho, lossing must really fucking hurt and you look for any excuse so you don;t have to admit to your self you are seconed best.

I am still a fan of Kessler don't get me wrong just a little disappointed that after the loss it became a bit more brought up the originally....

[Violent Demise]

Kessler went out like a bitch when he pulled out against Miranda

[donnydarkoIRL]

Kessler after the Calzaghe fight stated clearly that the hand had not hindered him in the fight. For his team to come out and publicise it is ridiculous.

[cpcompany]

Kessler has gone down a bit in my estimations with one or two comments he said after the fight.
Before the fight he came across as a bit of a throwback and a real fan`s fighter. Unfortunately, since the fight he has started to come out with typical primadonna fighter bollocks, but there is still plenty of time for him to redeem himself.

[bzkfn]

There was talk he was pulling out of the Miranda fight as he was going to be positioned in a contender spot for the WBA Light-Heavyweight title vacated by Danny Green. I'd have understood more if he'd moved up as he'd be trying to force a rematch with Joe or some other big money fights around. Fighting Mundine again is pointless IMO.