Froch-Kessler - who wins? (poll)

[HattonTheHammer]

It's written in the stars that Froch is bound to lose this. Just as he's getting some profile in the mainstream media, he'll get sparked out and be back to square one.

No way

froch will struggle early doors but hurt kessler bad around 6-7. He`ll keep on him like a mad men right up until the final bell and i expect kessler to be out of there around 11ish

[Rantcatrat]

Do we all agree that Kessler was very much overrated if he loses to Froch on Saturday?

I mean its always easier with 20/20 hindsight, but the guy has never beat a top level guy. He lost to Calzaghe, took three gimme fights, and then lost to Ward. And now if he loses to Froch, which many don't feel is a top level guy (I disagree there but that is a different conversation), he is 0-3 against top competition. Clearly, he can beat the Andrades and Beyers of the world, but he isn't good enough to beat the top guys. That much we'll know.

[Bomp]

Do we all agree that Kessler was very much overrated if he loses to Froch on Saturday?

I mean its always easier with 20/20 hindsight, but the guy has never beat a top level guy. He lost to Calzaghe, took three gimme fights, and then lost to Ward. And now if he loses to Froch, which many don't feel is a top level guy (I disagree there but that is a different conversation), he is 0-3 against top competition. Clearly, he can beat the Andrades and Beyers of the world, but he isn't good enough to beat the top guys. That much we'll know.

On the three gimme fights I think were out of his control, had to risk being sued to get in the super 6 even though he had the title to begin with so would be harsh to say he ducked anyone, especially considering he's had 3 big away fights as a champ.

Rather than overrated I'd say he didn't live up to his potential if he loses again, while Ward fought a good fight IMO the result had more to do with Kess being out of sorts, whether that was temporary or permenant we'll find out on Saturday.

[Rantcatrat]

Do we all agree that Kessler was very much overrated if he loses to Froch on Saturday?

I mean its always easier with 20/20 hindsight, but the guy has never beat a top level guy. He lost to Calzaghe, took three gimme fights, and then lost to Ward. And now if he loses to Froch, which many don't feel is a top level guy (I disagree there but that is a different conversation), he is 0-3 against top competition. Clearly, he can beat the Andrades and Beyers of the world, but he isn't good enough to beat the top guys. That much we'll know.

On the three gimme fights I think were out of his control, had to risk being sued to get in the super 6 even though he had the title to begin with so would be harsh to say he ducked anyone, especially considering he's had 3 big away fights as a champ.

Rather than overrated I'd say he didn't live up to his potential if he loses again, while Ward fought a good fight IMO the result had more to do with Kess being out of sorts, whether that was temporary or permenant we'll find out on Saturday.

Kessler is back in the game if he dominates Froch.

All I'm saying is that a lot of people had him as the guy to beat in the tournament before it started when he had never actually beat a top level guy. Then when he faced another top level guy in Ward, he was beat yet again.

And now Ward is the man in the division, but Ward only has a win over Kessler who has never beat a top guy. Ward's win over Kessler will look better if Kessler beats Froch and worse if he doesn't. I'd go as far to say that there is a strong argument that Froch deserves the top spot if Kessler loses on Saturday. If that happens, Froch's wins are definitely better than Ward's thus far. I'd take wins over Kessler, Dirrell, Taylor, and Pascal over Ward's wins any day of the week. We can all agree on that, right?

Maybe he didn't live up to potential, but at the same time most people were still overrating him...if he loses.

[ross]

The annoying thing about this tournament is it started with 2 middleweights fighting each other, then froch who does have some fights for us to judge him against although no world rated supermiddles, Dirrel and Ward had fought no world rated opponents for us to guage them against.

The only fighter in this tournament that we know about is Kessler and unless he is just finished because of lack of ambition then he should, by rights, beat Froch well!

I was just watching his fight with Ward and although wards stop, start hold, tactics bemused Kessler a bit, he also landed plenty of big shots on Kessler but Mikkel kept coming and with combinations, its just that he didnt use his jab and Ward smotheerd anything kessler tried with holding.
I do think that Kessler maybe took Ward lightly.

I also watched Frochs fight with Taylor and by god if that was the Kessler that fought Andrade, Froch wouldnt have made it out of round 3 when he was decked!!

[Bomp]

Do we all agree that Kessler was very much overrated if he loses to Froch on Saturday?

I mean its always easier with 20/20 hindsight, but the guy has never beat a top level guy. He lost to Calzaghe, took three gimme fights, and then lost to Ward. And now if he loses to Froch, which many don't feel is a top level guy (I disagree there but that is a different conversation), he is 0-3 against top competition. Clearly, he can beat the Andrades and Beyers of the world, but he isn't good enough to beat the top guys. That much we'll know.

On the three gimme fights I think were out of his control, had to risk being sued to get in the super 6 even though he had the title to begin with so would be harsh to say he ducked anyone, especially considering he's had 3 big away fights as a champ.

Rather than overrated I'd say he didn't live up to his potential if he loses again, while Ward fought a good fight IMO the result had more to do with Kess being out of sorts, whether that was temporary or permenant we'll find out on Saturday.

Kessler is back in the game if he dominates Froch.

All I'm saying is that a lot of people had him as the guy to beat in the tournament before it started when he had never actually beat a top level guy. Then when he faced another top level guy in Ward, he was beat yet again.

And now Ward is the man in the division, but Ward only has a win over Kessler who has never beat a top guy. Ward's win over Kessler will look better if Kessler beats Froch and worse if he doesn't. I'd go as far to say that there is a strong argument that Froch deserves the top spot if Kessler loses on Saturday. If that happens, Froch's wins are definitely better than Ward's thus far. I'd take wins over Kessler, Dirrell, Taylor, and Pascal over Ward's wins any day of the week. We can all agree on that, right?

Maybe he didn't live up to potential, but at the same time most people were still overrating him...if he loses.

Every fighter in the sm tournament had zero wins over 'elite' sm fighters. It's easy to overrate a fighter atfer one good win which is what I think ur gettin at with Ward and I agree. Suddenly after JT 'beat' B-Hop he was called 'Undisputed' middle champ, but u should be beatin ALL/MOST the sompetition to claim that, u don't claim the wins your oppponent had like a game of conkers. Then Pavlik beats JT and he's the next demi-god but then he's thrashed by Hop and the fan who wants to easily quantify victories and add them up is all wrong (after reading again dont think I made much sense but hey )

I agree though that if Kess loses then he showed without doubt that he was too mentally fragile to overcome adversity and be a true player at the top.

[Kev]

On the three gimme fights I think were out of his control, had to risk being sued to get in the super 6 even though he had the title to begin with so would be harsh to say he ducked anyone, especially considering he's had 3 big away fights as a champ.

Rather than overrated I'd say he didn't live up to his potential if he loses again, while Ward fought a good fight IMO the result had more to do with Kess being out of sorts, whether that was temporary or permenant we'll find out on Saturday.

Kessler is back in the game if he dominates Froch.

All I'm saying is that a lot of people had him as the guy to beat in the tournament before it started when he had never actually beat a top level guy. Then when he faced another top level guy in Ward, he was beat yet again.

And now Ward is the man in the division, but Ward only has a win over Kessler who has never beat a top guy. Ward's win over Kessler will look better if Kessler beats Froch and worse if he doesn't. I'd go as far to say that there is a strong argument that Froch deserves the top spot if Kessler loses on Saturday. If that happens, Froch's wins are definitely better than Ward's thus far. I'd take wins over Kessler, Dirrell, Taylor, and Pascal over Ward's wins any day of the week. We can all agree on that, right?

Maybe he didn't live up to potential, but at the same time most people were still overrating him...if he loses.

Every fighter in the sm tournament had zero wins over 'elite' sm fighters. It's easy to overrate a fighter atfer one good win which is what I think ur gettin at with Ward and I agree. Suddenly after JT 'beat' B-Hop he was called 'Undisputed' middle champ, but u should be beatin ALL/MOST the sompetition to claim that, u don't claim the wins your oppponent had like a game of conkers. Then Pavlik beats JT and he's the next demi-god but then he's thrashed by Hop and the fan who wants to easily quantify victories and add them up is all wrong (after reading again dont think I made much sense but hey )

I agree though that if Kess loses then he showed without doubt that he was too mentally fragile to overcome adversity and be a true player at the top.

You do if you're Nonito Donaire.

[Gandalf]

This is a fight where I am somewhat torn. I originally wanted Kessler to win the tournament, but I like Froch's determination a lot too. The man keeps on winning with everyone writing him off beforehand. I think he did beat Dirrell too and struggle to see the controversy in that one. Froch keeps on finding a way to finish on top. This is a tough fight though. Kessler at his best is really very good and everyone is writing him off based on the Ward fight. Kessler had a real off night though and I don't think that would go the same way if they met again. So no predictions from me, I just want to see a good scrap.

[Rantcatrat]

On the three gimme fights I think were out of his control, had to risk being sued to get in the super 6 even though he had the title to begin with so would be harsh to say he ducked anyone, especially considering he's had 3 big away fights as a champ.

Rather than overrated I'd say he didn't live up to his potential if he loses again, while Ward fought a good fight IMO the result had more to do with Kess being out of sorts, whether that was temporary or permenant we'll find out on Saturday.

Kessler is back in the game if he dominates Froch.

All I'm saying is that a lot of people had him as the guy to beat in the tournament before it started when he had never actually beat a top level guy. Then when he faced another top level guy in Ward, he was beat yet again.

And now Ward is the man in the division, but Ward only has a win over Kessler who has never beat a top guy. Ward's win over Kessler will look better if Kessler beats Froch and worse if he doesn't. I'd go as far to say that there is a strong argument that Froch deserves the top spot if Kessler loses on Saturday. If that happens, Froch's wins are definitely better than Ward's thus far. I'd take wins over Kessler, Dirrell, Taylor, and Pascal over Ward's wins any day of the week. We can all agree on that, right?

Maybe he didn't live up to potential, but at the same time most people were still overrating him...if he loses.

Every fighter in the sm tournament had zero wins over 'elite' sm fighters. It's easy to overrate a fighter atfer one good win which is what I think ur gettin at with Ward and I agree. Suddenly after JT 'beat' B-Hop he was called 'Undisputed' middle champ, but u should be beatin ALL/MOST the sompetition to claim that, u don't claim the wins your oppponent had like a game of conkers. Then Pavlik beats JT and he's the next demi-god but then he's thrashed by Hop and the fan who wants to easily quantify victories and add them up is all wrong (after reading again dont think I made much sense but hey )

I agree though that if Kess loses then he showed without doubt that he was too mentally fragile to overcome adversity and be a true player at the top.

Although I agree with you to an extent, I would argue that we don't know how quality Ward's win was. Maybe Kessler wasn't a win over an elite fighter? I mean Kessler has never beat an elite fighter himself. Froch would be his biggest win. Right?

Kessler reestablishes himself if he beats Froch.

I love this fight because it is a big-time Crossroads fight for both guys. If Kessler loses, his career as a top guy is done. It wouldn't be a stretch if depending on his showing in the Ward fight, and I bet he gives a better showing of himself than Kessler, which wouldn't be difficult mind you, Green may very possibly beat Kessler in their fight. Kessler enters the tournament as the top guy and leaves as the bottom guy. If he beats Froch, he is right back in the mix, if not one of the top guys.

Then again, if Froch wins, he catapults to the top spot. I like wins over Kessler, Dirrell, Taylor, and Pascal more than Ward's wins over Kessler, Green (theoretically), and Miranda. If Froch loses, it's not as much of a big deal because of his other wins, but it makes his Abraham fight huge for him. And if he gets knocked out it may take a lot out of his mental game, which is in my opinion, maybe his biggest strength.